Cheesy Rotel Grits

Cheesy Rotel Grits is delicious, cheesy, and a little spicy. This dish has all the flavors from our favorite dip baked into a casserole- the perfect dish to serve at breakfast or as a main dish for dinner. 

My family fell in love with Rotel and grits many years ago during the holiday season. We took leftover Rotel dip from a party and topped our breakfast grits on a whim. Amazing! 

I decided to take this further and turn our favorite dish into a casserole. 

With just a few ingredients and a little prep, you, too, can have this tasty casserole in your oven and on your table in no time.

Cheesy Rotel Grits on a white plate with strawberries and text overlay.

A Southern Breakfast or Side Dish

Cheese grits are about as Southern as it gets and is the ultimate comfort food. This flavorful dish starts with the basics and is transformed into a casserole your family will request often. It’s great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

My Southern Style Cheese Grits are a requested dish in my home. They are easy to make and come together relatively fast. If you’ve never tried grits, now is the time. I bet you will be a new fan after you make this dish.  

What Are Grits?

The short version–grits are ground corn cooked in a liquid such as milk, chicken broth, or water. They are popular in the south and easy to find in grocery stores. They are mostly served for breakfast but can also be found on dinner menus. They serve as a base to some foods, a side dish, or in this case, a casserole. 

Many people in the south grew up eating grits for breakfast with eggs, bacon, and biscuits. Grits were considered a staple in many houses. I began eating grits at an early age. A bowl of grits with butter, salt, and pepper was a great way to start the day. Be sure to check out this recipe for some delicious Southern Style Cheese Grits.

Types of Grits

Instant Grits— The name says it all. These usually take about a minute to cook. They are good when you are in a rush and are acceptable for a quick breakfast or snack.

Quick Grits— These usually take about 5-7 minutes to cook. I use this type the most when cooking dishes.

Stone Ground Grits–Stone Ground Grits are harder to find in the grocery store. They require more time to cook. Stone Ground Grits usually need at least 30 minutes to cook.

Where to Buy Grits

Here in the south, grits are easy to find in most supermarkets. They are a common breakfast food and a base for some dishes. Suppose your local grocer does not carry grits- no worries. You can easily order them online. They come in bags or boxes.

My shrimp and grits is a popular recipe that uses grits as a base. 

Why This Dish is Fantastic

Grits Casserole is undoubtedly a Southern favorite, and if you’ve never tried grits, this casserole is sure to make you a fan. I enjoy grits the old-fashioned way, but this version is over-the-top delicious. Cheesy Rotel Grits will feed a crowd making it perfect for a holiday brunch or overnight guests. 

Ingredients Needed for Tomato Grits with Rotel

Ingredients needed for rotel grits with text overlay.
  • sausage
  • water
  • quick cook grits
  • heavy cream, divided
  • pepper
  • onion powder, garlic powder
  • salt to taste, optional
  • butter
  • cream cheese
  • Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
  • Velveeta cheese, diced
  • eggs, beaten

How To Make Tomato Grits Casserole

For complete instructions, see the recipe card below. 

  1. Cook sausage. 
  2. Make the grits. 
  3. Add ingredients. 
  4. Transfer to the casserole dish.
  5. Bake.

Recipe Tips:

  • Whisk, Whisk, and Whisk some more while cooking the grits. This prevents you from having baseball-sized clumps.
  • If you don’t have a whisk, get one. This is an essential tool you’ll need when cooking grits. 
  • Be sure to use Quick 5-Minute Grits, not instant.
  • Use any brand of sausage- Regular or Spicy.
  • Velveeta Cheese melts the best. Dice into chunks to melt faster.
  • After adding the sausage, tomatoes, butter, cheeses, and heavy cream, allow your grits to cool for at least 5 minutes before adding the eggs.
Rotel grits on a white plate with strawberries with text overlay.

Shrimp and Grits would make a fast dinner at night. Shrimp and Grits is a delicious and easy southern dish that is creamy, savory, and topped with seasoned shrimp and crunchy bacon. Perfect for any night of the week.

How to Serve Baked Rotel Cheese Grits

This is an all-in-one casserole. I like to serve this dish with biscuits and a side of fruit for breakfast. Then, a slice of garlic bread and a side salad for dinner. This is also great as a side dish to fried pork chops or grilled chicken.

How to Reheat Leftover Tomato Grits Casserole

This dish makes enough to serve a crowd. If you find yourself with leftovers, reheat them for a minute or so in the microwave. You may need to add a touch of milk to add moisture back into the casserole as you reheat.

Broiled Spicy Party Shrimp only takes 8 minutes to cook. This will be a hit at your next party. Fresh shrimp are marinated in a mixture of Italian dressing, garlic, oil, and seasonings. They are broiled for only 8 minutes! You might want to make a double batch because these will go fast!

Recipe FAQs

The key to making great grits is to whisk, whisk, and whisk some more. No one likes lumpy grits.

Yes. I like to use spicy sausage from time to time. This all depends on your taste and your guests. 

Grits usually take on the flavor of the ingredients that are added to them. Butter, salt, pepper, and cheese are all popular ingredients added to grits.

Typically grits are served in the south for breakfast, along with bacon and eggs. However, many people eat them for dinner as a side dish to meat and veggies.

Cheesy Rotel Grits on a with plate with place setting display with text overlay.

More Breakfast Dishes

Southern Tomato Gravy

Banana Nut Bread

Cream Cheese Sausage Balls

Cheesy Rotel Grits

Cheesy Rotel Grits

Gina Abernathy
Cheesy Rotel Grits is delicious, cheesy, and a little spicy. This dish has all the flavors from our favorite dip baked into a casserole- the perfect dish to serve at breakfast or as a main dish for dinner. 
5 from 16 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast, Main Dish
Cuisine American, Southern
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds sausage regular or spicy
  • 5 cups water
  • 1 ½ cups quick cook grits
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream divided
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt to taste, optional
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 (8oz.) package cream cheese
  • 2 (10oz.) cans Rotel Diced Tomatoes and green chilis drained
  • 12 ounces Velveeta Cheese diced
  • 4 eggs beaten

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350° F. 
  • Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  • In a skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink. Drain excess grease and set it aside.
  • While the sausage is cooking, make the grits. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan, then add 1 cup of heavy cream. Bring back to a boil and slowly whisk in grits and seasonings. Whisk well for about a minute. Reduce heat to low; cook covered for 5 to 7 minutes, whisking every few minutes. Cook until thickened. Whisk well to break up any lumps. Remove from heat.
  • Add butter, cream cheese, Velveeta cheese, Rotel tomatoes, sausage, and 1/2 cup of heavy cream to the grits. Stir until mostly melted and mixed. 
  • Slowly stir in eggs until blended. 
  • Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 40 to 45 minutes.
Keyword Cheesy Rotel Grits

16 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is such an easy and comforting dish! We served it alongside a bigger brunch spread this weekend and all of our guests loved it!

  2. 5 stars
    I have never had grits and I loved reading all the information about grits. This recipe sounds so delicious. Will try it soon.

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