How to Make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
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How to Make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
Learn how to make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits—whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, these grits are perfect for any meal! With a dash of spices and loads of melty cheddar, this recipe is all about that rich, creamy goodness. Plus, I’m sharing my top tips for the best grits ever! Completely Gluten-free + Vegan Option.
Why Make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits?
Grits are one of those cozy Southern staples—right up there with crispy oven-fried chicken. Whether you’re spooning them under juicy shrimp or serving them up hot for breakfast, you just can’t beat that creamy, cheesy, comforting goodness.
This creamy Southern cheese grits recipe is the one my family makes on repeat, and I think you’ll fall in love with it too. These grits are extra cheesy, super easy to make, and full of that rich, Southern flavor we all love. And the best part? They go with everything—from hearty dinners to lazy weekend brunch.
Once you’ve got the basics down, there are so many fun ways to switch things up. If you're in the mood to explore, try my Creamy Southern Sweet Potato Grits with Chickpeas or go bold with Tuscan 'Marry Me' Shrimp + Grits. Love a kick? My Spicy Southern Shrimp + Grits and Nashville Hot Cauliflower + Kale Grits are definitely worth a spot on your menu!
Jump to:
- Why Make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits?
- What Are Grits?
- Why You’ll Love this Creamy Southern Grits Recipe!
- Ingredients for Cheesy Southern Grits
- My Top 5 Tips for Perfect Grits
- Are Grits the Same as Polenta?
- Are Grits as Good for You as Oatmeal?
- How Do Southerners Eat Grits?
- What to Serve with Southern Grits
- Grits Ingredient Swaps
- Creamy Southern Cheese Grits Q + A's
- More Southern Recipes to Try
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- How to Make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
What Are Grits?
Grits are a classic Southern dish, basically creamy ground corn goodness—kind of like porridge but Southern-style. They're warm, cozy, and super versatile—perfect with butter, cheese, or topped with shrimp if you’re feeling fancy. Whether you have them for breakfast or dinner, grits are total comfort food at its finest.
Why You’ll Love this Creamy Southern Grits Recipe!
- Bold + rich flavor
- Easy to make. Easy weeknight meal or brunch option.
- Uses simple ingredients, but has deliciously complex flavors.
- Completely meal-prep friendly!
- Great gluten-free option for everyone!
- Fun cooking activity for entire family.
- And just absolutely wholesome and perfect for any kind of weather.
Ingredients for Cheesy Southern Grits
Here's what you need to make these creamy, rich grits at home:
- White corn grits. You can find these at most well-stocked grocery stores, often in the grains aisle.
- Almond milk. You can use regular milk or another non-dairy version. Just make sure it's unsweetened. Making your own is also a good idea! I love Easy Homemade Creamy Cashew Milk or Almond Milk Without Soaking.
- Heavy cream. I like to use organic dairy.
- Seasonings. I spice my grits with garlic powder, smoked paprika and Cajun seasoning.
- Butter. Use unsalted to better control the seasoning of your grits.
- Cheddar cheese. I like to use mild, but if you like a stronger flavor, use sharp or extra-sharp.
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS GRITS RECIPE!!
Here, I’ve curated a list of baking + cooking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite dishes, especially with this Creamy Southern Cheese Grits! Everything from my fave skillet, pots, wooden spoons, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
My Top 5 Tips for Perfect Grits
Heat + Soak Grits! Much like cashews, this allows grits to soften, cook faster, and become more creamy.
Boil grits for 20-30 minutes uncovered, but make sure to stir regularly to avoid lumps.
Add creaminess! It's all about adding milk, water, + heavy cream with cheese for the ultimate creaminess.
Season! Don't be afraid to season your girts. It amplifies the flavors more.
Low + slow is always best. This allows the grits to slowly release their starches for a decadent, silky texture.
Are Grits the Same as Polenta?
Basically, because polenta and grits are both made from ground corn, you can use them interchangeably. However, grits are higher in starch than polenta, so if you do choose to substitute in polenta for grits, you won't have to stir it as frequently, but it won't cook up as creamy as grits..
Are Grits as Good for You as Oatmeal?
Overall, oats are higher in calories, but they also contain more fiber and protein than grits, making them a much better choice if you're looking to lose weight. However, grits do provide fewer calories overall which may be beneficial for those with diabetes, etc.
How Do Southerners Eat Grits?
Because grits are a fork food, they are often enjoyed on a plate with a type of protein like eggs, meat, or seafood. Oftentimes, grits are a part of a Southerner's breakfast routine which might consist of eggs, bacon, sausage, etc. along with grits and perhaps a biscuit. In general, Southerners enjoy grits as a savory side dish to other foods for a complete meal.
What to Serve with Southern Grits
Grits with cheese make an excellent foundation for any number of dishes. At my house, we love to eat these creamy cheddar grits with:
- BBQ Cauliflower Wings
- Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders
- The Best Easy Blackened Shrimp
- Homemade Vegan Chickpea Quinoa Meatballs
- Spicy Orange Chicken Wings
- Southern Hot Honey Cauliflower Bites
Other topping ideas include:
- Roasted broccolini, broccoli, or veggies
- Crispy bacon (if you're not plant-based, of course)
- Meat (chicken, beef, etc.)
- Seafood (Shrimp, lobster, etc.) Try this Spicy Southern Shrimp + Grits recipe!
- Roasted Nuts, such as pecans, hazelnuts or walnuts
- Crispy sage leaves
- Chickpeas and beans
Grits Ingredient Swaps
To change up the flavors of this southern grits recipe or if you don't have all of the ingredients on this list, here are a few simple swaps:
- Swap cheddar for gouda, parmesan, or pepper jack
- Add homemade pesto sauce
- Use a different spice blend such as Homemade Cajun Seasoning or Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Add more spice with chili powder or cayenne
- Water → broth (chicken or veggie) adds extra flavor depth
Creamy Southern Cheese Grits Q + A's
Yes! Grits are made from corn, so this recipe is fully gluten-free.
Leftovers can be kept in an air-tight container (separately) in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Re-heat the girts or polenta over the stovetop or in a microwave when ready to serve. You may need to add a bit of milk to make things creamy again, but that is easily achieved as you whisk.
Of course! All ingredients can be made and individually stored as meal prep (up to 2 days prior) and assembled when ready to serve.
According to research, as a whole grain, grits provides several antioxidants that help mitigate cellular damage from free radicals + unstable atoms in the body. Two of the antioxidants found in grits, lutein and zeaxanthin, are known to contribute to better vision and eye health, protecting against age-related eye diseases
To make this grits recipe dairy-free, use these swaps:
Use vegan butter instead of unsalted butter
Swap the cream for coconut milk (full-fat)
Use vegan cheese instead of cheddar
More Southern Recipes to Try
- Best Southern Salted Caramel Cake
- Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with Breadcrumbs
- Leftover Turkey Southern Collard Greens
- Grandma's Baked Southern Banana Pudding
- Southern-Style Cornbread Stuffing
- Southern Peach Iced Tea
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Creamy Southern Cheese Grits recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
How to Make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup white corn grits
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 cups Almond milk
- 1 cup organic heavy cream
- 1 ½ tsps sea salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cajun seasoning blend, optional
- ½ cup unsalted butter (See Notes for Vegan option!)
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese (See Notes!)
Instructions
HEAT + SOAK THE GRITS FIRST:
- In a large pot or dutch pot over medium-high heat, add the water, white corn grits, and salt and stir until combined. Once it begin to boil, turn off the heat and let the grits sit for 15 minutes so that it soaks a bit. NOTE: See Post for the reasoning for this, etc.
COOK THE GRITS:
- Once the time has ended, turn on the heat to medium-high and add the milk, heavy cream, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cajun seasoning (optional), whisking regularly to avoid lumps or sticking to the bottom. After the first 10 minutes, reduce heat to medium-low so that it can cook more slowly for the ultimate creaminess.
FINISH THE GRITS:
- In the last 5 minutes, add the butter and cheese, whisking until combined and completely smooth. The grits are ready once it thickens, most of the liquid has reduced, becomes creamy, and the grits are al dente when tested. Remove from heat and serve immediately with your favorite protein.
- Bon Appétit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Leftovers can be kept in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Re-heat over the stovetop or in a microwave when ready to serve.
- HOMEMADE CAJUN BLEND: To make your own cajun blend, visit my Cajun Sweet Potato Grits + Chickpea recipe.
- VEGAN OPTION: To make these grits entirely dairy-free or vegan, just substitute the unsalted butter with vegan butter, the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream/milk, and the cheese with dairy-free shreds or nutritional yeast.
- WHAT PLANT-BASED MILKS ARE GOOD FOR THIS RECIPE? You can very much use regular cow's milk. However, for less dairy or for the vegan option, you can always use your fave or one of the following: Almond, coconut milk, homemade oat milk (froths/foams VERY WELL), homemade cashew milk, potato milk, flax milk, etc.
- BEST CHEESES TO USE: I love using Mild Cheddar cheese, however, you can also use the following: Gouda, Freshly-grated Parmesan, Sharp Cheddar, Pepper Jack, etc.
Nutrition
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How to Make Creamy Southern Cheese Grits.
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The flavor was awesome!!!
I made this today for breakfast with eggs. It was very tasty. Would be excellent with shrimp or fish.
Hi Tony, I'm SO glad that you enjoyed these grits. Thanks so much for giving it a try! 🙂
Such a delicious recipe! So thick and creamy, and the spice ratio was perfect. I used Costco’s Mexican Cheese Blend, and it tasted great. Will definitely be making this again!
Hi Gracie! WOW! I'm so glad that you enjoyed these grits! Definitely a fave in my house! Thanks so much for giving it a try! 🙂
These grits were absolutely perfect! They've become my go-to recipe.
I love grits but I love cheesy grits more!! This is savory and delicious!
I made these grits with dinner last night and omg were they delicious! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
I remember the first time I had grits was in Florida while on vacation with my mom. I was an instant fan and now everytime I have grits I think of my mom. Love this cheesy version...so delicious and perfect with an array of dishes.
I've never made grits before. I didn't grow up with them but want to make them for a friend. Thanks for the recipe. Looks delicous!