Learn to make grits with this straightforward recipe! We love this wealthy, creamy Southern dish topped with eggs, contemporary veggies, or a easy pat of butter.
We’ve been on a grits kick in our home recently. Jack grew up within the South, so he has a severe comfortable spot for this wealthy, creamy corn porridge (particularly when it’s loaded up with butter and cream). Via years of having fun with grits collectively, I’ve develop into an enormous fan too. I shared a grits recipe in my second cookbook, however I solely just lately realized that I’d by no means posted one right here. That modifications now!
Under, you’ll discover our easy technique for the right way to make grits, plus suggestions 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 just like Italian polenta, however the two are manufactured from several types of corn and milled and processed otherwise.
Grits as we all know them at this time advanced from Indigenous cooking in North and Central America. Now generally utilized in basic Southern dishes like shrimp and grits, they’re a mainstay of Southern delicacies.
Elements 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 cook dinner instances. They often vary from prompt grits (generally referred to as quick-cooking grits) to stone-ground grits. The moment variety can cook 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 fast. I like Bob’s Purple 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 when you’ve got very coarse grits.
- Butter and heavy cream – In case you ask me, butter is a should for making scrumptious Southern grits. It deepens the corn taste and provides fantastic richness. For an additional-creamy texture, you may stir in somewhat cream (some milk would work too).
- And sea salt – To make all of the flavors pop!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
The way to Make Grits
Yow will discover the whole recipe with measurements on the backside of this submit. 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 step by step whereas whisking consistently. 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.
Cook dinner, stirring usually, till the combination is thick and creamy. I discover that the majority manufacturers take 20 minutes to half-hour to cook dinner, however when 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 cook 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 blended in. Stir it in if you add the butter on the finish of the cooking course of. If it makes the combination too thick, add somewhat 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:
It’s also possible to serve grits as a aspect dish. I prefer 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 properly 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 if you reheat.

The way to 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. Get pleasure from them topped with a pat of butter and black pepper, or strive a number of the topping solutions within the weblog submit 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, elective
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Deliver the water and salt to a boil in a medium pot. Regularly add the grits, whisking constantly, and scale back the warmth to low. Cook dinner, stirring usually, 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 if 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.