This Southern Style Pimento Mac & Cheese combines the classic Southern flavors of cheese, mayo, and pimento peppers with the homemade goodness of mac and cheese with herbed breadcrumbs.
Pimento cheese is a Southern fare classic. A spread made with cheese, mayonnaise, and pimento peppers, this is the best cheese dip you’ll ever have.
Although pimento cheese isn’t normally the first thing to come to mind when you think of Southern food, it is definitely a hit around these parts. In fact, this dish originally became popular here because it doesn’t spoil easily at room temperature, making it a really good lunchbox addition.
The tangy kick from the pimento peppers makes it a dip that pairs really well with wine and cheese, among other things.
As much as Southern food fascinates me, I always have the itch to add a more interesting twist to it (like my Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits). With this recipe, I wanted to incorporate that classic pimento cheese taste, flavor, and texture, but in a mac and cheese dish.
It’s pretty hard to say no to any mac and cheese recipe, so this seemed like a fun way to liven up two classic recipes by putting them together. I top off my Pimento Mac & Cheese with some toasted herb breadcrumbs for that homey feeling. (Who doesn’t love breaded mac and cheese?!)
With everything combined, you’ll get the best mac and cheese of your life. Not to mention, it makes for a really unique and flavorful mac and cheese recipe that is perfect for a non-traditional Thanksgiving or special gathering where you want to leave an impression.
First of all, how can you go wrong with cheese? This recipe is so delicious and just as simple. It’s perfect for an easy dinner at home or any quick get-together.
The best part of this recipe is that it requires no roux, which makes this gluten-free. Roux is the mixture of flour and fat (usually butter or oil) that is cooked together and typically added to dishes like this to help thicken the sauce.
Roux is often added to soups or certain mac and cheese recipes to make for a creamy consistency. However, because of the consistency of the pimento, you’ll get that same consistency without the gluten!
Additionally, you can see my notes in the recipe below for some other ways to make this recipe healthier.
Another reason I love this Pimento Mac & Cheese recipe is you can make the sauce and pasta the night before and store them separately in an airtight container. Then, on the day of, simply mix everything together and place it in the baking dish, topped with breadcrumbs. Voila – you have an easy, made-ahead mac and cheese.
In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Once pasta is al dente, drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat butter over medium/high heat. Add in onions, pimento peppers and jalapenos. Cook for 3-4 mins until onions are a bit translucent.
Next add all the seasoning/spices, give everything a good stir and mix all the spices together in with the onions, jalapenos and pimento peppers.
Add the half and half, cream cheese and milk, followed by both the grated cheese’s. Lower the to med/low and stir until cheese is melted. Once cheese is melted turn off stove and add in the cooked pasta.
Transfer pasta into a baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 15 mins at 350°F.
Take Mac and cheese out of the oven and sprinkle on the breadcrumbs and serve! Enjoy
Herb Breadcrumbs
In a baking pan mix together the breadcrumbs, herbs and oil. Place in the oven under broil on high for 1-2 mins until bread crumbs are nice and toasty. Once they are toasted, set aside.
Notes
I used only half of the pasta box for this recipe, feel free to double the recipe for a full box of pasta.
Pimento peppers can be found in the same aisle as the pickles and pickled jalapeños. You only need a small jar of this.
Just an East/West coast girl living the southern life. I love sharing all my tested and perfected recipes here, along with some travel guides and a little bit of my lifestyle
