Simple dips. I have so many complex dip recipes in my rolodex — between hand-me-downs from family and cookbooks rescued off stoops, but time and time again, I come back to this two-ingredient wonder.
No matter the spread or occasion, I always make it: watch parties, family gatherings, or even that in-between moment after work when I need a little something to hold me over while dinner comes together (which is often). This easy peasy pimento cream cheese dip is always there.
What’s So Great About My 2-Ingredient Pimento Cream Cheese Dip?
When I say it’s like pimento cheese, I mean it in a more abstract way. It has the suggestion of a pimento cheese, with its creamy, sweet peppers but leans softer and simpler. More dippable.
I grew up on beach trips layered with pimento cheese spreads (particularly from Palmetto Cheese Homestyle Pimento Cheese). My two-ingredient dip delivers that delicious nostalgia hit in a minute or less, especially when I don’t have access to pimento cheese in New York City.
It’s creamy from a block of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (always Philadelphia Cream Cheese). The light, peppery bite from the peppers (I’ll use whatever is in stock, most commonly Cento Pimento Peppers) lingers just enough, and pairs well with my favorite Ritz Crackers — exactly like the boxes we kept stocked in our little bitty weekly rental. One bite feels sun-kissed and a big reminder that I’m not using nearly enough pimentos in my daily routine as I should be.
How to Make My 2-Ingredient Pimento Cream Cheese Dip?
This isn’t so much a recipe as it is an action. Warm the cream cheese just enough to soften it, which means let it sit on the counter for an hour or two. While you’re waiting on that, dice up the pimento peppers into tiny pieces. When you’re ready to assemble, scatter the diced pimentos over the top.
That’s it. Serve immediately with buttery Ritz Crackers and get comfortable, because you’ll want to sit back and enjoy it.
What’s your favorite 2-ingredient cream cheese dip? Tell us about it in the comments below.
