We didn’t really want to celebrate World Grits Day this weekend. It’s not like we feel obliged to cook up every dish that gets its own random holiday. Still, it just took a casual mention of grits around the house to learn that some people really miss having the ground corn meal as part of their healthy breakfast. So we turned to our cookbooks with a big sigh, and discovered there are nearly dozens and dozens of ways to incorporate grits (or hominy as it’s sometimes called) into a meal–and we’re sharing a Cheese Grits recipe that created a new generation of grits lovers who’ll be celebrating the World Grits Day of 2026… [photo via flickr]
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup of quick cook grits
- 4 ounces of shredded cheddar
- 1 cup of milk
- 2 cups of water
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 2 teaspoons of pepper
Directions
- Pour two cups of water in a small pot and start boiling the water. Add a pinch of salt if you like for flavor. Once the water comes to a full boil, you can add the grits. Let the grits boil before you lower the heat and cover them up.
- Keep the grits on low and cook them for about eight to ten minutes. You want to keep them hot and warm.
- Turn off the stove but keep the grits on. Pour the cup of milk and stir well. Slowly sprinkle the freshly grated cheese in the grits and keep stirring. You want the cheese to melt well. Keep stirring until it’s rich and creamy. Serve immediately.
- Garnish each plate with a little bit of salt and pepper.
If you really want to add extra flavor to this dish, feel free to add anything you would like! Crispy bacon bits add a hint of salty crunchy flavor whereas parsley and chopped almonds give it a bit of a green nutty flavor. Grits are a hearty dish for breakfast but can also be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. Try grits for dinner and add garnishes like chopped mushrooms, chives, shredded carrots, fresh thyme, or any other herb you would like. The best grits dishes always have a lot of flavor.
Another note to keep in mind: if you would rather make the grits from scratch, you can make those instead. Just prepare yourself to allow more time. Start with a box of old-fashion grits and follow the instructions on the box. Generally, making grits is easy; you boil the water, pour in the grits, and leave in for about twenty minutes. Follow the rest of the instructions in the aforementioned recipe and enjoy!
