This Baked Cheese Grits Casserole recipe features creamy grits cooked with butter and cheese and then baked into a delicious casserole.

Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even as a side dish for supper, this easy grits casserole is always a favorite! Easily customizable with your favorite add-ins like peppers, onions, bacon, sausage, and more!

Photo of baked grits casserole in a baking dish on a marble surface.

How to Make Baked Grits Casserole

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

Water – I mainly use water for cooking my grits for this casserole. You can also use chicken stock for additional flavor in place of the water.
Grits – the grits used are important to the success of this recipe. Do not use instant grits. Look for high-quality, stone-ground grits.
Butter – Adds so much flavor to the final casserole.
Cheddar cheese – Use good quality cheddar cheese. I prefer to use freshly shredded from the block so that it does not contain any ingredients to prevent it from sticking, which would cause the cheese to not melt into the grits casserole and be as creamy as possible.
Eggs – Lightly beat your eggs to add to the casserole. They help the casserole to rise and bake into a luscious dish.
Milk – The addition of milk makes the casserole rich and creamy. I use either whole milk, half and half, or cream depending on what I have available.
Salt and pepper – I can never stress the importance of using salt and pepper in recipes for flavor. They are so important in this recipe.
Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley, chives, or green onions.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cooked grits in a Dutch oven with a wooden spoon.

Cook the grits. Prepare them according to my easy grits recipe. To make this casserole, you will be doubling the grits recipe. You’ll need 2 cups of grits and 8 cups of water.

Photo of cheese and egg added to cooked grits.

Add the other ingredients. Stir in the butter, cheese, eggs, and milk.

Photo of grits casserole mixture added to a baking dish for cooking.

Bake. Pour into the prepared baking dish and place into the preheated oven. Bake until bubbling and the top of the grits casserole is golden brown, about 1 hour.

Spoonful of baked cheese grits casserole in a white baking dish on a marble surface.

Cool and serve. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Serve warm. Top with optional garnish if using.

Cheese Grits Casserole Variations and Add-Ins

Bacon Cheese Grits Casserole – Cook and chop 10 slices of bacon and stir into the casserole before baking.
Sausage Grits Casserole – Cook 1 pound of your favorite breakfast-style sausage and stir into the casserole before baking.
Pimento Cheese Grits Casserole – Stir 1 1/2 pimento cheese into the casserole before baking.

Storage Tips

To make ahead (unbaked) for meal prep. Perfect for preparing ahead for busy weekends and holidays. Prepare the casserole as directed without baking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator and allow to sit out while the oven preheats. Bake as directed.

To make ahead (baked). Prepare the casserole as directed. Cool and cover tightly with wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat and serve.

To freeze. Prepare the casserole unbaked in a freezer-safe baking dish. Cover the unbaked casserole tightly with wrap and store in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then bake and serve as directed.

Here is my Baked Cheese Grits Casserole Recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

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