These Easy Pimento Cheese Bites with Green Chiles are everything a good party bite should be – cheesy, a little spicy, and easy to pull together. Inspired by my mom’s classic homemade Pimento Cheese recipe, this version adds diced green chiles, jalapeños, and onion for extra flavor and heat. You only need 6 ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on prep – then they bake into golden, savory squares that are perfect for any gathering, from game day to holiday parties and everything in between.
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Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is a creative appetizer that riffs on my southern mom’s classic Pimento Cheese Spread. While they only share two ingredients – sharp Cheddar cheese and pimiento peppers – this version leans into my Southwestern side with green chiles and jalapeños. It’s a fun mix of Southern comfort and Arizona heat!
- Only 6 ingredients – All easy to find, and no fancy prep required.
- Quick prep – Just 5 minutes to mix everything together before baking.
- Big flavor – Sharp Cheddar, green chiles, and jalapeños bring bold, zesty taste.
- No-mess serving – Baked in one pan, then cut into tidy squares for easy handling.
- Great warm or at room temp – Flexible for parties, tailgates, or make-ahead game day viewing.
- Crowd-pleaser – A spicy twist on a familiar Southern favorite, with a little more kick.
Green Chile and Pimento Cheese Ingredients
Here’s all you need to create these pimento cheese appetizers, all of which can be found at the local grocery store.
Quick TiP
Why grate the onion instead of chopping?
Grating helps the onion blend more evenly into the mixture, adding flavor without visible pieces or harsh bites.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
While I think this recipe is delicious as is, you can vary the ingredients to suit your tastes, dietary requirements, or what you have on hand. Here are a few suggestions:
- Cheese: Sharp Cheddar gives the best flavor, but you can swap in part Monterey Jack for a milder bite. Avoid using soft cheeses (like cream cheese) or low-moisture blends, which won’t hold up as well in this recipe when baked.
- Jalapeño peppers: For a milder version, you can leave them out or substitute an extra can of green chiles.
- Onion: Finely chopped green onions or shallots will also work. Just keep moisture content in mind – if they’re juicy, give them a quick blot with a paper towel.
- Add-in: Try a little crumbled bacon. Just don’t overload the mix – you want it to hold together when baked and sliced.
How to Make This Homemade Pimento Cheese Recipe with Green Chiles
- Prep oven and baking dish.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish. - Mix ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together egg, onion, green chiles, jalapenos, and pimentos until well mixed. Add Cheddar cheese and stir until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Place in baking dish.
Spoon cheese mixture into prepared pan; smooth the top, gently pressing down.
- Bake.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the mixture is set and the edges are starting to turn light brown. - Cool; cut; serve.
Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Cut into squares, 6 across by 6 down. To serve, I like to place the bites into paper candy cups as they can be a bit greasy. Can be served warm or at room temperature.
Tips for Success
Here are my tips for ensuring these pimento cheese appetizers come out perfect every time:
- Shred your own cheese. Skip the pre-shredded cheeses. It often contains anti-caking agents that affect how well it melts, and it’s typically drier, which can throw off the texture. Freshly grated sharp Cheddar gives the best flavor and consistency. And, for this amount of cheese, I recommend using a food processor with a shredding disc – it’s faster and easier.
- Grate cheese cold. It’s much easier to handle when it’s straight from the fridge, and it grates more evenly.
- Drain everything well. Green chiles, jalapeños, and pimientos should be fully drained. Extra moisture can keep the bites from setting up properly.
- Squeeze moisture from the onion. Even a small amount of liquid from the grated onion can affect the texture, so give it a quick press in a paper towel or fine mesh strainer.
- Mix thoroughly. For even flavor and appearance, make sure everything is well combined before adding to the baking dish.
- Smooth the top. Press the mixture gently into an even layer so the bites bake uniformly and cut cleanly.
Serving Suggestions
These delicious bites can be served warm or at room temperature. For a more polished presentation, I like to place each square in a paper candy cup. It keeps fingers clean and adds a nice touch for buffet-style serving. Serve them on a tray, alongside other Southern-inspired appetizers for a themed spread. Here are some options:
And, of course, don’t forget the Mint Juleps!
If you’re planning a Derby Day party, check out Taste the Winning Flavors: Two Kentucky Derby Dinner Menus
Make Ahead, Reheating and Storage
- To make ahead: Bake the bites up to 3 days in advance. Let them cool completely, then cover and refrigerate in the baking dish or transfer to an airtight container.
- To reheat: Place in a preheated 300 degree f oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds, just until warmed through.
- To store leftovers: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature or reheat per the instructions above.
More Cheesy Appetizer Recipes
- Mini Cheese Tart Appetizers with Chutney – Make Ahead
- Baked Olive Cheese Balls
- Crispy Cheddar Cheese Straws – Easy Recipe!
- Feta Cheese Spread
- Recipe for Olive Dip with Cream Cheese
- Onion Parmesan Toasts
- Sautéed Brie with Green Onion
- Green Chile Canapés
Easy Pimento Cheese Recipe with Green Chiles
These Easy Pimento Cheese Bites with Green Chiles are everything a good party bite should be – cheesy, a little spicy, and easy to pull together. Inspired by my mom’s classic homemade Pimento Cheese recipe, this version adds diced green chiles, jalapeños, and onion for extra flavor and heat. You only need 6 ingredients and 10 minutes of hands-on prep – then they bake into golden, savory squares that are perfect for any gathering, from game day to holiday parties and everything in between.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooling Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 36 bites 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon grated yellow onion
- 2 cans (4-ounce) mild diced green chiles, drained
- 1 can (4-ounce) diced jalapeno peppers, drained
- 1 (2-ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained and moisture pressed out
- 16 ounces (4 cups) shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together egg, onion, green chiles, jalapenos, and pimentos. Add Cheddar cheese and stir until all the ingredients are evenly combined. Add a sprinkle of kosher salt, if desired.
- Spoon into prepared pan; smooth the top, gently pressing down to even.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the mixture is set and the edges are starting to turn light brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Cut into squares, 6 across by 6 down.
- To serve, I like to place the bites into paper candy cups as they can be a bit greasy. Can be served warm or at room temperature.
Notes
To make ahead: Bake the bites up to 3 days in advance. Let them cool completely, then cover and refrigerate in the baking dish or transfer to an airtight container.
To reheat: Place in a preheated 300 degree f oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds, just until warmed through.
To store leftovers: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature or reheat per the instructions above.
Tips:
1. Shred your own cheese. Skip the pre-shredded cheeses. It often contains anti-caking agents that affect how well it melts, and it’s typically drier, which can throw off the texture. Freshly grated sharp Cheddar gives the best flavor and consistency. And, for this amount of cheese, I recommend using a food processor with a shredding disc—it’s faster and easier.
2. Grate cheese cold. It’s much easier to handle when it’s straight from the fridge, and it grates more evenly.
3. Drain everything well. Green chiles, jalapeños, and pimientos should be fully drained. Extra moisture can keep the bites from setting up properly.
4. Squeeze moisture from the onion. Even a small amount of liquid from the grated onion can affect the texture, so give it a quick press in a paper towel or fine mesh strainer.
5. Mix thoroughly. For even flavor and appearance, make sure everything is well combined before adding to the baking dish.
6. Smooth the top. Press the mixture gently into an even layer so the bites bake uniformly and cut cleanly.
- Category: Easy Appetizers
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One bite
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 101.4 mg
- Fat: 4.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.8 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 3.6 g
- Cholesterol: 33.1 mg
LOVE this idea! Pimiento cheese is my hubbie’s favorite, and he also loves spice so this is perfect for him. Thank you!