The Best Southern Cheese Grits Recipe In Georgia - The Domestic Diva (2024)

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This easy cheese grits recipe is a breakfast staple in the south. A Georgia recipe for southern style cheese grits is quick to make in less than 15 minutes. American cheese grits an be served with your favorite seafood like shrimp or fried catfish for dinner. This southern cheese grits recipe uses cheddar cheese and quick cooking grits.

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Cheese Grits are a staple at any southern table. Cheese grits can be served alongside crispy bacon for breakfast or fried catfish for dinner. This southern cheese grits recipe is quick, simple, and delicious.

What are southern grits made of?

Believe it or not, corn! Grits are made from either white or yellow corn. The best grits are stone ground but they take a bit longer to cook than quick grits.

What do grits taste like?

Grits may be made from corn but they do not taste like corn at all. They have a creamy, smooth yet slightly gritty texture. Grits take on the flavor of whatever you cook them with.

So if you add cheese to your grits then the grits will taste like whatever cheese you flavored them with.

If you are like my husband, and would rather have sweet instead of savory grits then add some sugar and butter to plain southern grits.

The Best Southern Cheese Grits Recipe In Georgia - The Domestic Diva (1)

What is the best cheese for cheese grits?

True southern cheese grits are made with sharp cheddar cheese.

I was born and raised in Georgia. Just like our macaroni and cheese, around these parts we prefer our cheese on the sharper side.

When it comes to grits the only way I know how to eat them is with lots of cheese.

But, visit a restaurant here in the south, most of the time they will cut corners to save their budget. Often serving grits with a slice of American Cheese (yes, really) or a few sprinkles of mild cheddar.

Cheese lovers, ya’ll know that neither one of these cheeses will do when it comes to a divine bowl of southern cheese grits.

So I’m sharing with you my secret to making the best southern cheese grits right in your own kitchen. Not only is this recipe easy and delicious but it also takes 15 minutes to make from start to finish.

What do you eat with cheese grits?

Cheese grits can be eaten a variety of ways. Some like to eat cheese grits for breakfast alongside a traditional country breakfast of eggs, biscuits, and your choice of meat like ham, bacon, or sausage.

Others might prefer to eat cheese grits for dinner serving them alongside seafood dishes like fried catfish or topping them with sautéed shrimp.

There is just something about a big bowl of warm, ooey-gooey cheese grits. It definitely will warm your soul. Perfect for cold mornings or just for a little bit of southern comfort food when you need it most.

This recipe is a huge hit with my family. So much so that we always have grits stocked in the cupboard. You never know when that cheesy craving will strike.

The Best Southern Cheese Grits Recipe In Georgia - The Domestic Diva (2)

How do you like to eat your grits? Sweet or Savory?

I would love for you to give this recipe a try. Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comment section below.

You can serve alongside your favorite breakfast dishes, compliment a seafood feast, or indulge in a bowl all on its own.

The Best Southern Cheese Grits Recipe In Georgia - The Domestic Diva (3)

Southern Cheese Grits Recipe

The Best Southern Cheese Grits Recipe In Georgia - The Domestic Diva (4)The Domestic Diva

This easy cheese grits recipe is a breakfast staple in the south. A Georgia recipe for southern style cheese grits is quick to make in less than 15 minutes. American cheese grits an be served with your favorite seafood like shrimp or fried catfish for dinner. This southern cheese grits recipe uses cheddar cheese and quick cooking grits.

5 from 13 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup quick cooking grits
  • 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, add butter, water, milk, and salt.

  • Heat wet ingredients on high until it just begins to boil.

  • Reduce heat to medium-low and gradually stir in quick cooking grits.

  • Stir occasionally as grits cook for approximately 5 minutes.

  • Once grits have thickened, reduce heat to low then add cheese and pepper.

  • Continue stirring until cheese is completely melted.

  • Divide into 4 servings. Top with extra cheese if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

Can’t find grits in your grocery store?

These quick cooking grits are our family favorite because they come in a big 5 lb bag and only take 5 minutes to cook.

However, if you have the time thesestone ground white gritswould be wonderful to use in this recipe they would just take a little bit longer to cook. Once thickened you can then add the cheese of your choice.

The Best Southern Cheese Grits Recipe In Georgia - The Domestic Diva (5)

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The Best Southern Cheese Grits Recipe In Georgia - The Domestic Diva (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good grits? ›

The key to cooking old-fashioned grits is going low and slow—use a low heat so the grits simmer and slowly release their starches, which creates a decadent, silky texture. Whisking constantly during the first couple of minutes, and frequently throughout the rest of the cooking process, will prevent lumps from forming.

What do Southern people put on their grits? ›

Southern grits are some of the creamiest, dreamiest dishes on the planet. Made from stone-ground grits and slow cooked to perfection, I love them best finished with a generous heap of butter, cheese (mmm, cheesy grits!), and heavy cream.

How long should you soak grits before cooking? ›

Before turning on the stove, artisan grain producer Anson Mills recommends soaking the grits overnight for a “superior” texture. This step also reduces the cooking time by about 50 percent, which can take from about 20 minutes to 1 hour or more, depending on the type of grits and desired consistency.

How to make grits tastier? ›

Use mostly water and add a small amount of cream, such as the 1/4 to 1/2 cup recommended by our test kitchen. If you want a stronger dairy flavor, you can use a mixture of half milk and half water along with the cream.

Is milk better than water for grits? ›

No matter which variety, yellow or white, the beauty of grits is their versatility and ability to take on most flavors paired with them, although they are always best when cooked with milk instead of water. The flavor and consistency difference is truly amazing.

What does adding an egg to grits do? ›

Similar to the rice in tamago kake gohan, the hot grits gently “cook” the egg, turning the slippery white and runny yolk into a creamy, emulsifying sauce.

What does putting milk in grits do? ›

Whole milk: You can do all water with just a splash of milk if you like, as long as there is some. It provides a creaminess that you can't get with just water. You can also use anything from whole to skim milk, but for quick grits I don't recommend using anything heavier than half-and-half because it's too thick.

How to make Dixie Lily grits? ›

For 1 serving: Combine 1-1/3 cups water and 1/8 tsp. salt with 1/3 cup Dixie Lily Grits in a 1-quart bowl. Microwave at HIGH 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let stand until desired consistency.

What is Geechee grits? ›

Geechie Boy products are all authentic. Heirloom corn, heralding back to the early Native Americans, is used in the antique gristmills (photo below), which preserve the natural oils and flavors of the corn resulting in the most flavorful grits.

What is Georgia State food grits? ›

The state of Georgia declared grits to be its official prepared food in 2002. A similar bill was introduced in South Carolina to name it the official state food, but it did not advance.

What is antebellum grits? ›

Their Antebellum grits are made from heirloom white or yellow corn varieties — and stone-ground.

Should grits be cooked covered or uncovered? ›

Cooking Grits for Yourself or a Crowd

Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you want the grits to cook longer and be more creamy, add a little more water, and return to the heat and simmer, stirring, uncovered, until done.

What is the proper ratio of water to grits? ›

Proper Grits Technique

At home, I'll often start with a 4:1 ratio by volume of water to grits, and if the grits aren't fully cooked through by the time they've thickened, I'll add more water, bumping the ratio up to 5:1.

Why are my grits not creamy? ›

Make them creamier by cooking longer. Some folks add milk to the water and say that helps as well. The issue with using milk is scorching. Frequent whisking or stirring is essential with all types of grits.

Should you soak grits before cooking? ›

Soaking grits in water overnight and cooking them in their soaking liquid reduces their cooking time by about 50 percent. In real terms, this means 1 cup of grits, unsoaked, cooks in about 90 minutes; soaked overnight, they cook in about 50 minutes. Either way, don't rush these grits.

What does baking soda do to grits? ›

Baking soda breaks through the structure of the grains of corn, encouraging gelatinization of the grits' starches so that they absorb liquid, thicken up, and get creamy in no time.

How do you keep grits from getting stiff? ›

really easy:
  1. Use quick grits, not “instant grits.” Add milk or half & half, not water. ...
  2. Add grits to the dairy liquid s little at a time (ie, don't dump it all at once)… ...
  3. Stir continuously until grits come to a low boil … ...
  4. Use a whisk to break up any clumps then stir slowly for about 30 seconds…
Nov 28, 2021

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