Southern Grits Sausage Chili Bake

Grits glorious grits!  I sing and smile whenever I make or eat grits!  This recipe is easily doubled for a 9x13 inch dish if you want to feed a crowd.  I love stoneground grits because of the texture; but this recipe would work well with quick 5-minute grits.  Just don't use instant grits!  Feel free to use your favorite cheese.  If you want a meatless version, omit the sausage.  You can substitute bacon for sausage easily with a great result. I used frozen pre-cooked sausage patties (which I browned) for convenience.  (I love the frozen sausage patties from Walmart)! Have fun and smile! 

 Servings: 6

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups water

¼ cup milk

1 cup stoneground grits (quick 5 minute grits would work too; NOT instant).

¼ cup butter

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided (or your favorite cheese)

3 pre-cooked sausage patties (or 1 pound ground pork sausage, cooked)

1 4-ounce can chopped green chilis (optional) 

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

3 large eggs

¼ cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

·         Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a square 8x8 inch baking dish.

·         Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan, whisk in grits. 

·         Add butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder, and ¼ cup milk, whisking to combine.

·         Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and grits are thick and creamy, about 15 minutes for stoneground grits

·         Mix in 1 ½ cups cheese and stir well. Remove from heat.

·         Sausage:  if using pre-cooked patties, break them into crumbles. If cooking ground pork sausage, cook the sausage over medium-high heat until well browned. Drain well.  Stir the sausage into the grits mixture.

·         Add the chopped green chilis to the mixture, stirring to combine.

·         Stir in the Worcestershire sauce.

·         Beat together the eggs and 1/4 cup milk in a bowl and add to the grits mixture, stirring well to combine.

·         Pour the grits mixture into the prepared baking dish.  Top with remaining cheese.

·         Bake 30 to 40 minutes in preheated oven until set and lightly browned.

Cut into squares and serve.