This is one of those casseroles that I like to make ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate for an easy make-ahead dinner. I put it in my toaster oven and dinner is ready without much effort on my part. Amounts listed below are for one Grits Chili Cheese Casserole; just multiply the quantities by the number of pans you need if you want to make more to freeze.

Ingredients

1/4 cup dry grits or polenta

1 cup of whole milk (you can use water or skim milk if you want to cut calories, but it won’t be as creamy and delicious)

1 teaspoon sea salt

Enough olive oil to lightly grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish

1 15-ounce can of your favorite prepared chili

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

4 green onions, both the white and green parts

Addresses

The most time consuming part of this recipe is cooking the grits. You can substitute instant grits if you’re in a hurry; just follow the directions on the instant grits package. If not, put the milk and sea salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat over low heat. Once the milk is hot, but not yet simmering, slowly mix in the dry grits. Cook over very low heat until thickened; this should take about 20-25 minutes.

Lightly grease an 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Pour the prepared semolina into the dish and spread it evenly with a spatula. For the can of chili peppers prepared on the semolina. Evenly distribute the chile. Sprinkle shredded Cheddar cheese all over the top. Cover the baking dish tightly, either with a lid or with aluminum foil. You can cook the casserole right away or move it to the freezer or refrigerator for later use.

Heat your toaster oven to 350 degrees F. A room temperature casserole should bake for about 30 minutes. A refrigerator temperature one will take about 50 minutes, and a frozen one will take about 1 hour and 10 minutes. You should always check the internal temperature of any casserole and make sure it reaches 165 degrees F to ensure it is safe to eat. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Thinly slice the green onions and sprinkle over the cooked casserole just before serving.