What to Serve with Cheese Grits? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Cheese grits are a staple in the southern kitchen. Bold and creamy, they’re our go-to comfort food. Ever wonder what goes with them? We’ve got ideas.

It’s not just about the grits; it’s about the whole plate. Our weekends are never complete without digging into a steamy, cheesy bowl. Mix it up. Add some sides.

We all have our favorites. Mine? A runny egg and crispy bacon. Simple. Classic. Perfection. Next, we’re spilling the beans on seven best side dishes. Trust me, you’ll want to try these.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Cheese Grits?

Since the food is filling, you may wonder why you need side dishes to serve with cheese grits.

The answer is simple; it enhances and balances the flavor even more.

Grits come from boiled cornmeal, and cheese grits contain shredded cheese.

It’s a porridge that may or may not include other ingredients.

The dish can be sweet or savory depending on preference and is similar to several items around the world, such as mieliepap and polenta.

Though it originated in the Southern United States, the dish has gained popularity.

You can enjoy cheese grits with many items such as veggies, bacon, eggs, shrimp, catfish, salmon, and croquettes.

What to Serve with Cheese Grits? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Cheese grits are versatile as most foods, and eating the dish with other items makes the porridge more interesting.

Here are the seven best foods which you can serve with grits.

1 – Fried Okra

Okra, also called lady’s finger, is popular in Southern cooking and fried okra is a dish that you can serve with cheese grits.

The vegetable is slimy when cut, and it’s helpful in thickening soups and stews.

It’s so useful for the purpose that you can even find dried powdered okra on the market.

However, Fried okra is crunchy and balances nicely with the gooey cheese grits.

It’s also easy to make the dish, and it won’t take much of your time.

You only need to coat the veggie pieces in cornmeal mixed with salt and pepper and deep-fry them in cooking oil.

Any variety of oil is fine, but peanut oil may produce the best flavors.

2 – Creamy Coleslaw

A bowl of fresh veggie salad never disappoints, so why not add creamy coleslaw to the list? The salad adds a crunchiness to the porridge and enhances the flavors.

The ingredients for the salad are easy to find, and you can even find them sliced.

Hence, you don’t have to do much work.

Cabbages are available in several colors, so you can choose each type to give your coleslaw a bright appearance.

Besides adding freshness and crunchiness to the meal, you also absorb plenty of goodness as cabbages contain loads of vitamins and minerals.

3 – Buttermilk Biscuits

Can you think of a better combination than buttermilk biscuits and cheese grits? The thick gravy with the buttery and flaky biscuits tastes heavenly without overpowering either item.

Think of dipping your biscuits in the porridge; the thought is sure to make your mouth water.

Making buttermilk biscuits is also simple as you need only about six ingredients.

You need all-purpose flour, baking powder, cold butter, buttermilk, honey, and salt.

4 – Sweet Corn Succotash

It’s made of corn but has a different texture and flavor, so it won’t be like eating something of the same ingredient.

Succotash comes from Narragansett sahquttahhash, meaning “broken corn kernels.

”It’s a dish that consists primarily of sweet corn with lima beans but can also have potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, salt pork, corned beef, and okra.

Due to the veggies having different colors, your dish will look bright and fresh.

The textures will be juicy and crunchy with sweet and savory flavors.

Hence, on the one hand, you have a creamy gravy, and on the other, you have a crispy and fresh item, and then together, they make the perfect combo.

5 – Tomato and Spinach Galettes

Originally invented in France, galettes refer to any round, flat, or freeform crusty cakes that may have a sweet or savory filling.

Galettes with spinach and tomatoes are compatible with cheese grits and are also one of the best combos.

If you can’t make the base home, you can get puff pastry from the store and make the galettes.

Adding a cheese variety like feta can enhance the taste of the galettes and make your meal even better.

6 – Squash Puppies

Yes, you can give it a twist by including squash puppies instead of hushpuppies.

They are simply hushpuppies but made with chopped squash mixed with the cornmeal-based batter.

The bite-sized snacks also taste great with cheese grits.

You can enjoy them alongside or put them in the grits.

Include a dipping sauce to make your dining experience even more exciting.

You can use your favorite ingredients for the sauce or make one with jalapenos for that extra kick.

7 – Slow Cooker Ribs

Lastly, we have a non-veg dish that will work perfectly with the cheese grits.

Barbeque ribs cooked in a slow cooker are incredibly yummy, filling, and pair well with the porridge.

Experts usually use the barbecue-by-the-numbers method (3-2-1, where they smoke the ribs for 3 hours, wrap the meat in foil and cook for 2 hours and cook for 1 hour after unwrapping the ribs).

But you can also cook barbeque ribs in a slow cooker, and the meat will still taste great.

Soak the meat in your favorite barbeque marinade for a while and let it cook in the slow cooker for six hours.

You will have the perfect ribs that melt in your mouth when you take them out of the cooker.

Conclusion

So, these are the seven best dishes you can serve with cheese grits.

Whether you have guests or only family members, choose the ones you like best.

You can make most dishes in large batches suitable for barbeques and other parties.

Show your cooking skills by making multiple items and let everyone have a blast.