Wow, your friends and family, with these easy-to-make Pimento Cheese Bites, the perfect combination of sweet and savory! Crispy Phyllo cups filled with pimento cheese and topped with sweet, slightly spicy red pepper jelly make for a delicious appetizer for the holidays, game day, or whenever you’re entertaining.
Try an Easy Stuffed Mushroom Appetizer, Southern Cavier, or Outrageously Good Stuffed Celery when you’re entertaining or need a quick and easy appetizer.
In This Post
These Pimento Cheese Bites are my new favorite appetizer. Actually, they might just be on my all-time favorites list. This recipe combines two classic Southern ingredients into what I think is one of the best little appetizers ever. Now, pimento cheese is fantastic on its own, but when it’s spooned into a buttery, crispy Phyllo cup, topped with red pepper jelly, and baked, well, you’ve got something that’s totally irresistible.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Pimento Cheese – If you’re not from the South, you may not be familiar with Pimento Cheese. It might seem like a strange concoction, but you’ll be a fan once you try it.
- Sweet and Spicy—With the addition of a really good jarred red pepper jelly from the grocery store, these little crunchy bites are the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and creamy.
- Ready in 20 Minutes – Along with the Phyllo cups, I took advantage of some delicious prepared ingredients and put them together for an outstanding appetizer that comes together in less than 20 minutes.
Pimento Cheese Bites Ingredients
- Pimento cheese is the real star of the show here! You can use store-bought or homemade pimento cheese.
- Red pepper jelly is sweet and a little spicy, and it would be the best addition to these appetizer bites.
- Phyllo cups save time and energy because the dough is prepared and shaped already!
- You can also add a few pecans to the top of each bite for extra crunch.
Recipe Variations
- Use Bacon: instead of pecans, you can use bacon bits on top of these pimento cheese bites.
- More Heat: For more heat, fold some red pepper flakes or jalapeños to the cheese.
Step By Step Directions
- Prepare: The first step in making these little bites is to heat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is heating, you’ll prepare the appetizer.
- Fill and Bake: Place all the Phyllo cups on a baking sheet, and then, using a spoon, fill each cup with pimento cheese. Top the cheese mixture with a small dollop of red pepper jelly. Bake in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Check to make sure the cheese has melted, and the edges of the Phyllo cups are turning slightly brown.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes, then serve.
Can These Be Made In Advance?
Unfortunately no. The crust gets soggy, so they are best eaten immediately or within a few hours. They only take a few minutes to put together, though, and I promise it’s worth it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! Experiment with different jellies to find your favorite. One of mine is jalapeno pepper jelly.
No, these do not freeze well because the crust will become soggy when thawing and reheating.
If you do have leftovers, they can technically be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container, but they will get soggy. If you need to reheat them, try reheating them in the oven or air fryer.
Serving Suggestions
I love arriving at a party with a tray full of exciting and tasty appetizers. Alongside these pimento cheese bites, I often have Crock Pot Cocktail Party Meatballs, Salami Cream Cheese Roll Ups, and Creamy Southern Deviled Eggs.
Craving More? Try These Easy Appetizers
If you tried this Pimento Cheese Bites Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Ingredients
- 2 15 count Phyllo cups
- 1 cup pimento cheese – homemade or store bought
- ⅓ cup red pepper jelly
- ¼ cup chopped pecans – optional
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place Phyllo cups on a baking sheet. Spoon pimento cheese into each cup and top with red pepper jelly. If desired, add a pecan piece to each. Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Christmas at Home!
FREE EMAIL Bonus
Festive recipes to make your holiday kitchen full of joy
kim
Can these be made in an air fryer?
I’ve never tested them in the air fryer. Let me know how they turn out if you try it.
~Donya
Amanda
These were such a hit, even for my husband who claims to hate pimento cheese! My brother thought they tasted like Chinese crab Rangoon. Either way, they were delicious and gobbled up by everyone, and super easy!!!
Vickie Holcombe
So easy to make and very good.
Everyone wanted the recipe.
Thanks so much for the great comment and the terrific rating!
~Donya
Maxine Moates
What is the green herb sprinkled on top??? Basil?? Parsley??? Is it fresh or dried??
Donya
Hey there Maxine!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, that’s a great question! The herb sprinkled on top of these Pimento Cheese Bites is chopped fresh parsley, but you could use basil if you prefer. I hope this helps, let me know how everything turns out if you give the recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think!
~Donya
Cici
can these be made ahead of time and reheated
Hey Cici.
Unfortunately, no. The crust will get soggy. They only take a few minutes to put together and it’s totally worth it.
Enjoy.
~Donya
DAWN
Can these be made the day before, refrigerted, and bake in oven the next dAY?
Hey Dawn.
This recipe does not really work regarding making it ahead of time. It takes little to no effort to put the bites together and they don’t cook long to you only need a few minutes for the whole recipe.
Hope you’ll give these little bites a try!
Have a great day,
~Donya
Rosann Brodie
can these be frozen ? and reheated later ?
No, unfortunately.
Have a great day.
~Donya
Dianne Evans
Thank you for the quick reply about the Pimento Cheese Bites!!! Love your recipe site!!!!