Cheddar Grits with Cinnamon Apples and Crispy Turkey Sausage

A white bowl filled with grits and cinnamon apples sitting on a taupe and cream gingham napkin.

5 from 1 vote

Cheddar Grits with Cinnamon Apples and Crispy Turkey Sausage

A creamy bowl of stone-ground cheddar grits topped with tender cinnamon apples and crispy maple-flavored turkey sausage crumbles makes for a delicious stick-to-your-ribs breakfast on chilly mornings!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: best cheese grits, cheddar grits, grits with cinnamon apples, southern recipes

Servings: servings

Calories: 485kcal

Author: Whitney Reist | Sweet Cayenne

Ingredients

3 ½ cups water
1 cup stone-ground grits
¾ teaspoons salt
1 cup 1% milk, plus more as needed
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
3 medium apples, thinly sliced (recommend one Honeycrisp and one Granny Smith)
5 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 ounces turkey sausage (from a roll or bulk packaged)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Louisiana

Instructions

For the grits:

Bring the water to boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in the grits and salt. Reduce heat to low until the grits come to a slow simmer. Place the lid on top and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often. Add the milk, and simmer for 10-15 minutes more, stirring as needed to keep the grits from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Once the grits are cooked and tender, stir in the cheese and 3 tablespoons of butter until incorporated and melted. Add splashes of water or milk as needed to reach desired creaminess.

For the apples:

Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring often, until tender and translucent, about 7-8 minutes. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine. Transfer the apples to a bowl and cover, keeping warm on the stovetop until ready to serve. Wipe the skillet clean to prepare for cooking the sausage.

For the turkey sausage:

Return the cast iron skillet to medium heat. Add the turkey sausage. Cook, using a wooden spoon to break up the sausage and scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan, until the sausage is cooked through and crispy, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add the hot sauce and maple syrup, tossing to combine and coat the sausage.

To serve:

Ladle the grits into small bowls. Top with the warm apples and turkey sausage crumbles. Enjoy while hot!

Notes

Store leftovers separately or combined in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This reheats nicely in the microwave!

Nutrition