Why it works: Onion and pepper are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 11% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 68,474 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Crockpot Baked Pimento Cheese Dip
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Toss together cheeses and cornstarch in a medium bowl.
Add half of bacon and all of remaining ingredients; stir well to blend.
Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 3‑qt. slow cooker.
Sprinkle with remaining bacon.
Cook and serve
Cover and cook on low 2–3 hours or until melted and bubbly.
Serve warm with crackers.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 6 of 8 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Bacon | 1 slice cooked (8g) | 43 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Pimento | not in our table | 0 |
| Sauce | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Cheddar cheese + oniontop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,669 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + saucetop 19% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together10,474 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Cheddar cheese + saucetop 21% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together838 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Cheddar cheese + peppertop 21% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,016 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Onion and sauce barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 10,474 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Melts into the dip and provides the main body and savory flavor.
- Extra-sharp cheddar cheese
- Adds a stronger, sharper cheese flavor that carries through the dip.
- Cornstarch
- Thickens the melted cheese so it stays smooth and does not turn greasy.
- Mayonnaise
- Adds fat and moisture, keeping the dip creamy and spreadable as it heats.
- Bacon
- Contributes smoky, salty flavor and a crisp texture.
The step that matters
Cover and cook on low until melted and bubbly. Cheese can turn grainy or oily if overheated. Cooking gently on low lets the cheese melt evenly while the cornstarch and mayonnaise keep the mixture smooth.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cheddar cheese, sauce, pepper):
- Capsicumfits better
- Mustardfits better
- Tomatofits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against cheddar cheese, sauce, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
The free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.
Macaroni and Cheese102 recipes
Cheese Making50 recipes
Cheese Fritters34 recipes
Cheese Omelette31 recipes