Pimento Grilled Cheese

This 3-ingredient Pimento Grilled Cheese is the ultimate Southern sandwich recipe perfect to pair with any soup or salad. Use homemade pimento cheese or store-bought for a shortcut. This will definitely be your new favorite grilled cheese sandwich recipe.

As a southern gal, pimento cheese sandwiches hold a special place in my heart. We ate them all the time growing up – it was the perfect lunch. So to celebrate the southern speciality, we’re combining two classics into one tasty creation with this Pimento Grilled Cheese sandwich!

The cheesy southern staple gets spread between two slices of bread, then it’s griddled to golden brown perfection. Do we have your attention yet?

With roots in the south, pimento cheese is traditionally served on bread or as a dip, and it’s no doubt an oldie but a goodie, and for good reason! This grilled version of a Pimento Cheese Sandwich is super simple to prepare yet unbelievably satisfying. Serve it on its own, as a shared snack, or as a part of a bigger meal. Just serve it up soon, and you can thank us later!

If you like this sandwich idea, you’ll love some of our other favorite recipes featuring this Viral Homemade Pimento Cheese. Be sure to try out our decadent Pimento Mac and Cheese, these Pimento Cheese Biscuits, and another tasty twist on tradition with this Pimento Cheese Cornbread.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and Easy: With just a few good quality ingredients, this sandwich is super quick to assemble and an easy meal idea almost anyone can whip up.
• Tasty Twist on Tradition: This recipe amps up not one but two classic recipes. Traditional pimento cheese goes next level, as it’s turned into a warm, griddled sandwich, and the original grilled cheese sandwich gets a flavor blast with the southern pimento cheese.
• Versatile: Not only is this sandwich gooey, delicious, and easy to make, but you can customize it to anyone’s taste preferences. Add some thick sliced tomatoes, crispy bacon, or even sliced jalapeños to take this sandwich to new flavor heights.

Laura Ashley’s Tip: Use mayonnaise instead of butter to evenly toast your grilled cheese, it’s so easy and too delicious!

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Full Recipe Card Below

• Bread: White, sourdough or whole wheat work great here. Use your favorite sliced variety from the store or bakery, and this will be the base and anchor for your grilled cheese sandwich.
• Pimento cheese or Store-Bought Pimento Cheese: Made with sharp cheddar, tangy pimento peppers and creamy mayonnaise, this makes for the perfect, decadent cheesy filling for this grilled sandwich.
• Mayonnaise or Melted Butter: The key ingredient to coat the outside of the sandwich before griddling. Both work well to create a nice golden crust on the outside of the bread.

Tools You’ll Need

• Bread Knife
• Cutting Board
• Large Skillet or Cast Iron Skillet

How To Make Pimento Grilled Cheese

1. Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
2. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise or softened butter on one side of each slice of bread.

3. Spread pimento cheese evenly on the non-buttered/mayo side of one slice of bread.

4. Top with the remaining slice of bread, butter or mayonnaise side up.
5. Place the assembled sandwich on the preheated skillet. Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and crispy, and the pimento cheese is melted and gooey. Adjust the heat as needed to ensure the bread doesn’t burn before the cheese melts.

6. Remove the sandwich from the skillet and let it cool slightly before cutting in half. Serve warm.

Expert Tips and Variations

• Add Toppings: This grilled cheese is delicious as is, but if you’ve got extra ingredients on hand, add them to your sandwich to take it to a whole new level. Sliced tomatoes or spicy jalapenos add freshness, flavor and a little kick. Or crispy bacon would add a delicious and smokey note too.
• Use Mayonnaise: It might sound strange, but we love spreading mayonnaise on the outside of the sandwich before cooking it. Butter definitely works, but there’s something extra special about mayonnaise – it spreads easier than butter and doesn’t tear the bread, it gets the bread evenly toasted and golden brown, and it adds a little extra flavor to the sandwich. Don’t knock it ’till you try it!
• Cook On Medium-Low: Hear me out, slow and steady wins the race here. If you cook your sandwich over medium-low heat, you’ll get a perfectly crisp on the outside, melty on the inside grilled cheese that’s gooey with a golden crust. If you cook it over too high of a heat, you’ll risk burning your bread before the cheese even melts.

Storage Instructions

• If you’ve got extra pimento cheese on hand, store it separately from the bread in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll keep for 3-5 days. Assemble your sandwiches right before you’re ready to cook them, and enjoy!
• If you have a few extra sandwiches on hand, you can also store these in the fridge – wrap them in foil or place in zip-top food storage bags, and refrigerate for 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy, gently re-heat in a skillet or on a griddle over low heat, or in a 350-degree oven, until the outside is crisped and the middle is melty.

What To Serve With Pimento Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

This grilled cheese sandwich is perfection on its own, but if you’d like to make it more of a meal, serve it alongside of any of these salads or soups.

• Chick-Fil-A Cobb Salad
• Marinated Vegetable Salad
• Tomato Cucumber Salad
• Loaded House Salad
• Vegetable Soup
• Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Soup

FAQs

More Delicious Sandwich Recipes

• Ribeye Steak Sandwich
• Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich
• Party Sub Sandwich
• BBQ Chicken Sliders