Quick Answer: Our top pick for pimento cheese on a charcuterie board is MyThreeSons Emmy's Original Pimento Cheese (4.4 out of 5). Value: Price's Pimiento Cheese Spread. We ranked 6 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
Pimento cheese is the spread that makes a board Southern: sharp cheddar, sweet peppers and just enough mayo, piled into a bowl next to crackers and celery. Three published taste tests agree on the winner more than most, which makes this one of the easier calls on our site.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked October 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: MyThreeSons Emmy's Original Pimento Cheese ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.4 |
| Best value: Price's Pimiento Cheese Spread ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. MyThreeSons Emmy's Original Pimento Cheese ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.4 | The homemade taste |
| 2. Queen Charlotte's Original Pimento Cheese Royale ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Cheese-forward spread |
| 3. Price's Pimiento Cheese Spread ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Easy to find anywhere |
| 4. Palmetto Cheese Original ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | The Southern classic |
| 5. Callie's Hot Little Biscuit Traditional Pimento Cheese ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 | A gift-worthy tub |
| 6. Mrs. Grissom's Classic Cheese Spread ($) | ★★★☆☆ 3.2 | Nostalgia |
1. MyThreeSons Emmy's Original Pimento Cheese
★★★★½ 4.4 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: The homemade taste · $$ mid-range
The winner of two tests and runner-up in a third. Sporked named it the best of the best with 9 out of 10, thick, made with extra sharp cheddar and "very close" to homemade. Southern Living editors picked it for the sharpest cheese and most pimento flavor, and StyleBlueprint put it a hair behind first.
- Why we like it: The most consistent winner in published tests.
- Keep in mind: Easiest to find in the South.
- Where to buy: Publix, Harris Teeter, Kroger and some Whole Foods stores.
2. Queen Charlotte's Original Pimento Cheese Royale
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best for: Cheese-forward spread · $$ mid-range
StyleBlueprint's winner, made with four cheeses including extra sharp white cheddar for a "distinctly cheesy" flavor. Southern Living editors were split, with one finding it too spiced, and Sporked gave it an honorable mention.
- Why we like it: The cheesiest of the bunch.
- Keep in mind: Some tasters find the spices too much.
- Where to buy: Publix, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Food Lion and Central Market.
3. Price's Pimiento Cheese Spread
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: Easy to find anywhere · $ budget
A 1950s Texas recipe. Southern Living editors marked it as a favorite more consistently than any other brand, praising its classic flavor and "the perfect level of pepper spice." Sporked found it too mayo-heavy.
- Why we like it: Cheap and sold nationwide.
- Keep in mind: Creamier and less cheesy than the top two.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores and Walmart.
4. Palmetto Cheese Original
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: The Southern classic · $ budget
StyleBlueprint's staff called it a comfort-food classic, equal parts cheesy and creamy, and ranked it 3rd of five.
- Why we like it: Familiar to anyone from the South.
- Keep in mind: Fewer test wins than the top three.
- Where to buy: Southern grocery chains and many national grocers.
5. Callie's Hot Little Biscuit Traditional Pimento Cheese
★★★★☆ 3.8 out of 5 · Best for: A gift-worthy tub · $$ mid-range
Three Southern Living editors named it their overall favorite for its balance, with one calling it "not a standard pimiento cheese, but very good."
- Why we like it: Small-batch and well balanced.
- Keep in mind: Pricey and harder to find.
- Where to buy: Callie's online and specialty shops.
6. Mrs. Grissom's Classic Cheese Spread
★★★☆☆ 3.2 out of 5 · Best for: Nostalgia · $ budget
A Knoxville brand from the 1950s. StyleBlueprint's tasters gave it few votes, though one said it had "a nostalgic appeal."
- Why we like it: Inexpensive.
- Keep in mind: Smoother and milder than the top picks.
- Where to buy: Kroger, Walmart and Piggly Wiggly.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyThreeSons Emmy's Original Pimento Cheese | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4.4 |
| Queen Charlotte's Original Pimento Cheese Royale | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4.2 |
| Price's Pimiento Cheese Spread | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4.2 |
| Palmetto Cheese Original | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.0 |
| Callie's Hot Little Biscuit Traditional Pimento Cheese | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.8 |
| Mrs. Grissom's Classic Cheese Spread | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3.2 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: Cheddar should be the first ingredient, ahead of mayonnaise. Spreads built on "cheese product" or American cheese are milder and smoother.
Skip: Squeeze-bottle or shelf-stable cheese spreads. They taste processed next to real cheese on a board.
Serving it: pimento cheese is mayo-based, so keep it cold until 15 to 20 minutes before guests arrive and don't leave it out more than 2 hours. Serve it in a bowl with Ritz or butter crackers, celery and pickled okra, and top it with a spoonful of pepper jelly.
For what pimento cheese pairs with and how to serve it, see the pimento cheese guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Pimento cheese questions
What is the best store-bought pimento cheese?
MyThreeSons Emmy's Original. It won Sporked's and Southern Living's tests and came second in StyleBlueprint's.
Is it pimento or pimiento cheese?
Both. Pimiento is the Spanish spelling and the name of the pepper. Most brands use pimento.
What goes with pimento cheese on a board?
Butter crackers, celery, pickles, pepper jelly, ham and smoked sausage.
How long can pimento cheese sit out?
No more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F, because it's made with mayonnaise and cheese.
Sources
- Sporked: Best Pimento Cheese You Can Buy
- StyleBlueprint: The Best Store-Bought Pimento Cheese Brands
- Southern Living (via AOL): The Store-Bought Pimento Cheese That Tastes Homemade
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