Name: Three Cheese Grits Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 cup half & half; 3 cups milk; 1 cup uncooked grits; 1/2 stick butter; 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 1 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese; 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese; 1 large egg, beaten; 1 tsp garlic powder; salt & pepper, to taste

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Feed a hungry crowd for breakfast, or brunch, with this creamy three cheese grits casserole. It’s an easy way to turn simple grits into a meal that everyone can enjoy.

If there’s one thing in the South we love, it’s our grits. In a bowl by themselves with some salt & pepper. With some butter. With some cheese. With some sausage. I could go on and on.

They’re so versatile and perfect for breakfast, lunch, or even a filling snack. However with so many growing sons with large appetites, a bowl of grits doesn’t really fill them up to face an active day.

What I’ve found does fill them up and works for me as a busy mom is a good casserole, which is exactly why I decided to combine the two in this yummy three cheese grits casserole.

Creamy, cheese grits are baked to perfection in one dish that makes enough to feed a crowd.

Paired with sausage links and a couple fried eggs, maybe a biscuit or two? It’s a bountiful breakfast the whole family will love.

Ingredients Needed

Like all my favorite recipes, this cheesy grits casserole only requires a handful of simple ingredients.

To make it you’ll need:

Milk – You’ll need both milk and half & half for this.
Grits – Quick grits, NOT instant grits and also NOT stone ground grits which take much longer to cook/boil.
Butter – You can use unsalted or salted, but if you use salted don’t add extra salt when seasoning.
Cheese – A blend of sharp cheddar, Monterrey jack, and Parmesan cheeses.
Egg – A single large egg, beaten
Seasoning – A blend of garlic powder, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper season this dish.

Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients you’re ready to whip up this easy breakfast casserole.

How To Make

Making this cheesy grits casserole is super easy.

Start by adding both the half & half and milk to a large skillet set over high heat. Bring the milk to a rolling boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium low to prevent it from scalding and boiling over.

Pour the grits into the simmering milk, stirring to evenly incorporate. Let the grits simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes.

Pour the beaten egg into the grits quickly whisking it in, so that it doesn’t curdle or cook, until evenly incorporated.

Add the cheeses to the grits, stirring until completely melted and smooth.

Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the garlic powder. Season the mixture with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste.

Spray a 9×13″ baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Transfer the seasoned cheese grits to the prepared casserole dish, and spread out in an even layer using a spatula.

Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes, just until the casserole’s cooked through and golden brown on top.

Carefully remove the hot dish from the oven, and let it rest for 2-3 minutes while the grits settle and set up.

Serve warm by itself, or paired with your favorite breakfast items.

Storing

Cooled, leftover grits casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can This Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Yes! Prepare and bake the recipe as instructed, then allow the casserole to cool completely.

Cover with plastic wrap to seal, refrigerate overnight, and reheat in the oven the next morning when you’re ready to enjoy it.

This is one breakfast casserole that reheats beautifully and tastes just as delicious, if not more so, the next day.

Tips & Tricks

If you don’t like using nonstick cooking spray you can omit it, but you should still prepare the dish to prevent the baked grits from sticking and getting stuck during baking. I recommend rubbing the inside of the dish with butter as an alternate method.
I highly recommend using real butter, not margarine.
Want to get some veggies in to make it a more solid breakfast casserole? Fresh baby spinach and diced red bell peppers are delicious additions.

Other Recipes Using Grits

This cheesy grits casserole is the perfect breakfast to feed a crowd.

It’s comfort food in a baking dish that’s quick, easy to prepare, and the whole family will enjoy without complaint!

Looking for other easy recipes using grits to enjoy?

Try these:

If you’ve tried this THREE CHEESE GRITS CASSEROLE, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!