Easy Cheese Grits Casserole recipe is the perfect comfort side dish for breakfast, brunch, or even a weeknight dinner. Cheesy baked grits can be made ahead as overnight grits casserole for easy entertaining!
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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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.