Best Bacon Scallion Cream Cheese Grits Recipes

PIMENTO CHEESE GRITS

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a medium pot over medium heat and cook until crisp, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the scallion whites and garlic to the pot to cook in the residual bacon fat. Cook, stirring, for a minute or two, then pour in the warmed stock. Raise the heat and bring it to a boil.
• Slowly whisk in the grits. Cook until the liquid is all absorbed, about 5 minutes, then stir in the cream cheese, pimentos, Cheddar, Monterey Jack, adobo, mustard, salt and pepper to taste and half of the reserved bacon. Serve garnished with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens.

CREAMY CHEESE GRITS

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a pan and add the jalapenos, onions and bell peppers. Cook until softened, 5 minutes or so.
• Pour in the grits, followed by the broth and 3 cups water. Stir, and then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and then cover and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the half-and-half. Stir, and then cook until the grits are tender, another 20 to 30 minutes. At any time, add more broth if the grits look like they need more cooking liquid.
• Remove the grits from the heat and stir in the cheese. Serve immediately.

GRITS & BACON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, bring water, salt and pepper to a boil. Slowly stir in grits. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, about 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Pour grits into a greased 2-1/2-qt. souffle dish; cool completely., In a large bowl, whisk eggs; pour over grits. Sprinkle with bacon and cheese., Place casserole in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake, covered, 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 30-40 minutes longer or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. , Make-Ahead: Refrigerate unbaked casserole, covered, several hours or overnight. To use, preheat oven to 350°. Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven heats. Place casserole in a larger baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan. Bake, as directed, increasing time as necessary for a knife inserted in the center to come out clean. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving., ,

SCALLION AND DILL CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Place the cream cheese, scallions, dill, milk, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until smooth. Place in a serving dish and garnish with extra fresh dill.

CHEESY BACON AND GRITS CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels., Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, bring water, milk and salt to a boil. Slowly stir in grits. Reduce heat to low; cook, covered, until thickened, 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in 1-1/2 cups cheese until melted. Slowly stir in eggs until blended. Stir in bacon, corn and pepper. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese., Bake, uncovered, until edges are golden brown and cheese is melted, 35-40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. If desired, serve with avocado. , Freeze option: Cool unbaked casserole; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake grits as directed until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°, increasing time to 45-55 minutes.

BACON-CHEDDAR GRITS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, cook bacon and jalapeno (optional) over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bacon is browned, about 8 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon and jalapeno (if using) to a small bowl. Remove pan from heat and carefully add 4 1/2 cups water (fat may sputter).
• Bring liquid to a boil over high and whisk in grits. Whisk until mixture begins to thicken, then reduce heat to low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, 25 minutes or until creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in 1 cup grated cheddar and three-fourths the bacon mixture. Pour into a 2-quart serving dish and top with remaining cheddar and remaining bacon mixture.

BACON SCALLION CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add bacon and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until fat has rendered. Add flour, then stir together and cook over low heat, stirring often, until golden and toasty-smelling, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add chicken stock and cream, and simmer over low heat until reduced to a thick, pourable gravy, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in peppercorns and scallions, and taste for salt, adding more as needed. Serve hot.