HAM AND GRITS
This delicious recipe for Ham and Grits is super easy to make and a wonderful addition to any breakfast. We love to make this dish when we have leftover ham, so it makes an appearance after most holidays. Super versatile as you can add any spices or extras you may enjoy but this recipe is one of our favorites. It reheats well and we love to enjoy it topped with fried eggs!
Ham and Grits Ingredients Needed:
Quick cooking grits
Salt
Butter
Eggs
Cooked ham
Garlic powder
Green onions
Cheddar Cheese
Hot Sauce (optional)
As you can see, these are simple ingredients but this dish has a lot of flavor. The green onions and garlic really add to it, add in the hot sauce and it’s delicious. I have made it without and we still loved it! We love cheddar cheese but you could always add in whatever cheeses your family prefers.
There are many different kinds of cooked ham, from smoked ham to honey baked. I have tried this dish with both of those different flavors and it was great with both!
If you love grits like we do, you will definitely want to try our Southern Shrimp and Grits! That classic dish as great reviews and is one of our most popular recipes.
Are you reading our digital magazine, Front Porch Life? It’s full of great recipes, country living, fantastic people, southern charm, cooking tips and so much more. We send it directly to your email so you can start reading, cooking and relaxing immediately!
Ham and Grits
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup quick cooking grits
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup ham cooked and chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions chopped (can use regular onions)
- Several drops hot sauce Optional
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice divided (can use more cheese if you like a lot)
Instructions
- Bring water and salt to a boil, add grits and cook five minutes until thick. Remove from stove and add butter, eggs, garlic powder, ham, green onions, hot sauce and half the shredded cheese.
- Mix together and pour into sprayed casserole.
- Sprinkle rest of the cheese on top. (I use a 9 x 5 loaf pan). Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes uncovered.
Don’t forget to pin this delicious Ham and Grits:
Can this be made the night before?
I would think you could easily do that.
Tried it but with a twist and my parents absolutely loved this quick and easy breakfast dish.
I have to laugh about how many people worry about where grits should be found in the grocery store! What about the taste and versatility of this casserole. My family loved it! Can’t wait to try with bacon or sausage! Especially delicious with warm maple syrup!
Funny isnt it?! hahah! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I wasn’t too sure about this recipe, but since it was easy, I decided why not? It was really good! Heats up just as good the next day. I halved it for just two of us and used sharp cheddar cheese, which I like for many of my cheese recipes, because I think the sharp gives it a little more flavor. Thanks, I love your recipes! So many are exactly like my mother made when I was growing up.
If you can’t find grits I think polenta might be a good substitute.. polenta us yellow corn, grits is white corn. Grits might be a bit more coarse than polenta.
So excellent! The first time I made this, I used shrimp because I didn’t have any ham. (love, love, love shrimp ‘n grits!). Today I didn’t have either, so fried up some bacon til really crisp, and used it instead. Heaven in a spoon!! Thanks so much for this recipe! So adaptable!! It is a major “staple” in my home now!!
So happy to hear you are enjoying this recipe, Sue. Thank you for letting me know.
Oh my gosh…I want both the casserole and leftover cakes!!! Yummmo!!
Made this for breakfast today, using sausage. Definitely a ‘keeper’ recipe! Awesome stuff!
Made for breakfast this morning. used sausage instead of ham, regular onions and added green peppers. Browned the sausage, green peppers, and onions first, then finished it. It was AWESOME!!!!
This one I will try, sounds so good. Really like using left overs/
I don’t have any grits right now, but I love the idea. I want to try my hand at corn meal mush which may end up a staple here. But I wonder if this recipe would work with that also. It looks good and hardy, and I like what you do with the left overs. NICE!
In our grocery store the grits are with the hot cereal, such as oatmeal, cream of wheat and such.
Smithfield (Virginia) country ham would be SO good in the grits (with a spoonful of red-eye gravy). I’m trying this next time my mom cooks one of those great hams!
I make mine the exact same way. Since joining Pinterest though I forget to make my old recipes….so I pinned this for a reminder.
Grits are sold in the cereal aisle at the grocery stores in Maryland. I think they should be stocked in the rice, pasta aisle as we often serve cheese grits in place of rice or potatoes or pasta. My family would rather have cheese grits than any other side.
What are “grits” could I use potatoes in place of? but then I see a comment of “sprinkle of sugar – splash of cream”? maybe not!
Grits are made of corn. I don’t know what you could use in place of them. You might “google” or search your area to see if they are sold anywhere near you. This might help you to know what they are: http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-&p=what%20are%20grits&type=
I like them with just salt and pepper on them but would like to know how to keep them warm and from getting way tooo thick!! Thanks.
In northern areas, try cream of wheat. Grits are a southern thing! They are listed with hot cereals.
Oh my goodness, this looks like heaven, I am trying your recipe this weekend!! Nettie
Is this something that can be prepped ahead of time and frozen to be cooked in te oven later?
Or even made the night before and refridgerated an then baked the next morning?
Yes, I think you could make this the night before.
I have always enjoyed my grits plain with a sprinkle of sugar and a splash of cream, but these sound amazing. I don’t know what looks better – the original recipe or the fried leftovers version!
What is grits? I asked in our shops but they think I’m mad. I don’t think we have grits here in South Africa.
This will tell you all about grits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grits
You can order grits on Amazon.com.
My grandmother used to fry grits. She would pack them into an empty, clean coffee can which had been liberally buttered on the inside and put them in the refrigerator. The next morning, she’d cut the bottom out of the can and use it to push the grits out to a thickness of about 1/2-1″, flour them lightly and fry in butter. We ate them like pancakes. I can only imagine how awesome your ham & grits would taste fried.
I have another question. Where in your grocery store is grits located??? I still don’t have enough nerve to ask, as up here they give one funny look when one asks for things like hushpuppy mix, and creole seasoning, so thought I would ask you just what department is it in there and I will look up here. Thanks, Porky
Hi Jon, The grits are near the oats in most stores.
I live in Nova Scotia , Canada. I don’t think they sell grits in the grocery store here. lol.
How much does this make? 3/4 cup doesn’t sound like a lot of grits. Does it expand a lot?
Is there a substitution if I can’t find grits. (hoping I can)
Hi Sandra, I don’t know what you would substitute for grits but 3/4 cup cooked makes 3 cups of grits. Then, you add ham and cheese so it is several servings.
over here in the UK when we can’t get grits we use coarse polenta it is similar when cooked, not as good as the real thing but will do in a pinch . Hope this helps
can use polenta…same thing
Use polenta, but try to find white polenta. Grits are white polenta. The taste difference is subtle but noticeable.
try polenta
I think that the grits should be with the flour….In the South ,you would find flour, corn meal, grits and cream-a-wheat all together….. I love grits…. and it has been a staple in most Southern homes….. rich and poor…..Its what we call a ”rib sticker” ….meaning there is a lot of energy in it and when you eat it for breakfast…. you are READY for 3 or 4 hours of hard labor …..It is also pretty cheap for what you get…. A cup of raw grits will make a POT FULL….lol…
I’ll bet you could order some online if you wanted to!
Kroger’s has grits by the oatmeal. Most of the grocery stores in Ohio sell grits, hush puppy mix, etc.
Here in Virginia, they are in the cereal aisle, near the oatmeal!
http://lovelyseasonscomeandgo.wordpress.com
I am coming to your house for breakfast LOL! This recipe looks delicious. I will try to make this one too. Thanks.