Cheese Grits

Every Southerner should have an easy cheese grits recipe in their back pocket. Those are just the rules, and we're here to help.

This cheese grits recipe uses quick-cooking grits, making it perfect for breakfast or for Shrimp and Grits on a weeknight. You can also use other types of grits but will need to adjust your cooking times to account for how long those grits need to cook before they're ready to eat.

Cheese Grits, An Essential Southern Side

Grits are required eating—whether that's at breakfast beside country ham or at dinner beneath a pile of buttery shrimp. In a hurry for breakfast? Cook up a cup of instant grits in the microwave. Have a bit more time? Whip them into Creamed-Corn Grits. Southerners aren't short on ways of using grits.

Thick and smooth, grits deliver a hint of corn, salt, and butter with each bite. (And yes, sometimes sugar.) But you can add more to them for even greater flavor.

Ingredients for Cheese Grits

You'll need a few pantry staples, but you probably have them on hand now. That'll make this an easy dish to create.

• Chicken broth: Instead of water, we like to cook grits in chicken broth. It adds a bit of savoriness to the final grits. You can use all water if you don't have the broth.
• Milk: Use any milk you have. You don't need all the fat of a high-fat dairy option like cream though because this recipe has so much cheese and butter.
• Salt: Grits have a natural bit of saltiness, but a bit more helps to balance the full dish.
• Quick-cooking grits: You can use any brand you like, and you can even use other types of grits, like stone-ground. But you'll need to adjust cooking times and liquid.
• Cheddar cheese: We like sharp Cheddar cheese as it adds loads of flavor to the grits without being too tangy.
• Parmesan cheese: This cheese is ideal for adding richness and a hint of nutty flavor.
• Hot sauce: Just trust us. This dish will awaken with even a small hint of hot sauce.
• Pepper: We like the slightly mellow flavor of white pepper—and it doesn't leave black specks in the creamy grits. If you don't have white pepper (or don't mind the specks), black pepper is fine.
• Butter: Butter adds some richness, and you can serve more pats of butter on top of the grits for people if they want it.

What Cheese Is Used in Cheese Grits?

Cheddar is traditional, but cheese grits can be made with just about any cheese you have on hand. Parmesan and smoked Gouda are two of our favorites.

How To Make Cheese Grits

If you've ever made grits on the stovetop, this recipe will be familiar. With a few ingredient changes and the addition of some cheese, this is fairly straightforward.

• Step 1. Boil: In a medium saucepan, boil chicken broth, milk, salt, and water.
• Step 2. Add grits: Once liquids are boiling, gradually whisk in the grits. Adding all at once can cause clumping.
• Step 3. Reduce heat: Turn the heat to low, and let the grits simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until they reach the thickness you like. Stir occasionally to prevent scalding the grits on the bottom of the pan.
• Step 4. Add cheese: Once the grits are thickened, stir in the cheeses, hot sauce, pepper, and butter. Serve immediately with more butter.

Serving Suggestions

Cheese grits are delicious on their own for breakfast. But they can also be the base of many great recipes, or the side to a few others, too. Serve cheese grits with bacon and eggs at breakfast. Top them with crumbled sausage and sautéed peppers and onions for a quick grits bowl. (Don't forget the hot sauce.)

Cook up some fried chicken or fried shrimp. Use cheese grits in place of buttered grits in shrimp and grits. Serve dishes like Braised Chicken Thighs over grits instead of mashed potatoes or pasta.

How To Store Cheese Grits

Cheese grits will last in the fridge for several days (up to 5) if you have leftovers. Just be sure to store them in an air-tight container.

When you are ready to reheat them, you can warm them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. If they're too thick, reheat them in a saucepan with a splash of chicken broth or milk.

Or better yet, sprinkle them with cheese and reheat the grits in an oven-safe dish in the oven until warmed through. It's a quick and easy baked grits dish.