Instant Pot Pumpkin Grits are ready to rock your breakfast! These easy cheesy grits are made in the pressure cooker and are SO easy to make! Stove-top instructions included as well.
It’s Fall in my kitchen and there is NO turning back!
The first cold and rainy day I could get my hands on, I set off to pumpkin-ify everything in sight. I’ll be sharing some of the goodies over the next few weeks (get excited!) and today I have an easy peasy recipe that can be made with either fresh or canned pumpkin.
In fact, you could easily make it with sweet potato, butternut squash, or acorn squash as well. They’re all pretty interchangeable and quite tasty!
Instant Pot Pumpkin Grits
This Fall spin on classic cheese grits yields the most deliciously vibrant results. Buttery grits are swirled with pumpkin and gouda, and (if you’re feeling adventurous) finished off with a little pinch of pumpkin pie spice on top. SO GOOD!
As the title suggests, I used my handy dandy Instant Pot to make these creamy, dreamy grits.
This is hands-down my favorite method for making grits lately!
It saves me time, effort (I do noooot have time to be stirring all morning), and clean-up is crazy easy too.
No pressure cooker? No problem!
You can 100% make these the old-fashioned stove top way. I’ll include the instructions at the bottom of this post!
Instant Pot Pumpkin Grits
Ingredients
- 1 + 1/2 TBSP oil or butter
- 1 cup old-fashioned grits (not quick/instant grits)
- 3 cups water
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 3 TBSP unsalted butter
- 2 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup freshly grated Gouda cheese
- pumpkin pie spice to garnish (optional but delicious)
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to sauté function and heat oil/butter.
- Add grits and mix well, allowing grits to lightly toast until fragrant. Approx. 1-2 minutes while stirring/sautéing.
- Switch IP off and add water, cream, pumpkin, salt, and garlic powder. Set to 10 minutes on HIGH pressure and seal lid.
- Once the pot beeps, allow the pot to sit for 10-15 minutes to depressurize naturally. If lid is still pressurized after 15 minutes, flip the valve to quick release remaining pressure. Remove lid and stir well (it will look very liquid-y at first) then fold in cheese and season with any extra salt and garlic powder, to taste. Dig in!
- If you're a fan of sweet-yet-savory dishes, feel free to ty out my optional suggestion of adding a little sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice to your bowl of grits! It's quite tasty! I'll happily devour them both ways!
Notes
Nutrition
Need stove-top instructions? Use the ingredients from the recipe above (altering the amount of water only) and get cooking!
instructions for stove-top pumpkin grits
- In a medium pot, bring 2 cups water to a rolling boil and add grits.
- Stir vigorously, then reduce heat to low and cover.
- Allow grits to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the grits absorb the water, add heavy cream, pumpkin puree, salt, and garlic powder.
- Continue to cook on lowest setting for 5-10 minutes.
- Lastly, stir in cheese and serve piping hot!
If you get a chance to try these Instant Pot Pumpkin Grits, let me know! Leave some love in the comment form below or tag your photos with @peasandcrayons on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creation!
Hello, if I want to have double the portions in my instant pot for a brunch party do I simply double all of the ingredients? Thank you!
Hi Katherine! Yes you’ll double all of the ingredients. As long as you’re using a 6QT or larger I believe it should fit?
I doubled the recipe in my 6 qt instant pot and it came out perfectly and wonderfully for my friends fall gathering. Thank you Jenn!
What do you think about using smoked gouda?? Would it be too much?
Hi Christina! That could be delicious! Maybe even try half smoked gouda half cheddar to cut the smokiness a little so it’s not too much and then you could add extra to taste? Def worth experimenting; LMK if you get a chance to!
Hi there! I have a question and I’m hoping you can help me. I am currently making these, but twice I’ve gotten a burn warning on my IP. The grits keep sticking to the bottom. Is there any way to stop this?
Hi Lauren! Eek! Did you change/swap any ingredients or adjust any measurements by any chance? Instant Pot recipes are super technical because of the auto-shutoff/burn feature and even teeny changes can cause sticking. We’ve made these a dozen times now and it’s really reliant on a set liquid ratio. What type of grits did you use (coarse/fine/etc..) and did you save the cheese for the end? I’m here to help troubleshoot so just let me know! xoxo
My husband thanks you for this recipe! He loves his grits and any way he can get me to fix them. I’ll def use the pumpkin come fall but your suggestion of squash alternatives or sweet potatoes won me over. This is a bowlful of yum!
Ahhh yay! Thank you Linda! I made it with leftover mashed sweet potato not too long ago and OMG – swoon status!
This is so cozy and delicious for breakfast! yum!!!
Thanks Wilhelmina!
It’s that time of year again. Everything pumpkin! Delish!!
Yessss! Love it so!
I’m going to have to try this!
Yay! Hope you adore the pumpkin grits, Debbie! xo