Shredded Beef with Cheesy Grits | Tried and True Recipes (2024)

  • Beef
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  • Slow Cooking

by Kylie PerrottiPosted on March 27, 2020November 11, 2021

Shredded Beef with Cheesy Grits | Tried and True Recipes (1)

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This recipe for shredded beef with cheesy grits is comfort food at its finest. How could you not love a comforting bowl of beef with grits on a cold night?

Shredded Beef with Cheesy Grits | Tried and True Recipes (2)

My recipe for shredded beef is just a handful of ingredients:

  1. A big chuck roast
  2. Onions
  3. Garlic (which I roast and turn into a paste!)
  4. Butter
  5. Red Wine
  6. Beef Stock
  7. Whole-peeled tomatoes
  8. Salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper

That’s it! You are just 8 simple ingredients away from a big bowl of warming shredded beef. I like my shredded beef to have a bit of heat, so I really load up on the crushed red pepper, but you can use it to taste.

This beef recipe is really a blank canvas, so you can add whatever you like. You can add chili powder and cumin and use this on tacos or you can add harissa and serve it over rice. You could also cook this with sautéed mushrooms and serve over mashed potatoes. The possibilities are really endless/

I prepared the cheesy grits during the last 30 minutes of the recipe and simply used yellow grits, butter, water, milk, and lots of cheese. I like spicy grits so I used a blend of sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheese, and I added a few shakes of cayenne.

If you made this recipe, please rate it and comment below! You can alsofollow meand share your creations by tagging me! I’d love to feature your #triedandtruerecipes creation on my feed

Shredded Beef with Cheesy Grits | Tried and True Recipes (3)

This recipe for shredded beef with cheesy grits is comfort food at its finest. How could you not love a comforting bowl of beef with grits on a cold night?

4.16 from 25 votes

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 678kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Shredded Beef:

  • 3 pounds chuck roast cut into large pieces
  • 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil plus more, if needed
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 yellow onions peeled and sliced
  • 1 garlic bulb halved cross-wise (peel left on)
  • 2 cups red wine or beef stock
  • 28 ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes
  • 15 ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1-2 cups beef stock more if needed
  • Salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste

Cheesy Grits:

  • 2 cups yellow grits
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheese sharp cheddar and/or pepper jack
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder more or less to taste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Brown the Beef:

  • Preheat oven to 375ºF.

  • Pat the chuck dry and season all over with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a wide ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the beef without crowding the pan and cook in batches, 3-4 minutes per side until completely browned all over. Transfer to a bowl If there is a lot of excess oil in the pot, strain it off (without losing the fond).

Cook the Onions and Garlic:

  • Melt the butter into the same pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, for 7-8 minutes until browned. Add the garlic bulb, cut-side down, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Season all over with salt and pepper.

    Shredded Beef with Cheesy Grits | Tried and True Recipes (4)

Deglaze the Pot:

  • Pour in the wine and scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Bring to a boil.

  • Add both cans of whole peeled tomatoes and the beef stock. Season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat.

Braise the Beef:

  • Return the beef to the pot. Flip the garlic bulbs so they are cut-side up and the garlic is sitting slightly on top of the pot.

  • Transfer to the oven and bake for 3 hours until tender. Stir the beef occasionally and spoon broth over the garlic as it cooks.

Shred the Beef:

  • Remove the pot from the oven. Scoop out the garlic and transfer it to a plate. Carefully pop the cloves of garlic out of the skin. Discard the garlic. Using a fork, mash the cloves into a paste.

  • Transfer the beef to the same plate and shred it with two forks.

  • Lightly mash the tomatoes with a spoon.

  • Return the garlic paste and shredded beef to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add more liquid as necessary and stir occasionally to keep it from burning. Taste and season to your preferences.

Prepare the Cheesy Grits:

  • In a large saucepan, bring 6 cups of water to a boil.

  • Add the grits, whisking as you add them to the water. Reduce heat, whisking regularly for 6 minutes until they begin to thicken.

  • Add the milk and cook over low heat for 20-25 minutes. whisking regularly, until the grits are thickened and tender.

  • Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, and paprika. Add the cheese and whisk to incorporate. Once melted and thick, turn off the heat.

To Serve:

  • Divide the cooked grits between shallow bowls and spoon the shredded beef on top. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 678kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 32g | Sodium: 567mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin C: 16mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @triedandtruerecipes or tag #triedandtruerecipes so I can feature you in my feed!

Shredded Beef with Cheesy Grits | Tried and True Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What meat goes well with cheese grits? ›

Pork chops are one of our absolute favorite foods to eat with grits. The main reason why we think this is such a perfect combo is because of the fat content of the pork.

What is the best cut of beef for shredding? ›

Chuck roast is arguably the best cut to use for pulled beef. Similar to the front shoulder of pork (or the pork “butt”) chuck roasts, being from the front shoulder of the steer, are chock full of fat, collagen, and marbling. This is the stuff we need to make delicious juicy pulled beef.

What do Southerners eat with grits? ›

Corn was dried, boiled, and rinsed so the hominy could be used as a staple or ground into "flour" or grits. Grits served with fried eggs, O.J., coffee (cafe au lait if you use a New Orleans blend), Mimosas or Bloody Marys for a brunch, as we say in south Louisiana: "mais-oui, you'll bring da house down fo' sho!"

What is the secret to great grits? ›

Follow these tips for creamy, flavorful grits. Grits are a Southern soul food staple and the ultimate creamy comfort food. The key to cooking old-fashioned grits is going low and slow—use a low heat so the grits simmer and slowly release their starches, which creates a decadent, silky texture.

Are grits healthy for you? ›

They provide carbohydrates, fiber, and several important vitamins and minerals. Grits are also naturally gluten-free and low in fat and sodium. Grits can be eaten at any meal and they are especially nutritious when paired with vegetables, fruits, unsaturated fats, and lean protein sources.

Are grits better with milk or water? ›

Creamy, cheesy piping-hot grits topped with spicy sausage – I don't think it gets much better than that on a cold day. Breakfast, lunch or dinner – this dish is perfect anytime! Aside from lots of delicious cheese, these grits get their extra creaminess by cooking them in milk.

How do you cook meat so it shreds? ›

Things You Should Know

Cook a 2 lb (900 g) boneless beef rump roast with 1 cup (250 mL) of beef broth in a slow cooker on high for 5-6 hours to get perfectly shreddable beef.

How do you keep shredded beef from drying out? ›

In this case, you can retain the meat's moist texture in the refrigerator or freezer by incorporating cooking juices within the sealed container. The key is to ensure the shredded meat is sufficiently drenched in juices before putting it away.

What kind of roast falls apart when cooked? ›

A perfectly cooked beef joint makes a wonderful centrepiece for a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner. To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

What are grits called in the South? ›

The word "grits" is derived from the Old English word grytt, meaning "coarse meal". In the Charleston, South Carolina area, cooked hominy grits were primarily referred to as "hominy" until the 1980s.

What is antebellum grits? ›

Their Antebellum grits are made from heirloom white or yellow corn varieties — and stone-ground.

What state is best known for grits? ›

Shrimp and grits is Charleston's culinary signature, with grits being South Carolina official state food since 1976.

What does adding an egg to grits do? ›

Similar to the rice in tamago kake gohan, the hot grits gently “cook” the egg, turning the slippery white and runny yolk into a creamy, emulsifying sauce.

What are the little specks in grits? ›

During the process of nixtamalization the corn kernels are soaked and then dried. The whole soaked and dried corn is called hominy and the ground corn is called masa harina. What are the black/dark specks in my grits? The black/dark specks you see in your grits are the particles of germ that are left in the product.

What can I add to grits to make it taste better? ›

Toppings for Grits
  1. Sweet: Butter, cinnamon, raisins, syrup, brown sugar, peanut butter, jam, or berries.
  2. Savory: Cheese, fried eggs, bacon (cooked and chopped), caramelized onion, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, scallions, or herbs.
Jun 22, 2022

What is a good side dish for grits? ›

The best side dishes to serve with shrimp and grits are collard greens, biscuits, sweet potato fries, mashed sweet potatoes, tempeh, mac and cheese, rosemary bread, cornbread, green beans and potatoes, lima beans, cheesy breadsticks, creamy pea soup, baked potatoes, wedge salad, eggplant rollatini, fried okra, ...

Is grits with cheese good? ›

Grits are typically served with whole milk or cream, butter, cheese, maple syrup, bacon or fried fish, making a delicious comfort dish, like our Cheesy Grits with Seared Mushrooms.

What do Americans have with grits? ›

Since grits typically lack flavor, they are often cooked with butter, cheese, cream, or gravy, and topped with shrimp, mushrooms, ham, or bacon. Shrimp and grits, a traditional Southern preparation, serves as many peoples' introduction to rich, creamy grits.

Is cheese grits a Southern thing? ›

"Grits are inherently Southern, so they identify as a taste of the South across cultures," she says. Murray theorizes that grits can be traced back much further than to the kitchens run by African American and white women in the antebellum South.

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