Southern Style Cheesy Grits (Quick)

Fast, flavorful, and family-approved

If you know me, you know grits are my thing. I’m the grits master in our family — it’s my unspoken title, and it comes with responsibility. Every birthday breakfast, every holiday morning, every brunch we host…I’m making the grits. It’s tradition at this point.

And while I love a slow-simmered pot of stone-ground grits, I’m also a mama with three kids, a full-time job, a side hustle, and not a whole lot of extra time. That’s why I’m here to tell you: quick grits are just as good — and anyone who says otherwise probably isn’t juggling soccer practice, a PTO meeting, and shooting a “how-to” video, all before 10am.

These creamy, cheesy grits cook in about 7 minutes and taste like you spent an hour on them. I make a big pot, then transfer them to a slow cooker to keep warm when we’re feeding a crowd. And just like their slow-cooked cousins, these grits are a blank canvas — dress them up however you want. There are whole grit bowl restaurants now (can we just pause and appreciate that?). My go-to toppings: sharp cheddar, scallions, and crispy crumbled bacon.

This is the easy version of a Southern classic, made with love, butter, and the good kind of shortcuts.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7–10 minutes
Total Time: Under 15 minutes

Servings: 6–8

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water (or use half chicken broth for added flavor)

• 1 cup quick grits (not instant!)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• 1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream

• Black pepper to taste

• *Optional toppings: sliced scallions, crumbled bacon, extra cheese, hot sauce, sautéed shrimp, fried or poached egg

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil:

   In a medium saucepan, bring water (or water and broth) and salt to a boil over medium-high heat.

2. Add grits:

   Slowly whisk in the quick grits to avoid lumps. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally for 6–7 minutes, or until thickened.

3. Make it creamy:

   Add the butter and milk or cream, stirring until smooth and rich.

4. Add the cheese:

   Stir in the cheddar, a handful at a time, until melted and creamy. Add black pepper and adjust seasoning as needed.

5. Serve warm:

   Spoon into bowls and top with your favorites — or transfer to a slow cooker on warm if you're serving buffet-style or hosting brunch.