Not being a Southerner, I came to the pimento cheese party late…but then I never left. If pimento cheese were a bar, someone would have, in fact, said to me by now, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”

So, as part of my ongoing partnership with Roth Cheese, makers of delicious Wisconsin cheeses, I decided to take some liberties and introduce the pimento cheese concept to my slow cooker. The words “hot dip” make a lot of people happy, myself included. The words “hot cheese dip” make some of us clap our hands.

This Hot Pimento Cheese Dip recipe is perfect with crackers, crudites, or slices of toasted baguette or grilled bread.

The words ‘hot dip’ make a lot of people happy, myself included. The words ‘hot cheese dip’ make some of us clap our hands.

What Is Pimento Cheese?

Pimento cheese (for those of you who like me did not grow up with it as part of the culinary vernacular), is a mixture of mayonnaise, grated cheese, and chopped pimentos. Other things get added sometimes, like maybe something oniony or a little spicy. But, it is essentially a cheese paté, usually served on crackers, maybe with celery sticks, and it’s a beloved Southern staple.

Slow Cooker Hot Pimento Cheese Dip Ingredients

• Mayonnaise – For richness and creaminess.
• Cream cheese – For a subtle tang.
• Sriracha sauce – For a bit of spiciness.
• Shallot – For texture and sweetness.
• Roth Grand Cru – Offers a nutty and fruity flavor.
• Roth Original Havarti – For soft flavors and beautiful meltiness.
• Pimentos – The star of the dish.
• Worcestershire sauce – For umami and depth of flavor.
• Bourbon – For warm, deep notes.
• Scallions – For topping with a pungent pop of freshness.

What Cheese to Use

The Roth cheeses I picked for this hot cheese dip (see how effective that phrase is?) are Grand Cru, for its nutty and slightly fruity flavor, and havarti, for its soft meltiness. Mixing the two cheeses together brought so much flavor to this dip and also gave it that insanely appealing cheese pull thing when you scoop up a bit.

How to Cook Slow Cooker Hot Pimento Cheese Dip

1. Combine all the ingredients: In a slow cooker, combine the mayonnaise, cream cheese, Sriracha sauce, shallot, Grand Cru, Havarti, pimentos, Worcestershire sauce, and bourbon.
2. Cook: Turn the heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 hour. Top with scallions.

How to Serve

For a casual gathering, I would serve this right out of the slow cooker or crock pot, with a spoon for people to ladle some onto their plates if desired and an assortment of things to dip into it. You could also transfer some to a bowl and then, as it disappears, replenish it with a hot dip from the slow cooker.

Serve this with pretzels, tortilla or other chips, carrot and celery sticks, sliced bell pepper, or crackers.

Storage

This can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

The first time I made this was for a small group, so we didn’t finish it, and it actually warmed up beautifully in the microwave later in the week. This is very good to know, especially during the holidays, when relatives and guests are hanging out, and gatherings seem to spontaneously erupt. This has made so many people happy in my world — a crowd-pleaser of epic proportions.

What to Serve With Easy Slow Cooker Hot Pimento Cheese Dip

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More Appetizer Recipes for a Crowd

• Parmesan Feta Spinach Dip
• Caramelized Onion and Spinach Crostini
• Corn and Zucchini Fritters
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• Hot Hatch Chile Dip