Pimento cheese sandwiches for a tailgate: sharp cheddar, pimentos and mayonnaise spread on soft white bread, crusts off and cut into 24 tea sandwiches that ride in the cooler on ice, enough for 8 to 12 as a snack. About 40 minutes at home and no cooking at all, which suits the Grove, because grills of any kind are banned on the Ole Miss campus. Pimento cheese is a Southern staple, and this is a homemade spread with no stove involved.
Makes: 24 tea sandwiches (feeds 8 to 12) · Hands-on: about 40 min · Total: about 40 min at home, plus an overnight chill for the spread, plus about 5 min at the lot
Home gear: a box grater, a mixing bowl, a serrated knife, 2 shallow lidded containers (or a half-size foil pan with a lid), paper towels and plastic wrap
Pack for the lot
- Containers of sandwiches, on ice in the cooler
- Extra ice
- A serving tray and napkins
- A cooler thermometer
- Trash bags
Lot notes
- The Grove rule: the Ole Miss guide's rules say "Grills | None. Electric, gas, charcoal and wood grills are all banned on campus, and so are heaters." Its own advice for the Grove is that everything shows up cooked, from your kitchen or a caterer. This one needs no cooking at all. Read the Ole Miss guide.
- Holding cold: pimento cheese is mayonnaise and dairy, so it stays on ice at 40°F or below. Early-season games in Oxford run hot, so the 1-hour limit above 90°F applies on those days.
- Long days: the Grove opens for tents at 6 p.m. the Friday before a game. Make the sandwiches on game morning, not Friday night, and refresh the ice midday.
- Cleanup: campus closes 3 hours after the game or at midnight, whichever comes first. Leftovers that sat out get tossed, not repacked.
Can you make pimento cheese sandwiches ahead?
Make the pimento cheese up to 3 days ahead and keep it in the fridge. Build the sandwiches on game morning, because the bread softens if they sit overnight.
How do you keep pimento cheese sandwiches cold at a tailgate?
Pack them in shallow, lidded containers set directly on ice, keep the cooler closed and in the shade, and serve 1 container at a time. They need to stay at 40°F or below.
How many pimento cheese sandwiches do you need for 20 people?
Plan on 3 tea sandwiches each, so 60. Make 2½ batches: 2½ lb extra-sharp cheddar, 3 jars (4 oz) of pimentos, about 2 cups of mayonnaise and 60 slices of bread, which is about 3 loaves.
Can you grill in the Grove at Ole Miss?
No. Electric, gas, charcoal and wood grills are all banned on the Ole Miss campus, and so are heaters, so bring food that's already cooked or needs no cooking, like these.
How long can pimento cheese sit out?
No more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it's above 90°F. After that, toss it.