Pimento Cheeseburger

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Quick Bite

A South Carolina pimento cheeseburger is a juicy burger topped with creamy, tangy pimento cheese instead of a plain slice of cheese. It is rich, messy, proudly Southern, and especially at home in Columbia.

History

Pimento cheese has a complicated history, with early versions appearing outside the South, but South Carolina helped turn it into a regional obsession. Columbia, in particular, claims an important role in the spread’s printed history and in the rise of the pimento cheeseburger.

The pimento cheeseburger became popular in Columbia in the early 1960s, and the city still treats it like a local specialty. The formula is simple: a hot burger patty, a soft bun, and a scoop of pimento cheese that melts just enough to become creamy and messy.

Pimento cheese works beautifully on a burger because it brings fat, tang, pepper, and texture all at once. Cheddar gives sharpness, mayo gives creaminess, pimentos give sweetness, and a little cayenne or hot sauce gives heat.

Today, Columbia celebrates pimento cheese with a passport-style food trail, and restaurants across South Carolina put their own spin on the pimento cheeseburger. The best versions do not overthink it. Good beef, good pimento cheese, soft bun, done.

Fun Facts

• Columbia, South Carolina, proudly claims the pimento cheeseburger as a local specialty.
• Pimento cheese melts differently than sliced cheese, making the burger extra messy.
• Some versions add bacon, jalapeños, fried green tomatoes, or onion rings, but the pimento cheese is the star.

Where to Try

Rockaway Athletic Club Columbia, South Carolina
A Columbia institution famous for pimento cheeseburgers and no-frills local character.

Pawleys Front Porch Columbia, South Carolina
A burger-focused Columbia spot known for creative burgers, including pimento cheese-topped options.

Compton’s Kitchen West Columbia, South Carolina
A local favorite for Southern breakfast and lunch plates, with pimento cheese appearing naturally in Columbia’s burger-and-sandwich culture.

About the Game

This recipe is part of Van Life Challenge, a travel-themed board game from Gray Dog Games where players explore the United States, discover regional foods, and collect memorable experiences along the way.

Each featured food celebrates a real place, a local flavor, and the kind of delicious roadside discovery that makes every trip feel like an adventure.

Recipe

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Home-Cook-Friendly Pimento Cheeseburger Serves: 4 Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 10 minutes Difficulty: Easy Style: South Carolina / Columbia Burger

Ingredients

For the burgers:

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 4 hamburger buns
• Lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onion, optional

For the pimento cheese:

• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup diced pimentos, drained
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Make the pimento cheese: Mix the cheddar, mayonnaise, pimentos, Worcestershire, hot sauce, cayenne if using, and black pepper.
2. Chill: Chill the pimento cheese while you cook the burgers.
3. Shape the patties: Shape the beef into 4 patties.
4. Season: Season the patties with salt and pepper.
5. Cook the burgers: Grill or griddle the burgers until browned and cooked to your liking.
6. Add the pimento cheese: During the last minute, spoon pimento cheese over each patty so it warms slightly.
7. Toast the buns: Toast the buns if desired.
8. Build and serve: Build burgers with toppings and serve hot.

Traditional note: To make it more traditional, use a generous scoop of homemade pimento cheese instead of sliced cheese. Let it soften over the hot burger, but do not expect it to behave neatly.

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