Easy Cheese Grits Casserole recipe is the perfect comfort side dish for breakfast, brunch, or even a weeknight dinner. Cheesy baked grits can also be made ahead as an overnight grits casserole for easy entertaining!
cheese grits casserole
This grits casserole recipe takes the ultimate comfort food, creamy grits, mixes it with a dose of butter, cream, and lots of freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Pour into a greased baking dish and watch it bubble away in the oven until a thick golden cheese crust appears on top of creamy, buttery, cheesy grits underneath.
Just scoop and serve alongside freshly fried bacon, sausage, or eggs. Or use as supper side dish, accompanying blackened shrimp, pork tenderloin, or BBQ chicken.
An added bonus of this easy casserole recipe is it can be prepared and baked right away or made ahead of time.
How to Make Grits Casserole
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a baking dish. Prepare grits in a large saucepan according to package directions.
- Remove from heat and add butter, shredded cheese, salt and pepper to the cooked grits.
- In a separate bowl whisk together eggs with milk. Add egg mixture to grits and whisk vigorously.
- Pour cheese grits into prepared pan. Top with additional cheese and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
What are the Best Grits to Use?
This may cause some scoffing from southern grit aficionados, but I mostly use quick cooking grits with this breakfast grits casserole recipe, in the interest of time.
Since the baked grits takes almost an hour to set, I cook the grits as quickly as possible.
However, I’ve also used regular grits or stone ground grits. Any type is fine, based on preference and what you have on hand.
Can I Use Leftover Grits?
Yes, you may also use leftover cooked grits, from a creamy grits recipe to instant pot grits.
Rewarm them slightly on the stove or microwave so the additional ingredients can easily be incorporated.
If the leftover grits already contain cheese and butter, omit those from the recipe…or add more. It can only make them better, right?!
Top with cheese and bake according to directions.
What Kind of Cheese to Use
Cheese grit recipes may be prepared with any preferred cheese. I love to use sharp or extra sharp cheddar because the cheese flavor really shines through.
Other popular choices are medium cheddar, white cheddar, pepper jack, gouda, parmesan, or a mixture. If you love the creaminess of Velveeta, it may also be substituted.
(You may also want to take a quick peek at ultra creamy, baked Velveeta mac and cheese recipe.)
For best results use freshly grated cheese from a block, rather than packaged shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses contain an anti-caking ingredient, which could cause the casserole to be grainy instead of smooth and cheesy.
What Else Can be Added?
Oven baked cheese grits is decadent and fulfilling as is, or add any of these suggested ingredients to make it your own!
- Sausage Grits Casserole – Stir in 1/2 pound cooked pork breakfast sausage
- Garlic Cheese Grits – Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 minced garlic clove
- Bacon Grits Casserole – Stir in 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon, reserving some to sprinkle on top with cheese.
- Stir in chopped veggies, such as green onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
- Sprinkle top with paprika for a richer golden color and taste.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for a boost of salty flavor.
- Any preferred cheese may be used.
Make ahead / Overnight directions
Making grits casserole in advance is also possible. Make-ahead grits casserole instructions are included in the recipe card.
Simply prepare the grits, and stir in cheese and butter. Whisk together the eggs and milk.
Add a ladle of hot grits to the eggs/ milk mixture to temper them. Stir egg mixture back into prepared grits and pour into a baking dish.
Set out to cool completely, cover, and transfer to the refrigerator overnight. The next day, top with more cheese and bake!
Can this recipe Be Frozen?
Prepared, cooked, or baked grits may be frozen, but it will affect the taste and texture.
If milk or cream has been added, the milk solids will separate from the liquid during freezing. Upon thawing, the grits become waterlogged and slightly spongy.
The grits will still be edible, but not as smooth and creamy as they first were. Adding additional cheese, cream cheese, or ricotta can improve them.
More Tips for Making Grits Casserole
- If serving a crowd, recipe may be doubled and baked in 9X13 pan.
- Prepare any type of preferred grits, quick, regular, or stone ground either on the stove or try instant pot grits.
- Adding extra ingredients, such as cooked bacon and sausage, will increase the volume of the casserole. Increase baking dish size, depending on how much being added.
- Freshly grated cheese is best so the grits remain smooth and creamy instead of grainy.
- Use leftover cooked grits, slightly rewarmed. Adjust amount of added butter, cheese, and milk depending on how much the prepared grits already contains.
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Cheese Grits Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ cup grits, quick-cooking or regular
- 2 cups water
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ⅓ cup milk, half and half, or heavy cream
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 8X8 or 2 quart baking dish. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan bring 2 cups water to a boil. Slowly stir in grits with dash of salt, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and cover. For regular grits, cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. For quick-cooking grits, cover and cook on low for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and add butter, ¾ cup shredded cheese, salt and pepper. Stir until smooth and set aside.
- In a small bowl whisk together milk or cream with eggs. Whisk egg mixture into grits pan, stirring vigorously. Pour into prepared baking dish and top with remaining ½ cup cheese.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until top is golden and toothpick comes out clean. Serve immediately.
Overnight Grits Casserole:
- In a medium saucepan bring 2 cups water to a boil. Slowly stir in grits with dash of salt, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and cover. For regular grits, cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. For quick-cooking grits, cover and cook on low for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and add butter, ¾ cup shredded cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and set aside.
- In a medium bowl whisk together milk or cream with eggs. Ladle a scoop of hot grits into the egg mixture, mixing quickly. (This helps bring up the temperature of the eggs so they don't cook when added back to the grits.) Whisk the tempered egg / grits mixture back into the grits pan, stirring vigorously.
- Grease 8X8 or 2 quart baking dish. Pour grits into prepared baking dish and set aside to cool completely. Top with remaining ½ cup cheese, cover tightly, and store in refrigerator overnight, or until ready to bake.
- When ready to bake pull grits from refrigerator and let sit out 15-30 minutes. Bake at 350°F for 45-60 minutes, or until top is golden and toothpick comes out clean. Serve immediately.
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Equipment Needed
Recipe Notes
Cooks Tips
- If serving a crowd, recipe may be doubled and baked in 9X13 pan.
- Prepare any type of preferred grits, quick, regular, or stone ground.
- Freshly grated cheese is best so the grits remain smooth and creamy instead of grainy.
- Use leftover cooked grits, slightly rewarmed. Adjust amount of added butter, cheese, and milk depending on how much the prepared grits already contains.
Additions / Modifications
Add any of these suggested ingredients to make it your own. Increase baking dish size, depending on how much being added.- Sausage Grits Casserole – Stir in 1/2 pound cooked pork breakfast sausage
- Garlic Cheese Grits – Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 minced garlic clove
- Bacon Grits Casserole – Stir in 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon, reserving some to sprinkle on top with cheese.
- Sprinkle top with paprika for a richer golden color and taste.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for a boost of salty flavor.
- Any preferred cheese may be used, like pepper jack, gouda, parmesan, white cheddar, or medium cheddar.
Nutrition
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