Cheese Grits

Smooth and creamy Cheese Grits are an easy side dish made with grits, butter, and cheddar cheese seasoned with salt, fresh ground black pepper, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Top the grits with bacon crumbles, sliced green onions, and a little more grated cheese.

What are grits?

Chances are that if you are not from the South, you are wondering what grits are. Grits are made from ground corn, usually dent corn. This particular corn is more starchy and less sweet than most varieties producing a smooth and creamy texture when cooked. There is very little difference in flavor between white corn and yellow corn grits. Just that the white corn makes white grits while yellow corn makes yellow grits.

How to make Cheese Grits

First, bring the water and salt to a boil in a pot or saucepan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Slowly add the grits while whisking to avoid any lumps. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes (for quick cooking grits) or 15-17 minutes (for regular girts) or until thickened, stirring frequently.

Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, heavy cream, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Spoon the grits into bowls and garnish with crispy cooked bacon and green onions.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Quick Grits are ground much finer than stone ground grits. These grits cook up creamier and smoother than stone ground grits.
• Stone Ground Grits are coarsely ground therefore producing more corn flavor but less creaminess. See more below about grits.
• If the grits are too thick, stir in a few splashes of milk until the desired consistency is reached.
• The small amount of cayenne pepper does not make it spicy it just adds a little flavor.
• For a little more kick and heat, try adding red pepper flakes, a little more cayenne pepper, minced jalapeno, or minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Just remember to add a little at a time and taste test.
• Other cheeses to try are Monterey Jack, Provolone, Bleu Cheese, and Parmesan Cheese.
• Garnish the grits with crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, chopped parsley, chopped thyme, a sprinkle of cheese, caramelized onions, red pepper flakes, or diced jalapenos.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.

Different Types of Grits

Stone Ground Grits – are coarsely ground therefore producing more corn flavor but less creaminess. Since they are less processed, store them in the freezer. They take about 40 minutes to cook, so plan accordingly.

Quick Grits – are ground much finer than stone ground grits. These grits cook up creamier and smoother than stone ground grits. They cook up in about 5-7 minutes. They are usually found in the same grocery aisle as the oatmeal. These are the grits that I use for this recipe.

Instant Grits – are precooked and dehydrated, so all you need to do is add boiling water. They are in little paper packets like instant oatmeal. Instant grits do not have as much flavor as stone ground or quick grits. They are perfect for a super quick breakfast, but I do not suggest them for this recipe.

More Louisiana Style Recipes

Cheese Grits Recipe

Smooth and Creamy Cheese Grits garnished with bacon and green onions are the perfect side dish for eggs,  andouille sausage, pork chops, barbecued ribs, and sauteed shrimp, 

5 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Southern

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 420kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 1 cup quick-cooking grits or regular grits
• 4 cups water
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1-2 pinches ground cayenne pepper optional
• Kosher salt to taste
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste
• Bacon crumbles
• Green onions thinly sliced

Instructions

• Bring the water and salt to a boil in a pot on the stovetop.
• Slowly add the grits while whisking to avoid any lumps. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes (for quick cooking grits) or 15-17 minutes (for regular girts) or until thickened, stirring frequently. 
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter, heavy cream, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. If needed, add a few tablespoons of milk to thin the grits and reach your desired consistency.  Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
• Spoon the grits into bowls and garnish with crispy cooked bacon and green onions. 

Notes

• Quick Grits are ground much finer than stone ground grits. These grits cook up creamier and smoother than stone ground grits.
• Stone Ground Grits are coarsely ground therefore producing more corn flavor but less creaminess. See more below about grits.
• If the grits are too thick, stir in a few splashes of milk until the desired consistency is reached.
• The small amount of cayenne pepper does not make it spicy it just adds a little flavor.
• For a little more kick and heat, try adding red pepper flakes, a little more cayenne pepper, minced jalapeno, or minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Just remember to add a little at a time and taste test.
• Other cheeses to try are Monterey Jack, Provolone, Bleu Cheese, and Parmesan Cheese.
• Garnish the grits with crumbled bacon, sliced green onions, chopped parsley, chopped thyme, a sprinkle of cheese, caramelized onions, red pepper flakes, or diced jalapenos.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 985IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 316mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @smalltownwomanfoodnut or tag #smalltownwomanfoodnut!

On the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.