It's cheesy, full of big southern flavors, and a little fancy with chunks of shrimp. This no-fail Shrimp Appetizer Toast with Pimento Cheese will make you look like a chef at your next party.

Pimento cheese toast laid out on a table and garnished with diced scallions and pickled red onions.

As an experienced seafood blogger who spent most of my formative years in the southern US, combining Tennessee flavors with coastal seafood is a favorite pastime.

This shrimp appetizer checks all the boxes. Simple to create. Just a handful of ingredients. Comes together with a small amount of budget-friendly frozen shrimp, or even leftover shrimp.

And it's a huge crowd-pleaser - the last time I made it at home, the bubbling dish of cheesy shrimp dip didn't made it out of the kitchen before it was devoured.

Ingredients for Shrimp Toast Appetizer:

ingredients for pimento cheese laid out on a table and labeled.

Before we get to the step by step instructions, a few notes about the ingredients:

Cream cheese: the recipe calls for whipped cream cheese, but if you're using regular blocks of cream cheese, just add a bit more mayo or half and half to thin the mixture just a little.

Shrimp: a cup of cooked, diced leftover shrimp works great here. If you're starting from scratch, small salad shrimp are a budget-friendly option!

Cheese: sharp cheddar is the way to go - white or yellow are equally delicious and I often mix the two. But whichever variety is languishing in your refrigerator is a good option.

Roasted red peppers: the recipe calls for plain roasted red peppers instead of traditional jarred pimentos. I find roasted red peppers to have better smokiness and richer flavor than pimentos. But follow your heart! Either will work.

Seasonings: garlic powder, dried mustard, cayenne and Worcestershire are core flavor boosters in classic Southern pimento cheese. After you chill the mixture, taste and adjust to your liking.

Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.

Step by step instructions:

1. Mix spices and cheese

Combine cream cheese, mayo, Worcestershire, dry mustard, garlic powder and cayenne, if using, in the bowl of a small food processor. Mix until well combined.

2. Add shrimp and vegetables

Fold cream cheese mixture into the shredded cheddar, diced shrimp, roasted red peppers and diced scallions. Stir to combine.

Creamy mixture with shrimp and veggies in a glass bowl.

3. Chill + Bake

Chill mixture for 30 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Preheat broiler to high and position oven rack about 5 inches from the coil.

pimento cheese mixture in glass bowl ready to cover and chill.

If making toasts, scoop chilled dip onto each slice of baguette and arrange on a foil-lined baking sheet.

pimento cheese scooped onto a toasts before baking.

4. Garnish and Serve

Broil for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Remove, garnish with diced chives, and serve with pickled red onions.

Pimento cheese on toast laid out on a wooden board covered with parchment.

Alternately, you can scoop the chilled pimento cheese shrimp dip into an oven-safe serving dish and broil for 3-5 minutes, until bubbly and brown. Garnish with diced scallions and serve with toasted baguette slices.

Pimento Cheese Shrimp Toast Appetizer

Ingredients for Shrimp Toast Appetizer: