Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Luke›Baked Jalapeño Cheesy Grits Recipe

Baked Jalapeño Cheesy Grits Recipe

Inspired by Luke
Time55m
Serves4

Make Baked Jalapeño Cheesy Grits Recipe in just 55m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Grits

Cheese & Flavoring

Jalapeño & Topping

Method

Grits

  1. 1

    Bring liquids to a simmer

    Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water and 1 cup whole milk to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

  2. 2

    Cook grits

    Slowly whisk in 1 cup grits. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened and tender, about 20–25 minutes for stone-ground (10–15 minutes for quicker medium grits). Adjust heat to prevent sticking.

  3. 3

    Finish grits base

    Stir in 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper until butter melts and is incorporated. Remove from heat.

Cheese & Flavoring

  1. 4

    Incorporate cheeses

    While grits are still hot, stir in 1 1/2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar, 2 ounces softened cream cheese, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Mix until smooth and fully combined. If the mixture seems too stiff, stir in up to 2 tablespoons extra milk to loosen.

  2. 5

    Season

    Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional) to taste, stirring to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.

Jalapeño & Topping

  1. 6

    Prepare jalapeños

    While grits cook, wear gloves if desired and stem, seed, and finely dice 2 jalapeño peppers. Reserve about 1 tablespoon diced jalapeño for garnish if you want extra fresh heat on top.

  2. 7

    Fold peppers and scallions into grits

    Stir the remaining diced jalapeños and 1 sliced green onion into the warm cheesy grits until evenly distributed.

  3. 8

    Make breadcrumb topping

    In a small bowl, toss 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the remaining sliced green onion. Stir in 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro if using and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan from earlier if you’d like extra crust flavor.

  4. 9

    Assemble and bake

    Transfer the cheesy jalapeño grits to a lightly buttered 1‑quart (or similar) oven-safe baking dish, smoothing the top. Evenly sprinkle the panko breadcrumb mixture over the surface. Place in the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven and bake until the topping is golden and the grits are bubbly, about 20–25 minutes.

  5. 10

    Finish and serve

    If you want a deeper brown top, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end—watch closely. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with the reserved fresh jalapeño dice and extra sliced green onion or cilantro. Serve hot.

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