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    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Breakfast » Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits

    June 27, 2017 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated July 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

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    Southern Spicy Tomato Cheese Grits Pinterest pin

    If you like cheese grits, then you will love my new twist on this classic Southern dish, Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits!

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits ready to serve!

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits combines three of my favorite foods, grits, cheese, and bacon in a wonderfully delicious and flavorful one-dish meal that is so versatile it can be served for breakfast or brunch, lunch or even a light dinner.

    We had this yummy dish a week ago for dinner, and I took some to a friend who just had surgery. And, can I just tell you it was scrumptious! It’s a quick and easy meal to prepare, and you can have it on the table in under 30 minutes. Perfect for those nights when you don’t want to prepare a large meal and just want something simple. Of course, it’s also perfect served as a yummy breakfast or brunch dish for a lazy Sunday supper or when you have company.

    And yes, I’m still obsessed with summer tomatoes and, combined with bacon and two kinds of cheese, these tomatoes which were from our friend Mike’s garden, elevate a simple grits dish from ordinary to extraordinary!

    If you like this grits recipe, you should also try my delicious make-ahead Southern Cheese Grits Casserole and Easy Cheesy Parmesan Shrimp and Grits. Also, you might be interested in my Easy Classic Southern Tomato Pie recipe and my Tomato Cobbler with Cornmeal-Cheddar Biscuits recipe.

    This recipe does call for peeled tomatoes, which can be a pain, but I am including easy step by step instructions below for “How to Peel Tomatoes,” that will have the peels almost falling off the tomatoes.

    The ingredients for Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits are simple: bacon, chicken broth, quick-cooking grits, fresh summer tomatoes, chopped green chiles, cheddar cheese, goat cheese and kosher salt.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits ingredients

    Tutorial: How to Core and Peel Tomatoes:

    1  Remove the core of the tomato by first removing the stem and then inserting a very sharp paring knife at an angle around 1/2-inch from the center of the tomato. Push the tip of the knife down about 1-inch and angle towards the center of the tomato.  Twist the knife around until the core pops out.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits coring a tomato.

    2.  Then bring a large pot of water to a boil. The water needs to be deep enough that the tomatoes will be completely submerged.

    3.  Slice a shallow “X” in the bottom of the tomato.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits cutting an X in the bottom of the tomato

    4.  Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set it next to the stove.

    5.  Place the tomatoes into the boiling water.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits blanching the tomatoes.

    6.  Watch for their skins to start to split, which usually takes from 45 to 60 seconds, then scoop them out with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the ice-water bath to stop the cooking process.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits ice-water bath for tomatoes.

    7.  Use your fingers to peel back the tomato skins, which should slip off easily.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits showing peeled tomato.

    How to make Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits

    When you are ready to make Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits, gather your ingredients.

    Cook the bacon in a large heavy saucepan or cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. (I used a 10-inch cast iron pan to make this dish and as you can see in the photo below, it really wasn’t large enough, so you might want to use a larger pan or even a Dutch oven.)

    When the bacon is crisp remove it from the pan, and drain all but 1-2 Tbsp of bacon drippings. Drain the bacon on paper towels.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits cooking the bacon

    Add the chicken broth and salt to the pan, and bring to a boil. Stir in the grits, chopped tomatoes, and green chiles; return to a boil and stir continuously to prevent lumps. When the mixture has come back to a boil, reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for about 15 to 20 minutes.

    Keep stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan or forming lumps. (There is nothing worse in grits than lumps! It’s about the same as finding an egg shell in egg salad.)

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits cooking the tomato and grits.

    When the grits are done, stir in the cheddar cheese and goat cheese and continue to stir until both are melted, and the grits are creamy.

    Top with chopped bacon and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits ready to eat!

    *Leftover grits can be reheated in the microwave or on the stove. You might want to add a small amount of water and mix well to bring it back to the correct consistency.

    If you make this recipe, please be sure to rate it and leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!

    Also, please follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. And finally, to be the first to receive notifications of new posts by email enter your email address here or in the Subscribe box.

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits ready to serve!
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    5 from 1 vote

    Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits

    If you like grits, you will love Southern Spicy Tomato-Cheese Grits! It's a quick and easy meal to prepare, and you can have it on the table in less than 30 minutes.
    Course Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Main Dish
    Cuisine Southern
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 213kcal
    Author Sharon Rigsby

    Ingredients

    • 4 slices bacon
    • 3-2/3 cups chicken broth
    • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
    • 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
    • 2 large tomatoes cored, peeled and chopped
    • 4 oz can green chiles chopped
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 4 oz goat cheese

    Instructions

    • Cook the bacon in a large heavy saucepan or cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. When the bacon is crisp remove it from the pan, and drain all but 1-2 Tbsp of bacon drippings. Drain the bacon on paper towels.
    • Add the chicken broth and salt to the pan, and bring to a boil. Stir in the grits, chopped tomatoes, and green chiles; return to a boil and stir continuously to prevent lumps.
    • When the mixture has come back to a boil, reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. Keep stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan or forming lumps.
    • When the grits are done, stir in the cheddar cheese and goat cheese and continue to stir until both are melted, and the grits are creamy.
    • Top with chopped bacon and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Tips:
    How to peel and core tomatoes:
    1. Remove the core of the tomato by first pinching off the stem and then inserting a very sharp paring knife at an angle around 1/2-inch from the center of the tomato. Push the tip of the knife down about 1-inch and angle towards the center of the tomato.  Twist the knife around until the core pops out.
    2. Then bring a large pot of water to a boil. The water needs to be deep enough that the tomatoes will be completely submerged.
    3. Slice a shallow "X" in the bottom of the tomato.
    4. Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set it next to the stove.
    5. Place the tomatoes into the boiling water. Watch for their skins to start to split, which usually takes from 45 to 60 seconds, then scoop them out with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the ice-water bath to stop the cooking process.
    6. Use your fingers to peel back the tomato skins, which should slip off easily.
    Leftover grits can be reheated in the microwave or on the stove. You might want to add a small amount of water and stir well to combine to bring it back to the correct consistency.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 983mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 7.4mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment below and/or give this recipe a rating. On Instagram? Take a picture and tag @gritsandpinecones or #gritsandpinecones!
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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have well over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and there is nothing I like better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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