Famous Masters Pimento Cheese Sandwich Recipe (2024)

I have gone to the Masters almost every year for the past 20-plus years. I can confidently say I have had a pimento cheese sandwich every single time! Eating this pimento cheese spread is one of the highligts of a day on the courese for me.

Learn how to make this official sandwich of the Masters, at home to enjoy a Taste Of The Masters while watching the tournament on TV this spring.

What Is Pimento Cheese?

Pimento cheese is a traditional southern sandwich spread made with shredded cheese, mayonnaise, diced pimentos, and various seasonings. I know it seems a bit odd, but trust me, this sandwich spread is fantastic.

It’s commonly served between two slices of white bread to make a pimento cheese sandwich, but it can also be used as a topping for crackers, a filling for stuffed celery, or as a spread for burgers. Additionally, it is the main integrated in myHomemade Cheese Crackers.

Famous Masters Pimento Cheese

Masters patrons know that going to the tournament is not just about golf. It’s also about the food, especially thefamous pimento cheese at the Masters concession stands.TheAugusta National Golf Clubin Augusta, Georgiais a first-class act that always delivers in every aspect of their patron’s visits and this includes the food.

Our family jokingly says if Augusta National ran our government, we would have the best-run country in the world.

We strategically pace our eating on the days we go to the tournament. We want to be sure we get all our favorite sandwiches, such as their famous pimento cheese, Egg Salad Sandwich, Masters Southern Cheese Straws andMasters Chicken Salad Sandwich. Of course, for dessert, we always get aPeach Ice Cream Sandwich.

Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe History

There is a lot of history around the Mastes secret recipe for their pimento cheese sandwiches.

For over 40 years, a local caterer named Nick Rangos from nearby Aiken, South Carolina made the Masters’ famous pimento cheese. He was a local, so to speak, and made all the pimento cheese spread himself. As a kid, this is the Masters pimento cheese sandwich I grew up loving to eat every spring break walking the Masters course.

Then in 1998, the club switched contracts and began usingWife Saver, our favorite local fried chicken restaurant chain. They had been making the fried chicken sandwiches for years at the Masters.

The rumor is Mr. Rango refused to share his original recipe after holding the contract with the Masters for over 40 years. Wife Saver began to try and recreate Rangos’ pimento cheese. Wife Savers owner, Mr. Godfrey, and team presented several batches to Augusta National but could not get the recipe to taste like Mr. Rangos.

Something was missing to create the same southern sandwich spread.

Luckily, a woman who worked for the tournament had frozen a batch of the original the year prior. My Godfrey got back to recipe testing and finally hit on a recipe that seemed identical to Mr. Rango’s original spread.

However, here we go again, the National tried making it in-house. Today’s sandwiches (2022) do not have the same flavor or consistency as what I remember the originals had. They are still good, but I want to taste the original recipe. After all, Augusta National is all about traditions!

Why This Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe Is Authentic

This Masters pimento cheese recipe is authentic because it was created using the Masters ingredient list on their bag. Luckily for all of us, I brought home sandwiches for a late-night snack after a day on the course in 2016.

I spent some time double-checking my own copycat recipe, ingredient by ingredient, to be sure the pimento spread was the closest I could make it to the original pimento cheese sandwich recipe I remembered eating at the Masters golf tournament as a kid.

Ingredients In Masters Pimento Cheese Spread

What makes this pimento cheese so go is the simplicity of the ingredients. There is no fluff or fancy fillers, just high-quality cheese, classic mayonnaise, a dash of seasoning, and perfect-sized pimiento pieces.

• Cheese: For this recipe, the Masters uses three types of cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Pimiento
• Onion
• Seasonings
• White bread slices

📝 Note: You can find the full recipe with ingredients and measurements in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

What type of cheeses do I need?

For the best flavor, I suggest you purchase your cheese in blocks. When you are ready to make your spread, shred your cheese on a small grater setting. If you are in a pinch for time, you can buy a good quality, already fine-graded cheese.

• Cheddar Cheese:It’s important to useyellow sharp cheddar cheese. The contrast with the smooth cream cheese is essential.
• Monterey Jack Cheese:Jack cheese has a mild flavor with a hint of sweetness. Be sure to purchase quality cheese. Cheap store brands are less robust in taste.
• Cream Cheese:Purchase regular cream cheese, not whipped or low-fat cream cheese varieties. Be sure to allow it to soften to room temperature before stirring it into the mixture.

Cheese Tips To Make It Authentic

• The Masters does not have cream cheese lumps in their spread, so to make an authentic spread, it is very important to allow your cream cheese to come to room temperature before mixing it with the other cheeses.
• Also, be sure your shredded cheddar cheese and Monterey jack are not warm and soft. You do not want these two types of cheese to emulsify into the spread. You can see pieces of white and yellow shredded cheese in the original pimento cheese.

Best Mayo for Pimento Cheese

Mayonnaise:southerners are passionate about their mayonnaise. The ingredients on the sandwich bag did not name any specific mayo. However, because of the type of oil and other ingredients, they most likely use an excellent quality mayo such asDuke’s Real Mayonnaise.

🏆 If you think there is a better southern mayo, share your favorites with me in the comments below.

What are pimentos?

Pimentos are a type of sweet, red chili pepper preserved in small glass jars found in your grocery canned vegetables aisle. Typically, they are used in a diced or sliced form.

Seasoning In Masters Pimento Cheese Spread

• Onion:Onion is listed as an ingredient. However, when eating a concession stand Pimento Cheese, it is not apparent there is onion in the spread. I suggest dicing your onions very small for the most authentic-tasting spread. The size of rice grains would be good.
• Garlic Powder:The ingredient list on the bag says garlic powder, so be sure you do not use garlic salt.
• Cayenne pepper:Cayenne is listed as an ingredient. However, there is no spice or heat when you eat a Masters pimento cheese sandwich. Be sure only to use a pinch.
• Salt and black pepper:It is not evident by sight there is black pepper in the recipe. The spread does not taste salty. Just a pinch of each.

How To Make A Masters Pimento Cheese Sandwich

1. For the most authentic-tasting copycat recipe, be sure to review the ingredient tips above.
2. Take the cream cheese out of the fridge and place it on your kitchen counter to bring it to room temperature. The cream cheese needs to be soft at room temperature so your spread will be creamy without lumps.
3. Place all the ingredientsexcept the diced pimentosinto a medium size bowl.
4. Mix with a large wooden spoon until the pimento spread is smooth and creamy.

5. Next, drain the pimentos in a fine mesh strainer. Discard the juice.

6. Carefully fold in the drained pimentos into the cheese mixture.

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7. Using a large spoon gently stir in the pimento unitil the the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Assembling The Sandwich

🔑 OK, I’m giving you thekey to make the most authentic Masters Golf Tournament pimento cheese sandwiches. The pimento cheese spread must be served between two slices of fresh, soft white bread.

1. Lay two slices of bread on your cutting board. Scoop 1/3 cup of the pimento cheese onto the slice of white bread.
2. Using the back of your spoon or a butter knife, spread the pimento cheese evenly over the bread slices up to the edges of the crust.
3. Cut the sandwich in half to form two triangles.
4. Place the sandwich in a green wrapper. I like to use these green sandwich bags. Again, the green bag makes it authentic.

Serving Suggestions

When it comes to snacks or sandwiches, nothing beats the versatile appeal of pimento cheese spread.

• Dip: Scoop it up withcrackers, pretzels, tortilla chips, or fresh vegetable sticks like celery and carrots.
• Sandwich: Make it a classic Masters pimento cheese by serving it on fresh white bread cut into triangles.
• Filling: I particuarly enjoy this southern spread in celary sticks.
• Top It: Create the ultimate Southern burger by using pimento cheese spread as a sandwich topping.
• Deviled Eggs: Mix in a big scoop when making deviled eggs.
• Sausage Balls: I like to substitute the cheese in my sausage ball recipe for pimento cheese spread.
• Cheese Ball: Substitute one of your cheeses for pimento cheese when making cheese balls for your next party.

Can you freeze pimento cheese dip?

You can freeze pimento cheese. To keep the full flavor, be sure it is in a freezer container with a tight-fitting lid. Mark the date you put it in the freezer. It is best to only freeze pimento cheese for up to 3 months for full flavor.

Tip: To thaw frozen pimento cheese, place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours to thaw.

Fun Masters Golf Tournament Pimento Cheese Buzz

This iconic Master’s Pimento cheese sandwich has a history all its own. The sandwich hasrumorssurrounding its recipe, thelow priceis intriguing, and the status of being thebest-lovedsandwich year after year at the Masters.

Augusta’s Sandwich Scandal

If you want to learn more history about the famous sandwich recipe served at the Augusta Masters, head over to the Gastro Obscura. I was interviewed in their article,The Sandwich Scandal at the Heart of the World’s Greatest Golfing Event.

Luke Fater captures the essence of the pimento cheese scuttlebutt. The Masters is an “event so wedded to perfection, so shrouded in its own tradition, is surely one of the last places you’d expect to find successive episodes of food-based spite politics. Yet here we are.”

Why do pimento cheese sandwiches cost $1.50 at the Masters?

In my interview withYahoo,I share with you my expertise on the $1.50 pimento cheese sandwich. When golf patrons visit the Masters tournament for the first time, they can not believe how inexpensive concession stand food is.

Most sporting events jack up food prices to an unbelievably high price because they know they have a captive buyer.

However, Augusta National concession stand prices are always low and the food is always fantastic. They serve their food in a simple bulk style to keep prices low as a service to their patrons, the average Joe like you and me. For a mere $1.50, you can enjoy the famous pimento cheese sandwich.

🥇 Augusta Nationalfocuses on perfection, not big and showy but simple perfection in every tiny detail, just like this pimento cheese sandwich recipe.

Need to feed a crowd? I can help. In the recipe card below, all you have to do is tap 2X to double or 3x to triple this recipe. The amounts for each ingredient will change, then hit the print button. Or, if you prefer, slide over the sleep mode tab to prevent your phone screen from going dark. It’s that easy!

If you host a Masters Party or make some of my Masters-themed recipes, be sure to leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this recipe or leave a comment. This helps others find my Masters recipes.