If you’ve never made pimiento cheese before, quite likely if you live outside of the South, it’s very simple and in its most basic form consists of only 3 ingredients: grated cheddar, mayonnaise, and pimientos. Normally a pimiento cheese sandwich is served with the pimiento cheese chilled between 2 slices of squishy white bread. In some parts of the South, this type of sandwich is eaten as often as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
But this sandwich is quite very unlike the sandwiches grandmama may have served to her bridge club.
A gooey, creamy, and sharp pimiento cheese paired with salty bacon pieces, all between two buttery, crisp slices of bread. It doesn’t get much better than a pimiento cheese panini.
During the cooler months, this sandwich pairs well with tomato soup. In the warmer months, a salad is a nice compliment.
Use your favorite pimiento cheese, or this is a good, basic recipe for Pimiento Cheese. It’s easiest to make Pimiento Cheese Paninis in a Panini Grill. I have Breville BSG520XL Panini Duo 1500-Watt Nonstick Panini Press
and love it. Or you can just cook it the old-fashioned way in a skillet or on a griddle pan.
Pimiento Cheese Panini
- 1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cup Pimiento Cheese
- 4 to 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 green onions, sliced, green parts only
- 8 slices ciabatta or Italian bread
- butter of cooking spray
- For each sandwich, spread a fairly thick layer of pimiento cheese on 1 slice of bread. Sprinkle with bacon and green onions and place a second piece of bread on top.
- Heat a panini grill or skillet on medium-high heat. Before placing sandwich in panini grill (or in pan) coat grill with a little butter or spray top and bottom of sandwich with cooking spray.
- Cook until cheese is melted and warm and bread is crisp. If using a pan, flip sandwich over after a few minutes. Serve warm.
Yield: 4 sandwiches
More Pimiento Cheese Recipes
Fried Pimiento Cheese Balls with Ranch Dipping Sauce
Southern Cobb Salad with Pimeinto Cheese Dressing
Disclaimer: Spicy Southern Kitchen is an amazon.com affiliate.
Love the sandwich and the use of the Pimento cheese. I featured it in my Friday Five over @ Feed Your Soul Too – http://www.feedyoursoul2.com/2013/08/friday-five-southern-addition.html
Thank you so much for featuring my sandwich Peter!
Oh girl, you are killllling me with all this delicious cheese!
This looks so good. Might have to make it this weekend. Good to meet you this weekend at the photo class but I think that your pics look great already.
Thanks Rebecca! It was so nice to meet you too. My pictures have come a long way in the last year, but I still feel like there’s so much to learn. Especially when it comes to styling. I usually have to pour myself a glass of wine first because it gives me so much anxiety!
I’ll be right over!
Definitely a step up from the classic grilled cheese 🙂 I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never really heard of pimiento cheese! I love learning about new foods, especially ones that are so common in other parts of the world. It sounds delicious and it will definitely add a new flavour to my next panini!
Thanks Em! I think lots of people have never heard of pimiento cheese!