Description
Creamy southern shrimp and grits deliver a comforting Southern classic with rich, cheesy goodness. Savory seafood nestles atop stone-ground grits, creating a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 4 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper, finely chopped (red or green)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for spice)
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Grits Preparation: Bring liquid to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan, gradually whisk in grits while reducing heat to low, stirring until achieving a thick, velvety consistency.
- Grits Enhancement: Fold in heavy cream, sharp cheddar, butter, seasoning, and pepper, maintaining warm temperature to preserve creamy texture.
- Bacon Rendering: Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp and golden, remove pieces while reserving flavorful drippings.
- Vegetable Sauté: Caramelize onions and bell peppers in bacon drippings until translucent, creating an aromatic flavor foundation.
- Protein Cooking: Add shrimp to skillet, sprinkle with smoked paprika and cayenne, cooking until seafood transforms to vibrant pink while incorporating minced garlic.
- Pan Deglazation: Pour chicken broth into skillet, scrape flavor fragments, allow liquid to reduce while integrating bacon pieces and finishing with a butter knob and optional hot sauce.
- Plating Finale: Spread creamy grits as a luxurious base, cascade spicy shrimp mixture overtop, garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately to preserve optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Control Liquid Ratio: Precisely measure grits to liquid for perfect creamy consistency, avoiding lumps or dry texture.
- Master Shrimp Timing: Cook shrimp exactly 2-3 minutes to prevent rubbery texture, removing immediately when pink and slightly curled.
- Balance Spice Levels: Adjust cayenne and smoked paprika carefully to personalize heat intensity without overwhelming the delicate seafood flavor.
- Select Quality Ingredients: Use fresh, large Gulf shrimp and stone-ground grits for authentic Southern flavor and superior texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg