Instant Pot Breakfast Brown Sugar Grits (with Video)
With the weather getting cooler and mornings getting darker, this Instant Pot Brown Sugar Grits recipe is the perfect Instant Pot breakfast to warm you up and get you ready to face the chilly day ahead.
Instant Pot Grits Recipe
Apparently, there are two camps for grits lovers: savoury or sweet.
People have their opinions as to which way is best, and good luck trying to change them!
Personally, I think there is room enough for sharp, salty cheesy grits and sweet, sugary grits. They both are delicious for breakfast and this recipe makes it super easy to make perfectly tender, fluffy grits for breakfast.
I’ll be sharing my cheesy version soon, but today is all about these brown sugar and walnuts grits, which make such an indulgent treat on a dreary and dull fall morning.
You can make these grits fresh in the morning, or use this as a meal prep recipe.
I tend to do a combination of both as you can double or triple this recipe very easily. I like to enjoy a bowl fresh out of the Instant Pot, and then scoop the rest into mason jars for grab-and-go breakfasts. If using mason jars, I add a scoop of grits, then a sprinkle of brown sugar and walnuts, then repeat until the jar is full. You can then eat the grits cold (which my stepfather prefers) or empty them into a bowl and reheat (which I prefer).
Instant Pot Grits with brown sugar and walnuts are the perfect breakfast comfort food – simple to make, warming, and totally delicious without being too indulgent. Plus, the texture and taste is such a hit with the whole family.
Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Check out our full collection here!
Check out our quick recipe video to see how to make maple brown sugar grits in the Instant Pot – and then don’t forget to scroll down and grab your free printable recipe card:
Ingredients for Instant Pot Breakfast
- Butter
- Instant-cook Grits
- Water
- Milk
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon, optional
- Vanilla extract, optional
- Salt
- Maple Syrup, for serving
- Walnuts, optional, for serving
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: feel free to use brown sugar substitutes or milk alternatives for this recipe.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Instant Pot <– I’m so excited to upgrade to this one with air fryer capacities soon! (You can also just buy the lid which adds the air fryer capacity to your standard IP.)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wooden spoon <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
- Sharp kitchen knife
How to Make Grits in the Instant Pot
Place the butter in the Instant Pot and select the saute setting.
Once the butter is melted, add the grits and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the water and salt, and cover and seal the Instant Pot.
Select manual and cook for 2 minutes. Quick release.
Combine the brown sugar and milk (and optional vanilla and cinnamon), and then stir into the grits. You can serve as-is, or cover and cook again for 2 additional minutes for a creamier consistency.
Serve hot with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Pin this Instant Pot Grits Recipe with Brown Sugar and Walnuts:
Grab your free printable recipe card for our easy instant pot breakfast grits recipe:
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Instant Pot Brown Sugar Grits
Creamy and sweet brown sugar grits made completely in the Instant Pot! These breakfast grits are ready to enjoy in less than 10 minutes and can be topped with your favorite breakfast toppings - fruit, maple syrup, nuts, etc.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 cups instant-cook grits
- 2 cups water (or more depending on preferred consistency)
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon, optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla, optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup maple syrup, for serving
- 1/2 cup walnuts, optional, for serving
Instructions
- Place the butter in the Instant Pot and select the saute setting.
- Once the butter is melted, add the grits and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the water and salt, and cover and seal the Instant Pot.
- Select manual and cook for 2 minutes. Quick release.
- Combine the brown sugar and milk (and optional vanilla and cinnamon), and then stir into the grits. You can serve as-is, or cover and cook again for 2 additional minutes for a creamier consistency.
- Serve hot with a drizzle of maple syrup.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
5Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 311Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 498mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 2gSugar: 28gProtein: 5g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
A delicious Instant Pot Breakfast recipe, these Brown Sugar Grits are a tasty alternative to pre-packaged oatmeal and the perfect cozy breakfast on cool mornings.
For more delicious breakfast recipes, check out our Stuffed Breakfast Sweet Potatoes or our Dutch Baby Pancakes.
Check out our other Breakfast Recipes here:
In two years of using an Instant Pot, this recipe produced the first burn notice, right at the start of the 2 minute cook. I had to finish on the stove but didn’t cook long enough, so the grits were grittier than I like. I added half &half and brown sugar. The taste was great, but next time I’ll use more water in the cooking phase.
Hi Gail,
I’ve never experienced a burn notice either. I used a 6qt, what size was your instant pot?
I agree with the commenter above. I tried to make this, even added an extra cup of water and got a burn notice as well. Using an 8 quart instant pot.
Hi Amy, this is so frustrating for me – I really pride myself on providing recipes that people can rely on. I personally hate it when I spend the time and ingredients on a recipe and it flops, so I’m really sorry that this happened with one of mine.
I’m going to do some digging as to why this may be different for a 8qt vs a 6qt. I’ve actually NEVER gotten a burn notice on any recipe, but both of my IPs are 6qts… I will update if I find some answers.
Hi how do you know how I can make this recipe in a rice cooker it’s a 4 cup rice cooker that I have ? Thank you!
Hi Shayla, I’m awful and never use my rice cooker anymore, but my best guess is that this recipe should take 30 minutes in the rice cooker as written.