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? ›

Southern Living Test Kitchen Director Robby Melvin prefers to cook grits in a mixture of water and heavy cream. "I use mostly water with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cream. The water does the trick to tenderize the grits, and the cream adds an obvious richness and creaminess to the finished product," he says.

How are grits served in the South? ›

Since grits typically lack flavor, they are often cooked with butter, cheese, cream, or gravy, and topped with shrimp, mushrooms, ham, or bacon. Shrimp and grits, a traditional Southern preparation, serves as many peoples' introduction to rich, creamy grits.

How to make grits tastier? ›

Grits are often cooked in either milk or water; we prefer a combination of the two for silky grits that aren't too heavy. For additional flavor, substitute water with chicken or vegetable stock. Grits require a 1:4 cup ratio of grain to liquid.

What can I add to grits to make it taste better? ›

Toppings for Grits
  1. Sweet: Butter, cinnamon, raisins, syrup, brown sugar, peanut butter, jam, or berries.
  2. Savory: Cheese, fried eggs, bacon (cooked and chopped), caramelized onion, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, scallions, or herbs.
Jun 22, 2022

What does baking soda do to grits? ›

Easily achieve the perfect creamy texture and save yourself some serious time in the kitchen by utilizing the little-known tip of adding baking soda to the pot. Just a pinch added early in the cooking process helps the grits to thicken up and can cut the needed cooking time in half.

What is grits in Georgia? ›

The Georgia Immunization Registry is designed to collect and maintain accurate, complete and current vaccination records to promote effective and cost-efficient disease prevention and control.

Why do northerners not eat grits? ›

It`s a tradition. ”Northerners don`t like grits because they expect them to have a lot of taste,” says Carl Allen, owner of Allen`s Historical Cafe in Auburndale, Fla. ”And as anyone who has eaten them knows, grits don`t have much taste. They`re just kind of blah, very bland tasting.”

Is cheese grits a southern thing? ›

"Grits are inherently Southern, so they identify as a taste of the South across cultures," she says. Murray theorizes that grits can be traced back much further than to the kitchens run by African American and white women in the antebellum South.

What goes with cheese grits? ›

The best side dishes to serve with cheese grits are ricotta, green beans with bacon, sausage and potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoked cod, pulled pork, coconut shrimp, egg bites, sauteed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, spinach salad, fried chicken, roasted Brussels sprouts, and collard greens ...

Are grits good or bad for you? ›

Adding grits to your dietary plans is a great move. They are a versatile food option that's packed with iron, B vitamins, antioxidants, and several other nutrients. As with all other foods though, be mindful of the possible downsides like nutrient loss during production and a high carb count.

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.

How to make Jim Dandy grits? ›

Microwave Directions (1 serving): 1 Combine water, grits and salt in a 4 cup microwave-safe bowl according to chart above for 1 serving only. 2. Microwave on high for 4 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Repeat for 1 minute if product has not fully thickened.

Are grits better with milk or water? ›

Creamy, cheesy piping-hot grits topped with spicy sausage – I don't think it gets much better than that on a cold day. Breakfast, lunch or dinner – this dish is perfect anytime! Aside from lots of delicious cheese, these grits get their extra creaminess by cooking them in milk.

Do grits taste better with water or milk? ›

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.

How long should you soak grits before cooking? ›

Cover and let the grits soak overnight at room temperature. If you are not soaking the grits, proceed directly to the next step. Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the first starch takes hold, 5 to 8 minutes.

How to keep grits from getting hard after cooking? ›

A higher 5:1 ratio by volume of water to grits ensures they cook through fully with no stubborn, hard bits. The recommended stone-ground grits offer the best flavor and texture, particularly when compared to grits made with commercial varieties with a more consistent grind.

What is the difference between Quaker old fashioned grits and quick grits? ›

Quick and regular grits: The only difference between these types is in granulation. Quick grits are ground fine and cook in 5 minutes; regular grits are medium grind and cook in 10 minutes. Instant grits: These fine-textured grits have been precooked and dehydrated. To prepare them, simply add boiling water.

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