Are you looking for a snack that’s different, filling, and out of the world? Stop your search here because I have the best pimento cheese balls recipe for you! It’s crispy, gooey, spicy, and incredibly delish!
Not heard of pimento cheese balls? This is an appetizer that you will fall in love with just after one bite. Pimento is just a fancy word for roasted red peppers if you aren’t familiar. It’s a dreamy snack that fits every party, and your guests will adore you for it.
The Pimento cheese balls are made using a handful of ingredients. These include pimento chilies, mayonnaise, and cheddar cheese. While these cheese balls taste absolutely delicious on their own, you can pair them with dipping sauces of your choice.
You can serve them with a simple ranch or jalapeno ranch if you love spicy things. In the sections below, we will take a look at all the steps to help you make the pimento cheese balls for your next party. I’m also going to share with you tips on how to save your pimento cheese balls from not falling apart during frying.
So, let’s take a look at this spicy, gooey recipe!
What Equipment Will You Need To Make Pimento Cheese Balls?
- Bowls – You will require four bowls to prepare the pimento cheese balls mixture and its coating.
- Spatula – A spatula will help you mix all the ingredients together.
- Tray – You will need a tray to place the prepared pimento cheese balls for refrigeration.
- Pan – A pan will be required to add oil for frying the pimento cheese balls.
- Stove – You will need a stove or induction to heat the oil for frying.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Pimento Cheese Balls?
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Resting Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Minutes | 15 Minutes | 3 Hrs. | 31/2 Hrs. |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Pimento Cheese Balls?
- White and Yellow Cheddar Cheese – We will use a mix of white and yellow cheddar cheese for flavor and texture. I strongly recommend shredding a block of cheese as pre-shredded cheese has a light coating of starch to prevent sticking.
- Cream Cheese – Cream cheese makes the structure of the pimento cheese balls.
- Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise will help bind everything together and also provide a gooeyness to these balls.
- Pimentos – Pimento is basically roasted red peppers that Southerners absolutely love. You can roast them yourself or buy them in a bottle.
- Milk – You will need 1 cup of milk to make the coating batter for these cheese balls.
- Panko Crumbs – You will also need 1 cup of panko for a crispy outer coating.
- All Purpose Flour – All-purpose flour will help you prepare the base of the coating mix.
- Salt and Pepper – Salt and pepper will add the right amount of spice and salt to this recipe.
- Oil – You will require peanut or canola oil for frying the pimento cheese balls.
Steps To Make Pimento Cheese Balls
1. Prepare The Pimento Cheese Balls Mixture
Take a medium-sized bowl and combine both the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimientos, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or overnight.
Now you may wonder if ready-made pimento cheese is also an option for making these balls. While the idea is not bad, it may lead to the balls falling apart while frying. That’s because the consistency of its cheese may vary from brand to brand, and it may melt too quickly upon cooking. Therefore, I prefer to stick with this fail-proof recipe at all times.
2. Convert Pimento Cheese Mixture Into Balls
Take the mixture out of the refrigerator and make 1- and 1/2-inch balls from the cheese mixture. Now add milk, flour, and panko crumbs to 3 different bowls. Season flour and panko crumb lightly with salt. Take each pimento cheese ball and dip it into all-purpose flour, then in milk, and finally, coat with panko crumbs. Place it on a tray and freeze for 1 hour. The more you leave your pimento cheese balls sit in the freezer, they will firm up well and prevent your balls from breaking while being fried.
3. Pimento Cheese Balls Are Ready For Frying
Take a pan and heat peanut or canola oil, and fry the pimento cheese balls for about 4-5 minutes. Once your pimento cheese balls turn light brown, you can air-fry these balls too!
Nutritional Information
| Calories | 352 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Protein | 11 g |
| Fat | 22 g |
| Saturated Fat | 9 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.02 g |
| Cholesterol | 47 mg |
| Sodium | 335 mg |
| Potassium | 182 mg |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Vitamin A | 1052 IU |
| Vitamin C | 20 mg |
| Calcium | 226 mg |
| Iron | 2 mg |
How Will Pimento Cheese Ball Look And Taste Like?
These pimento cheese balls are crispy, cheesy bites that melt in your mouth. You can serve them as it is or dip them in regular or jalapeño ranch. This snack is sure to gain you a lot of compliments. It’s rich, spicy, and all things delish!
Recipe Card
Pimento Cheese Balls Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 4 ounces Pimento (Diced)
- 4 ounces White cheddar Cheese (Grated)
- 4 ounces Yellow Cheddar Cheese (Grated)
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 cup Panko
- 1 cup Milk
- Peanut or Canola Oil
- Salt (To Taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Take a medium-sized bowl and combine both the cheddar cheese, cream cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or overnight.
- Take the mixture out of the refrigerator and make 1- and 1/2-inch balls from the cheese mixture. Now add milk, flour, and panko crumbs to 3 different bowls. Season flour and panko crumb lightly with salt.
- Take each pimento cheese ball and dip it into all-purpose flour, then in milk, and finally, coat with panko crumbs. Place it on a tray and freeze for 1 hour.
- Take a pan and heat peanut or canola oil, and fry the pimento cheese balls for about 4-5 minutes. Once your pimento cheese balls turn light brown, you can air-fry these balls too!
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What cheese do we use to make Pimento cheese balls?
You will require white and yellow cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and cream cheese to make pimento cheese balls.
For how much time should we chill the prepared pimento cheese balls?
You should freeze the cheese balls for at least 1 hour before frying.
What can you serve the pimento cheese balls with?
You can serve regular or jalapeno ranch with pimento cheese balls.
I hope you have enjoyed going through this lip-smacking pimento cheese balls recipe. For more such recipes, you can visit our website and make restaurant-style dishes to impress your family.
