Southern Grits and Greens Casserole

Two beloved favorites collide in this Southern Grits and Greens Casserole. Serve this incredible dish for brunch, breakfast or as a side dish to any of your favorite entrees to round out the meal.

Ingredients to Make Southern Grits and Greens Casserole Recipe

We have a love affair with grits and greens in the South. While they’re often served together, they aren’t always combined in a casserole. The addition of bacon and cheese doesn’t hurt. Whether you like collard greens, turnip greens, kale or even spinach they will all work in this casserole. Ingredients to make creamy Southern Grits and Greens Casserole: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

• Grits: Use quick cooking grits, not instant or stone ground grits which take longer to cook.
• Greens: One pound of frozen collard greens seasoned with salt and cooked per the recipe.
• Bacon: Crispy cooked bacon adds a smoky flavor to the greens.
• Onion: One sweet onion or yellow onion for a stronger onion flavor plus green onions for garnishing.
• Liquid: Low sodium chicken stock and half and half for making the grits creamy.
• Cream Cheese: One 8 ounce container of garden vegetable spreadable cream cheese.
• Butter: Salted or unsalted butter add richness to the grits.
• Seasonings: Garlic salt and black pepper amps up the flavor.
• Cheese: Shredded Swiss cheese or sharp white cheddar cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese for saltiness.
• Spice: Hot sauce for a hint of spice, you can adapt the amount to suit your taste.

What’s the Difference Between Grits and Polenta?

Just in case, you’ve never had Southern grits, these are the basics:

• Southern Grits are made from hominy which are corn kernels that have had the hull and germ removed. They’re ground from white corn and are usually a pale yellow color. At times, you’ll see variations in color and find grits, with a more intense yellow hue, too.
• Polenta on the other hand, has a brighter yellow color and are ground more coarse than grits due to the  fact, they’re ground from the whole corn kernel. Grits and polenta share a comparable nutty taste and grainy texture and both are made from ground corn.
• Southern Grits can be made like a soft porridge and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner with any variety of toppings.

How to Make the Best Southern Grits and Greens Casserole

• Cook the Collard Greens: In a medium-size pot, cook collard greens in salted water until tender. Drain and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Fry Bacon: Fry bacon strips in a large skillet over until crispy. Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain grease, then chop.
• Onion: Cook onion in bacon drippings until softened.
• Cook Grits: Bring chicken broth, half and half and garlic salt to a boil in a large pot. Whisking constantly add grits in a single stream. Lower heat and simmer per the recipe until creamy.
• Mix-Ins: To the grits stir in cream cheese and butter.
• Combine: Stir in greens, shredded cheese, Parmesan cheese, bacon, hot sauce and black pepper. Mix until fully combined. Pour grits mixture into buttered 13×9-inch dish.
• Oven: Bake per the cook time in the oven until lightly golden brown.
• Serve: Let stand 5 minutes then garnish and serve.

Tips for Making Grits and Greens Casserole

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: A 13×9-inch baking dish, a large heavy bottomed pot or medium saucepan to cook the bacon and prepare the grits, a sharp knife and cutting board, a large spoon for stirring, measuring cups and spoons and a cheese grater.
• Use Quick Cooking Grits Not Instant Grits: For this casserole I use quick cooking, not instant, grits. There is a difference, so read the label carefully. Stone ground grits are the gold standard, but they do take considerably longer to cook and quick cooking grits work best for this dish.
• Make-Ahead Tip: This grits casserole mixture can be fully assembled, covered and chilled. As with any casserole, allow it to come to room temperature before baking and add 10-15 minutes to the baking time. The grits will solidify in the fridge and will take longer to soften and heat thoroughly.
• What to Serve with Grits Casserole: You can serve this casserole for breakfast or brunch with eggs, hash browns and biscuits. You can also enjoy it as a side dish with fried chicken, pork chops, pot roast, a bowl of pinto beans or fried seafood for dinner or entertaining.

Recipe Variations

• Leftover Greens: Frozen collard greens work like a charm in this recipe, but you could of course, use greens cooked from scratch. You’ll need about 2 cups of cooked, chopped greens.
• Greens: Collard greens, turnip greens and mustard greens will all work in this casserole. You could even adapt using kale in a pinch.
• Cheese: You can use colby jack cheese, gruyere cheese or monterey jack cheese.
• Spice: We love this casserole with a few dashes of hot sauce. You canomit, if preferred.
• Seasoning Packet: The frozen greens used in this recipe came with a seasoning packet. It’s not necessary to use it in this dish. Season the water with salt as directed in the recipe.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store leftover Southern Grits and Green Casserole chilled covered with foil, plastic wrap or in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in single servings in the microwave. You can also reheat in a 325°F oven with a piece of aluminum foil on top. Bring it to room temperature and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and check the consistency. Add time from that point until it’s heated through.
• Freezer: Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Southern Grits Recipes to Make

• Making these rich and creamy Easy Cheesy Slow Cooker Grits in your crockpot is a game changer!
• Delicious Shrimp and Grits can be served from breakfast to supper.
• Stovetop Cheddar Grits are creamy and delicious.
• This recipe for grilled Smoked Sausages with Grits are served drizzled with a rich tomato sauce that takes them to another level.
• Shrimp and Grits Casserole will take you from brunch to supper.

Thanks for visiting come back soon!

Disclosure ~ If  a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Helpful Kitchen Items: 

• 13×9-inch Dish
• Cheese Grater
• Spatula
• Chopping Board and Knives