Chicken and Grits with a Rich Cream Sherry Sauce

This Chicken and Grits with a Rich Cream Sherry Sauce is a knock your socks off recipe! If only the photos could do it justice…

Good Grits

Welcome to the South, y’all, where grits hold a special place in my heart – especially chicken and grits! It wasn’t always this way and I most definitely need my grits properly prepared. I’m sure nearly everyone in the US has seen and maybe even have tried the giant heated containers of plain grits at restaurants and buffets. To me, those are the type of grits to steer clear of! As my father would say, “Grits they’re just one step above wall paper paste.” And honestly, they’re not all that exciting without a dash of love, I mean butter, salt, pepper, cheese, and milk.

I envision grits as a blank canvas, ready for transformation. Think of it as throwing paint on a sheet of white! And from there, you’ve got endless opportunities to brighten up your meal. You can make sweet grits using ingredients such as brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, cardamom, or maple syrup. Or the more typical savory grits utilizing vegetables, bacon, broth, milk, cheese, herbs, and spices! In this recipe for Chicken and Grits, we stick to the tried and true rich cheese grits.

Before we begin, consider this idea: make a batch of sweet grits by combining bananas, a hint of brown sugar, and cinnamon. Don’t forget to add some salt and butter. Once you finish cooking the grits, let them solidify overnight in the fridge. The next day, cut the grits into polenta strips, pan fry them in butter, and serve them with maple syrup and pecans!

The Grilled Chicken To Accompany The Grits

Let’s delve into the wonderful world of chicken cooking, shall we? Now, when it comes to preparing the perfect chicken, there’s one crucial step that often gets overlooked – letting it rest! Once your chicken is finished cooking, grab a set of tongs, carefully transfer the chicken onto a cutting board, and let it sit there for a good 10 minutes before you even think about cutting into it. Don’t use a BBQ fork to remove it, as doing so will let the moisture escape. Stick with good ol’ fashioned tongs. Trust me, after all the impatience, you’ll thank me.

The chicken marinade I used is a delicious twist on my classic Lemon Tarragon Thyme Chicken recipe. It pairs well with just about anything. Instead of using Tarragon, I decided to replace it with Rosemary. What I particularly enjoy about this recipe is the resulting caramelization and subtle sweetness brought forward from the marinade. Whether you’re grilling the chicken as the main dish or serving it with rice, polenta, or pasta, it’s a fantastic addition.

The Mushroom Sherry Cream Sauce

So this sauce is finger-licking good! Beyond this chicken and grits recipe, this Mushroom Sherry Cream Sauce also makes a wonderful pasta sauce with gluten-free penne or linguini. Just add a little Italian sausage, and you’ll have a delicious meal with the leftovers. When it comes to gluten-free pastas, I recommend two brands: Divella or Colvita.

The Mushrooms

I love using a variety of mushrooms for my sauce. Sometimes I use cremini or oyster mushrooms, and other times I’ll combine them with hen of the woods and trumpet mushrooms. Each mushroom variety has a different taste, but these flavors blend well together. One important tip when purchasing mushrooms is to avoid getting tricked with cremini mushrooms, also known as Baby Bellas. These are the exact same variety of mushrooms, but some stores may charge more if the packaging says “Cremini.” The food blog, TheKitchn, has a post explaining this as well!

Something I learned a long time ago is also brought up in TheKitchn article, as well as in the website Eater. This might just blow your mind: did you know that your typical white button mushrooms are actually Portobellas! The only difference is in their maturity. The first stage is a white button, then it becomes cremini (baby bella), and finally matures into a portobello. As the mushroom develops, it gains more flavor and a different texture. Tell me you are not shocked by this revelation?

What To Serve This Recipe With?

This Chicken and Grits with a Rich Cream Sherry Sauce recipe is incredibly indulgent and rich. While it can certainly stand alone as a meal, I always like to add a touch of green to accompany it. The trick is to choose a vegetable that is simple yet slightly bitter. Balancing the flavors is important, and bitterness can help cut through the richness of the grits and balance the subtle sweetness of the sauce. With that in mind, I recommend lightly sautéed kale or broccoli rabe. These greens will provide a touch of bitterness that complements the dish, while still being simple enough to enhance the overall flavor.

Tips and Tricks for Chicken and Grits

As mentioned in the “Grilled Chicken to Accompany Grits” section, let your chicken rest for 10 minutes after cooking it. You’ll end up with a moist and tender piece of chicken.

Refrigerate your leftover grits and make polenta fries the following day!

If you plan to reheat your leftover grits, I recommend using a medium-sized pot. Start by adding the grits and half a cup of water or chicken broth. Heat and stir, adding more water as needed to achieve the desired consistency.

If You Like This Recipe, Try These:

Gluten Free Focaccia Bread with Olives, Lemon, and Herbs

Unique Italian Beef Cannellini Stew with Polenta

Chicken and Grits with a Rich Cream Sherry Sauce

5 from 3 votes

Course: DinnerCuisine: Southern

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

This indulgent chicken and grits recipe is a straightforward and delicious way to impress your friends and family!

Cook Mode

Keep the screen of your device on

Ingredients

• Sherry Cream Mushroom Sauce

• 6 Tbsp 6 Butter (Salted or Unsalted)

• 2 Tbsp 2 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 2 Cups 2 Vidalia Onion- Slivered

• 4 Cups 4 Cremini Mushrooms (and/or Oyster Mushrooms)

• 1-1/2 Tbsp 1-1/2 Fresh Garlic- Crushed

• 1/4 Cup 1/4 Parsley- Finely Chopped

• 5 Sprigs 5 Rosemary

• 1/2 Cup 1/2 Pinot Grigio

• 3/4 Cup 3/4 Cooking Sherry

• 2 Cups 2 Chicken Broth

• 2 Tbsp 2 Cornstarch

• 1-1/2 Cups 1-1/2 Heavy Cream

• 1-1/2 tsp 1-1/2 Himalayan Pink Salt

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 Black Pepper- Finely Ground

• 2 Tbsp 2 Raw Sugar (or 1 Tbsp Granulated White Sugar)

• Amazing Grits

• 1-1/3 Cups 1-1/3 Cornmeal- Coarse Ground

• 3 Cups 3 Milk (I use Whole Milk)

• 4 Cups 4 Water

• 4 Tbsp 4 Salted Butter (or Unsalted)

• 2 tsp 2 Black Pepper Fresh Ground

• 1-1/2 tsp 1-1/2 Ground Coriander

• 1 tsp 1 Himalayan Pink Salt

• 1 Tbsp 1 Olive Oil

• 3/4 Cup 3/4 Grated Cotija Cheese (Grated Parmesan Works, but it is saltier)

• 1/2 Cup 1/2 Chihuahua Cheese (Quesadilla Cheese) *See Notes

• Lemon Thyme Rosemary Chicken Marinade

• 1/4 Cup 1/4 Olive Oil

• 1/4 Cup 1/4 White Wine Vinegar

• 3 Tbsp 3 Granulated White Sugar

• 1/2 Tbsp 1/2 Ground Coriander

• 1 tsp 1 Himalayan Pink Salt

• 1/2 tsp 1/2 Pepper

• 2 tsp 2 Fresh Garlic- Crushed or Minced

• 1 1 Lemon + Zest

• 1 Tbsp 1 Fresh Thyme (just leaves)

• 1/4 Cup 1/4 Fresh Parsley- Finely Chopped

• 1 Tbsp 1 Fresh Rosemary- Finely Chopped

• 2-1/2 lbs 2-1/2 Chicken Breasts (4-6 Breasts)

Directions

• Lemon Thyme Rosemary Chicken Marinade
• Mix all ingredients together. Mix chicken with marinade. Put in fridge and marinade for
• minimum 1 hour – up to overnight.
• Turn the Grill on to medium high heat.
• Cook chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side. Take the chicken off the grill once an internal temperature of 160 degrees F is reached.
• Let the cooked chicken sit undisturbed for 10 minutes before slicing for best results.
• Amazing Grits
• In a medium pot, combine the Butter, Milk, Water, Black Pepper, Salt, and Coriander.
• Bring on high heat to a rolling boil.
• Delicately pour in the Cornmeal while stirring, bring to simmer, and temperature down to medium low.
• As the grits soften, approximately 20-25 minutes in, add the cheese and stir to evenly distribute the cheese.
• Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes stirring occasionally. (Feel free to add more hot water half a cup at a time)
• Sherry Cream Mushroom Sauce
• In a medium sized saucepan or large frying pan melt your Butter and pour in your Olive Oil on a medium heat.
• Add the Onions once the butter is melted and soften for approximately 4 minutes.
• Turn the heat to high, add your Mushrooms, and stir occasionally while they lightly brown.
• After approximately 3 minutes add your Garlic, Parsley and Rosemary. Then pour in the White Wine and Sherry.
• Immediately after stirring add the Chicken Broth. Continue to cook on high heat until you’re at a boil, then reduce to a medium low heat to simmer for 5-7 minutes.
• In a measuring cup, combine your Cornstarch and Heavy Cream, mix well so the cream doesn’t curdle. Then pour it into your saucepan and mix.
• Let the sauce come back up to a simmer and continue cooking until it starts to thicken to your desired consistency (usually 5-10 minutes). Add your Raw Sugar, Salt, and Pepper.
• Ladle over your chicken and grits and enjoy!!!

Notes

• Chihuahua Cheese makes it extra smooth and creamy! You don’t need the additional cheese, but indulge yourself! 🙂
• If you’re using Sea Salt, use half that of Himalayan Pink Salt.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cakesandcoriander on Instagram and hashtag it

Like this recipe?

Follow us @cakesandcoriander on Pinterest