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Square image of Grits in bowl with cheese and butter.
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5 from 1 vote

Cheese Grits

Cheese Grits are super creamy and comforting! This irresistible, filling, and oh so delicious recipe is worth indulging in, with minimal ingredients you just can't say no!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 530kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ⅓ cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 cup white stone-ground grits not instant or quick cook
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter plus more for serving
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened and cubed
  • 6 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided

Instructions

  • Use a large pot or dutch oven and add the cream, chicken stock, grits, pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder, and stir to combine.
  • Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring ingredients to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low.
  • Simmer for 20-25 minutes or to the time frame on the back of your grits packaging, frequently whisking until most of the liquid is absorbed.
  • Add the salted butter and stir it in the mixture until melted.
  • Add the softened cream cheese and about 4 ounces of the shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Stir to combine and melt everything. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with more butter and cheddar cheese sprinkled on top if desired.

Notes

  1. You don't want to use instant or quick grits. They won't turn out the same. 
  2. The longer your grits sit, the thicker and thicker they'll get. When this happens, add a few splashes of chicken stock or more cream to help loosen them back up. 
  3. Don't skip out on the cream cheese. It adds another creamy element to the grits that I think really makes this recipe so special. 
  4. Using softened ingredients helps them all blend nicely together. 
  5. You can freeze leftovers, see above how to do that.
  6. Feel free to swap out the cheddar cheese if needed. I have more suggestions on what to use instead, listed above!

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 433mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1729IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 0.5mg