Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsCafe Thirty-ACafé Thirty-a's Famous Creamy Grits Recipe

Café Thirty-a's Famous Creamy Grits Recipe

Inspired by Cafe Thirty-A
Time40m
Serves4

Make Café Thirty-a's Famous Creamy Grits Recipe in just 40m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Grits

Garnish (Optional)

Method

Preparing the Grits

  1. 1

    Boil Water

    In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil over high heat.

  2. 2

    Add Grits

    Once the water is boiling, slowly whisk in 1 cup of stone-ground grits to prevent lumps.

  3. 3

    Add Salt

    Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the grits mixture and stir well.

  4. 4

    Simmer Grits

    Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan, allowing the grits to simmer for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.

Making it Creamy

  1. 5

    Add Cream and Butter

    Once the grits are thickened, stir in 1 cup of heavy cream and 4 tablespoons of butter until fully incorporated.

  2. 6

    Add Cheese and Seasonings

    Mix in 1 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1 teaspoon of paprika. Stir until the cheese is melted and the mixture is creamy.

Garnishing

  1. 7

    Serve

    Transfer the creamy grits to serving bowls and optionally garnish with chopped chives or green onions and crumbled bacon.

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