Easy Crockpot Grits
6 Comments Jun 11, 2022
Updated Apr 26, 2025
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This slow cooker grits recipe makes some of the best creamy and buttery grits you have ever tasted. With just four ingredients, this is a dish even your kids can make.
Using a slow cooker to make grits is a Southern game-changer. The gentle, steady heat lets the grits cook low and slow, making them incredibly creamy without constant stirring. It’s the perfect hands-off way to get that rich, buttery texture Southerners love. Whether you’re making breakfast grits or a hearty side for shrimp and grits, the crockpot keeps them smooth and perfectly cooked every time.
Love southern side dishes? We love making these grits, mac and cheese, and fried apples. Grits are also wonderful side for a crockpot seafood boil.
Key Ingredients for Southern Style Grits
Only four ingredients need to make these grits! See the full recipe in the recipe card.
- Stoneground Grits: Since these grits take longer to cook, they are ideal for cooking in the slow cooker.
- Water: A must-have for making this creamy grits recipe.
- Butter: Adds an oil base, slight taste, and overall texture to the grits.
- Salt: Adding salt to the grits before the cooking process starts yields a better effect than adding the salt at the end.
How to make Grits in the Crockpot
Step One – Add the grits to a large mixing bowl and pour in some water. Allow the grits to sit for about 10 minutes. You’ll notice the chaff floating to the top, which will need to be skimmed off.
Step Two – Pour the rinsed and skimmed grits into the crockpot (drain them in a mesh strainer)
Step Three – Pour in the water, butter, and salt. Cook on LOW for 6 hours (stirring occasionally).
Step Four – Once done, the grits will still have a bit of texture to them. Stir and add additional salt and pepper to taste.
What goes well with this grits recipe?
- Toppings: There are a variety of toppings you can add to grits depending on your flavor preference. Grated sharp cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, bacon bits, caramelized onions, and/or sprinkled with dried herbs are just a few ideas. Cheese grits are quite popular!
- Eggs: Grits have long been a complimentary side to eggs. You can have them scrambled, fried, over easy, or sunny side up. Either way, a few spoonfuls of grits will taste great with them.
- Meat: Since grits are typically thought of as a breakfast dish, you can’t go wrong by serving them with freshly cooked bacon or sausage. They’re also infamously known to be paired with shrimp.
- Don’t forget that you can always serve a bowl of southern grits as is. Although it is often seen as a side dish, you can always eat grits right out of the slow cooker. If necessary, add more butter and shredded cheese to make the most delicious cheesy grits ever!
Slow Cooker Grits Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups stoneground grits
- 8 Cups water
- 3 Tbsp. butter, plus more for serving
- 1.5 tsp. salt
- salt and pepper to taste, (after cooking)
Instructions
- Add the grits to a large mixing bowl and pour in some water – allow the grits to sit for 10 minutes. The chaff will float to the top where you can skim it off.
- After you have skimmed and rinsed the grits you can strain and add to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the 8 cups of water, add the butter and about 1-2 teaspoons of salt.
- Cook on low for 6 hours. Stir here and there. It is cooked when the grits are soft but still have a texture to them.
- Stir and add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with grated cheese, green onions, eggs, whichever you prefer.
Sarah’s Notes
- Toppings: There are a variety of toppings you can add to grits depending on your flavor preference. Grated sharp cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, bacon bits, caramelized onions, and/or sprinkled with dried herbs are just a few ideas. Cheese grits are quite popular!
- Eggs: Grits have long been a complimentary side to eggs. You can have them scrambled, fried, over easy, or sunny side up. Either way, a few spoonfuls of grits will taste great with them.
- Meat: Since grits are typically thought of as a breakfast dish, you can’t go wrong by serving them with freshly cooked bacon or sausage. They’re also infamously known to be paired with shrimp.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
1st you do not soak grits. My mother born and raised in Georgia said you don’t do that.
With that kind of grits you do soak them, and also because you are preparing them to go into the slow cooker.
This looks awesome. But it makes 10 servings. What do you do with leftover grits?
You can make something like this: https://keviniscooking.com/southern-bacon-cheesy-fried-grits/
Shrimp and grits and a salad
Can I cook polenta like grits