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4.2 from 42 votes

Shrimp and Grits

With rich, creamy cheddar cheese grits and smoky Cajun-style shrimp, this Shrimp and Grits recipe has a lot of flavor for such little effort. There's nothing complicated about this classic comfort food, but I'm gonna show you a few tricks to make this good dish even better.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 978 kcal
Course: Main Course , Brunch
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

shrimp marinade
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 14 grams garlic (2 large cloves, finely minced)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 300 grams Shrimp (peeled and deveined)
cheddar grits
  • 1 ½ cups low sodium chicken stock
  • 1 ½ cup whole milk
  • 85 grams grits (~½ cup)
  • 80 grams cheddar cheese (~1 cup grated)
  • 1 tablespoon cultured unsalted butter
Cajun shrimp
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 90 grams Tasso ham (or bacon, cut into ⅓-inch cubes)
  • 90 grams onion (½ small onion, diced)
  • 65 grams red bell pepper (½ red bell pepper, diced)
  • ½ lemon (to taste)
  • flat-leaf parsley (for garnish)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Make the marinade for the shrimp by stirring together the olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add the shrimp and toss to coat evenly.
  2. To cook the grits, add the chicken stock and milk to a pot and bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Add the grits and quickly stir them into the milk and stock. Continue stirring the mixture until it starts to thicken slightly (about a minute).
  4. Turn the heat down all the way and cover the pot with a lid. Let this simmer for 10 minutes, being sure to stir it every 3 minutes or so to keep it from burning.
  5. When the 10 minutes are up, give it one last stir, cover it with the lid, and remove the pan from the heat. Let this steam without opening the lid while you prepare the shrimp.
  6. For the shrimp, heat a frying pan over medium high heat until hot. Add the olive oil and ham(or bacon) and fry it until it starts to brown.
  7. Add the onions and bell peppers and sauté the mixture until the onions are soft and translucent.
  8. Add the shrimp mixture, along with any remaining marinade, and spread the shrimp in a single layer in the pan.
  9. When the shrimp is half cooked, toss the shrimp to flip them over, and then flip over any shrimp that got missed.
  10. Let these fry until the shrimp is cooked through and the onions have started to brown.
  11. To finish the grits, turn the heat back on, and then add the grated cheese in 3 additions, stirring until the cheese is fully incorporated after each addition.
  12. When the cheese is incorporated, stir in the butter.
  13. Serve the shrimp and grits in a bowl and garnished with chopped parsley or scallions and a squeeze of lemon.

Nutrition Information

Calories 978kcal (49%) Carbohydrates 61g (20%) Protein 66g (132%) Fat 52g (80%) Saturated Fat 21g (105%) Cholesterol 487mg (162%) Sodium 2631mg (110%) Potassium 999mg (29%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 17g (34%) Vitamin A 2473IU (49%) Vitamin C 67mg (74%) Calcium 748mg (75%) Iron 5mg (28%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 978

% Daily Value*

Calories 978kcal 49%
Carbohydrates 61g 20%
Protein 66g 132%
Fat 52g 80%
Saturated Fat 21g 105%
Cholesterol 487mg 162%
Sodium 2631mg 110%
Potassium 999mg 21%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 17g 34%
Vitamin A 2473IU 49%
Vitamin C 67mg 74%
Calcium 748mg 75%
Iron 5mg 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.