What happens when you pour creamy pimento cheese sauce over red potatoes and onions? Magic! Cheesy Southern Red Potatoes are a bubbly, delicious side dish for fish, seafood or chicken. This savory delight gets its burst of flavor from a traditional southern ingredient—pimento cheese.
As my husband and I spend more and more time in the South, we are discovering many of the southern staples used in cooking many dishes. Pimento Cheese is a staple in the south and loved by Carolinians.
It is a creamy cheese spread made of shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, a bit of mayonnaise and pimentos and was originally used to make small tea sandwiches for ladies’ luncheons in the early 1900’s. One of our favorites sandwiches is a BLT with Pimento Cheese.
What are pimentos?
Pimentos, or pimientos, are heart-shaped peppers, usually red in color, that are sweet with a bit of heat. They became popular in America in the late 1800’s due to their fresh sweet flavor and can be roasted and easily preserved in oil.
We eat pimento cheese on crackers, of course, but I also use it in savory side dishes. Adding it to rue when making a creamy cheese sauce is delicious and turns almost any casserole into a dreamy side dish.
You can find pimento cheese in most grocery stores or you can even make your own. Adding a chopped jalapeño pepper will give your cheese spread extra kick. Spicy or not, it is readily available in the South.
Cheesy Southern Red Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 10 small red potatoes, quartered
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- pinch of salt and black pepper
- 8 ounces pimento cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Wash and quarter your potatoes and place them in a 1.5 quart flat baking dish that has been greased with cooking spray.
- Chop one small yellow onion and add to the dish. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
- In a medium skillet, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until well combined. Add the milk and continue stirring on low heat until thickened.
- Add the pimento cheese and stir until melted.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes. Bake the dish for 35-40 minutes until cheese is bubbly and potatoes are cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Serve with your favorite main dish. I served these potatoes with grilled garlic lemon snapper and a leafy salad.
Do you have a favorite pimento cheese recipe?
How about Pimento Cheese and Pasta, or Pimento Cheeseburgers or even Pimento Cheese Pizza. The possibilities are endless! Share your recipe with me and others here at raveaboutfood.com!
Cheesy Southern Red Potatoes
Ingredients
- 10 small red potatoes quartered
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- pinch of salt and black pepper
- 8 ounces pimento cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Wash and quarter your potatoes and place them in a 1.5 quart flat baking dish that has been greased with cooking spray.
- Chop one small yellow onion and add to the dish. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
- In a medium skillet, melt the butter. Add the flour and stir until well combined. Add the milk and continue stirring on low heat until thickened.
- Add the pimento cheese and stir until melted.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes. Bake for 35-40 minutes until cheese is bubbly and potatoes are cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Serve with your favorite main dish. I served these potatoes with grilled garlic lemon snapper and a leafy salad.
