Creamy Southern Stone-Ground Grits Recipe
STON”Southern Stone-Ground Grits made the old-fashioned. Classic Creamy, butter grits recipe seasoned with salt and pepper.”
Watch me make these creamy, Southern Stone-Ground Grits Recipe from start to finish!
I don’t know of many recipes that are as southern as grits. Grits are a true Southern classic that I grew up eating for breakfast just about every weekend! They also often made their way to the dinner table in the form of a savory cheese grits recipe cooked in milk and chicken broth served with fried fish. Sooooo good!
Have you ever had grits before? It seems that folks either love or hate them. If you hate them then chances are you just haven’t had them fixed right. And by fixed right, I mean simmered in milk with plenty of butter, salt, and pepper! Grits served plain with no seasonings and boiled in water are just downright disgusting!
Bless your heart if that’s the way you were introduced to them.
Grits are on the same comfort level as mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese in my book. They just have a way of making things seem good with the world and I’m so ready to share this classic recipe with you.
What Are Stone-Ground Grits?
Now some Southerners will gasp at the thought of 5-minute or instant grits because they feel stone-ground grits are the only true way to fix grits. Meh, I can get down with the 5-minute grits if they’re made a certain way, but I can’t deal with the instant packet grits. I’ve tried.
I have to admit though, stone-ground grits, like this grits recipe, sure hold a special place in my heart. They get ridiculously creamy and just have a certain spirit about them.
Stone-ground grits are made from ground corn just like any other grits, only with a much coarser ground. It’s done the old-fashioned way, using the entire kernel which produces a more toothsome texture. Anytime I can get my hands on some hand-milled stone-ground grits I go for it. Every bag of stone-ground grits is different though, which I think just adds to the charm. I’ve had some bags that take much longer to cook because the grains are bigger and some that cooked really quickly. I’ve even had some with a strong corn taste and some that were very mild. I’ve enjoyed them all!
Looking for an instant grits recipe Check this out!
The grits you see in grocery stores are usually quick or instant grits. I go to the Farmers Market for my stone-ground grits because I can never seem to find them anywhere else. Sometimes Earth Fare will have them.
Sure, stone-ground grits take a bit longer to prepare (anywhere from 20-60 minutes, depending on the kind) but they are the creamiest grits ever. You may find it hard to go back to instant grits recipes after that first, creamy, buttery spoonful.
Today I’m going to show you how to make a really good (and simple) pot of Southern stone-ground grits. I’m keeping this recipe super simple and classic! No fancy spices just butter, salt & pepper!
When making grits recipe, whether quick-cooking or stone ground, forget what you read on the back of the package (most of the time). I never prepare them this way. Follow along with the steps below and you’ll have a pot of true, authentic, and delicious Southern grits.
I’ll include a few tips at the end of this post for making the best post of grits ever, but first, let’s get into the process!
STONE-GROUND GRITS RECIPE INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup white stone-ground grits
- 1 ½ cups half-n-half
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2-4 tablespoons unsalted butter plus more for individual bowls if desired
- 1 teaspoon salt
- black pepper
STON GROUND GRITS RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS
- Place grits in a large bowl and cover with water.
- Stir and allow the chaff to float to the top.
- Use a mesh strainer to remove and discard the chaff.
- Drain off the water. Set aside.
- In a large pot add half-n-half, water, butter, salt, and pepper. (make sure the liquid tastes well-salted)
- Bring to boil over medium heat. (Watch it carefully, it can bubble over quick)
- Gradually add grits into the pot, whisking constantly.
- Let boil for two minutes, whisking constantly.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until grits are creamy in texture being sure to whisk frequently during cooking. (see note for cooking time)
- If grits are too thick, stir in more half n half or water. If grits are too thin let them cook uncovered until thickened or remove from heat and allow to thicken.
- When grits are done, taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed or add in more butter.
- Serve immediately.
How to Make The BEST Southern Stone-Ground Grits Recipe
1. Remove the chaff. Cover the grits in water first, stir them around and remove the chaff that floats to the top. Not unless you don’t mind those hard, crunchy bits in your grits. Use a mesh strainer or just pour off the water and repeat until no more hulls float to the top.
2. Whisk it. Whisking the grits into the boiling milk/water prevents them from getting clumpy. The last thing you want is those infamous grit balls! Smooth and creamy is the goal. You’ll also want to make sure that you are whisking it often during the cooking time as well. It’s totally ok to get OCD here! Grits loved to be whisked.
4. Add butter, salt, and pepper. This is MANDATORY! Grits are kinda bland in their natural state. Butter, salt, and pepper wakes them up and bring out that wonderful light corn flavor. Adding cheddar cheese, hot sauce, bacon bits, garlic, and other spices is also great!
5. Don’t cook them in just water. I know a lot of people do this because they like for the full corn flavor to shine through. Boo. To me, milk just adds more flavor. I mean have you ever had corn on the cob boiled in milk?? THE BOMB! Grits simmered in milk are no different. Milk adds so much creaminess and depth. I will NEVER go back to cooking my grits in just water not unless I absolutely have to. I always simmer mine in half n half, milk, heavy cream, or broth. Sometimes a combination!
6. DON’T ADD SUGAR!!! Did you hear me? I mean it! Yes, that is me being bossy, kinda mean, and overly opinionated but grits with sugar is actually a sin. Did you know that? It might even be an unforgivable one. Yes, I’m lying but it should be! If you want sweet, make some cream of wheat, rice porridge, or oatmeal for crying out loud! No maple syrup, cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, none of that. *Oh dear… I’m becoming like those old Southern women who are always trying to tell people the right way to eat. Please forgive me!*
7. Do serve grits with side dishes. Grits eaten plain with no side dishes are just …..sad looking and you’ll probably feel a bit sad eating it that way. Give it friends like scrambled/fried eggs, bacon/sausage, buttermilk biscuits and gravy, jelly toast, hashbrowns, fried skillet potatoes, and country-fried apples/fresh melons. Yep, now that’s a Southern-style breakfast fix for the King/Queen that you are! And don’t forget the orange juice. Homemade if possible.
Enjoy!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Southern Stone-Ground Grits
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white stone-ground grits
- 1 ½ cups half-n-half
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2-4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for individual bowls if desired
- 1 teaspoon salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Place grits in a large bowl and cover with water.
- Stir and allow the chaff to float to the top.
- Use a mesh strainer to remove and discard the chaff.
- Drain off the water. Set aside.
- In a large pot add half-n-half, water, butter, salt, and pepper. (make sure the liquid tastes well-salted)
- Bring to a medium boil. (Watch it carefully, it can bubble over quick)
- Gradually add grits into the pot, whisking constantly.
- Let boil for two minutes, whisking constantly.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until grits are creamy being sure to whisk frequently during cooking. (see note for cooking time)
- If grits are too thick, stir in more half n half or water. If grits are too thin let them cook uncovered until thickened or remove from heat and allow to thicken.
- When grits are done, taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed or add in more butter.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Anson Mills (you can order on-line, but need to order 4 packages of their various heritage products) has the stone ground grits that many top chefs swear by. I order the white grits for shrimp and grits, and their flavor is wonderful. Amen to the butter, salt and pepper!
Yes to Anson Mills, grits, rice, cornmeal are all superb! I love their quarterly newsletters with seasonal recipes.
Yum!!! What brand(s) do you recommend that cook the fastest?
Order Southern Queen grits by Lurie group. You will not go wrong I promise you.
Southerqueengrits.com
What’s your opinion on using rendered pig back lard in lieu of, or in addition to, butter? I’m California born and raised, but who was exposed to and came to love grits when I moved to Virginia. I’ve since moved back to California, but order stone-ground grits from Amazon since the stores out here only stock quick grits. I’m still experimenting with various preparations.
Thank you for teaching this Northerner how to make the Best Grits for my Southern Husband’s Birthday
You are a life saver
Hi there Ma’am, I love your recipes and tips. Being Southern born and bred now living not in the South, my family longs for good Old South cooking. But there are just some things that we can not find here that are readily available back in the Deep South. Can you provide the name of the stone ground grits you use? Where we live now, people look at us with this confused expression when we mention having had grits, eggs, bacon, sausage, and ham for breakfast LOL. We can find the Quaker brand slow cook and instant here which we buy as much of as we can but nothing beats the flavor and quality of stone ground. I did learn however, from watching this how to about using milk instead of water. WOW! That changes everything. Keep up the great things you are doing in the Kitchen and thank you for helping spread good old Southern Cooking to those wayward folks outside the South.
OH MY I LOVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL BOWL !!
Well now after watching you prepare those grits, I’m going to try them.. they look like something I would love. thanks for the video — they really help !