Learn to make grits with this straightforward recipe! We love this wealthy, creamy Southern dish topped with eggs, recent veggies, or a easy pat of butter.
We’ve been on a grits kick in our home these days. Jack grew up within the South, so he has a critical comfortable spot for this wealthy, creamy corn porridge (particularly when it’s loaded up with butter and cream). By means of years of having fun with grits collectively, I’ve change into an enormous fan too. I shared a grits recipe in my second cookbook, however I solely lately realized that I’d by no means posted one right here. That adjustments now!
Beneath, you’ll discover our easy technique for the way to make grits, plus ideas for cooking them and serving solutions. I hope you take pleasure in!
What are grits?
Grits are dried, coarsely floor corn. When cooked with water or broth, milk, and/or cream, they create a thick, creamy porridge. They’re much like Italian polenta, however the two are made from various kinds of corn and milled and processed in a different way.
Grits as we all know them at this time advanced from Indigenous cooking in North and Central America. Now generally utilized in traditional Southern dishes like shrimp and grits, they’re a mainstay of Southern delicacies.
Components You’ll Want
Right here’s what you’ll must make this straightforward recipe:
- Grits, in fact! Like oatmeal, grits are offered in all kinds of cuts with completely different prepare dinner occasions. They typically vary from instantaneous grits (typically referred to as quick-cooking grits) to stone-ground grits. The moment variety can prepare dinner in as little as 1 minute, whereas stone-ground ones can take an hour or extra. Any sort will work on this recipe EXCEPT for immediate. I like Bob’s Pink Mill white corn and Anson Mills stone-ground grits.
- Water – Utilizing a 4:1 water to grain ratio make the porridge tremendous creamy. Chances are you’ll want so as to add barely extra water in case you have very coarse grits.
- Butter and heavy cream – If you happen to ask me, butter is a should for making scrumptious Southern grits. It deepens the corn taste and provides great richness. For an additional-creamy texture, you’ll be able to stir in a bit of cream (some milk would work too).
- And sea salt – To make all of the flavors pop!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements beneath.
Make Grits
You could find the whole recipe with measurements on the backside of this publish. For now, right here’s a step-by-step overview of the way it goes:
Begin by bringing the water and salt to a boil in a medium pot or saucepan.
Then, add the grits. BIG TIP: It’s essential that you just add them regularly whereas whisking continuously. Like polenta, grits clump simply. Pouring them into the pot in a gradual, regular stream whereas persevering with to whisk will assist them create a creamy porridge with none lumps. After you add them, scale back the warmth to low.
Prepare dinner, stirring typically, till the combination is thick and creamy. I discover that the majority manufacturers take 20 minutes to half-hour to prepare dinner, however in the event you’re utilizing a very coarse one, it may take longer, even as much as an hour.
The grains ought to be tender however nonetheless have a slight chunk. In the event that they’re thick however not tender, add extra water and proceed to prepare dinner till they soften.
Lastly, add the dairy. Take away the porridge from the warmth and stir within the butter. If desired, add the cream to make the combination even richer and creamier.
Recipe Variation
Add cheese! Jack loves this recipe with 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese combined in. Stir it in while you add the butter on the finish of the cooking course of. If it makes the combination too thick, add a bit of additional water or cream.
Serving Grits
We regularly make this recipe for breakfast (or breakfast for dinner!). For a easy meal, it’s scrumptious topped with a pat of butter and freshly floor black pepper. I prefer it much more with toppings like these:
You may as well serve grits as a aspect dish. I wish to pair them with cannellini beans and greens or a frittata.
What are your favourite methods to serve them? Let me know within the feedback!
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Additionally they freeze nicely for as much as 3 months. They may thicken as they sit, so that you’ll seemingly must stir in water or milk to loosen them while you reheat.

Make Grits
Serves 4
These Southern-style grits are wealthy, creamy, and flavorful. We like to serve them for breakfast or as a aspect dish. Take pleasure in them topped with a pat of butter and black pepper, or strive among the topping solutions within the weblog publish above.
- 4 cups water, plus extra as wanted
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup white or yellow corn grits, ideally stone-ground
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup heavy cream, plus extra as desired, non-compulsory
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Carry the water and salt to a boil in a medium pot. Regularly add the grits, whisking constantly, and scale back the warmth to low. Prepare dinner, stirring typically, for 20 to half-hour, or till the liquid is absorbed and the combination is creamy. Style the grits. If they don’t seem to be tender, add extra water and proceed cooking till tender and creamy. Very coarsely floor ones could require an extended cooking time.
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Take away from the warmth and stir within the butter. Add the cream, if utilizing, including extra as desired. Season to style and serve.
For cheese grits, stir in 1 cup grated cheddar cheese while you add the butter. If the combination turns into too thick, add additional water or cream as wanted to skinny it to your required consistency.