There's nothing better than Mama's homemade grits, but we're kicking them up a notch to make the ultimate savory breakfast: deviled grits.
This unique recipe will surprise you, so don't knock it until you try it. We elevated the Southern staple dish of grits to become the complete breakfast package. This complementing dish consists of orange juice, bacon, and grits.
With each bite, you'll get a taste of the savory bacon and brown sugar combination, followed with a tart, zesty finish from the orange juice. To finish off this delicious recipe, top the loaded grits with sugar coated bacon bits, because let's face it, a dish can never have too much bacon.
These Deviled Grits will warm you right up, especially in the cold winter months. The sweet aroma of these loaded grits will wake up even the heaviest sleepers. Deviled Grits will become your new favorite breakfast go-to.
![Southern Living Deviled Grits in the casserole dish to serve](https://www.southernliving.com/thmb/Yylh3_8wqCZxzCxUIKW2zbePfUE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Deviled_Grits_Beauty_1_2x3_Audit7085-6-bc520dba5e34423ebc8e764844e5887f.jpg)
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Ingredients
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6 bacon slices
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3 cups water
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1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
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1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
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1/4 cup unsalted butter
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1 teaspoon orange zest + 1 cup fresh juice (from 2 oranges)
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4 large eggs, lightly beaten
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Cooking spray
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2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Directions
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Gather your ingredients and cook bacon:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium-high until partially cooked, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain; reserve 1 tablespoon drippings in a small bowl.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
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Cook the grits:
Bring water to a boil in a saucepan over high, and add salt. Slowly stir in grits, and cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
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Stir butter, orange zest, orange juice, and eggs into grits until thoroughly combined.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Pour into a greased (with cooking spray) 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven until top begins to turn golden, about 30 minutes.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
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Add topping and finish baking grits:
Crumble bacon. Add bacon and brown sugar to reserved 1 tablespoon bacon drippings, and stir to combine.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Top grits with bacon mixture.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Bake at 350°F until grits are set and brown sugar mixture is bubbly, about 15 minutes more.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless