Christmas

Cheesy Grits Casserole With Sausage & Greens

October 14, 2020
5
2 Ratings
Photo by Chadwick Boyd
  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Serves 6 to 8
Author Notes

This grits casserole was originally shared with me by my sweet friend Phyllis many years ago. She and her sisters would bake this casserole every Christmas Eve for their family. I began to bake it for my non-Southern grandparents every Christmas Day, and they loved it so much it became our family tradition. We loved all its cheesy, comforty goodness. I have since adapted it, adding greens to lighten and freshen it up. I love how their spicy crispness balances with the salty sausage and gooey cheese.

Chadwick Boyd

Test Kitchen Notes

This recipe is excerpted from a digital cookbook by the The Quarantine Collective , a virtual community of food and beverage professionals. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pound sweet sausage
  • 1 pound hot sausage
  • 3 cups fresh arugula, divided
  • 1 cup coarse ground grits (cooked according to directions and cooled)
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 3 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cups grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Place both sausages in a large skillet, and cook on medium heat until just done, but not brown, about 7 to 10 minutes. Break the sausage into small pieces with the back of a wooden spoon. Remove with a large slotted spoon and place into the bottom of a 9- x 13-inch baking dish.
  3. Layer 2 1/2 cups of the arugula on top of the sausage.
  4. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the grits, milk, eggs, butter and 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Add the salt and pepper, and whisk again. Pour over the greens and smooth the top with a spatula. Scatter the rest of the cheese on top.
  5. Bake for 1 hour until golden and bubbly. The edges and top should be slightly brown. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Layer the remaining greens on top just before serving.

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1 Review

Kari January 23, 2024
I followed the instructions exactly and added mushrooms to my base as my husband is a big fan. It was delicious and very filling, I might use half ground turkey and half sausage next time as it was quite spicy.