Shrimp and Grits Recipe
Classic Southern Shrimp and Grits recipe featuring creamy cheddar grits topped with savory bacon and perfectly cooked wild shrimp, finished with scallions, garlic, lemon juice, and an optional kick of Tabasco sauce. A comforting and flavorful dish ready in just 30 minutes, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Grits
- 1 cup yellow grits
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 3 tbsp butter (salted or unsalted)
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or asiago)
Shrimp and Topping
- 4 ounces high-quality bacon (sliced or chopped into small pieces, about 5–6 strips)
- 1 lb 16/20 size wild shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 4 scallions (sliced)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 dashes Tabasco sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Grits: You can cook the grits either in a rice cooker or on the stovetop. For the rice cooker, combine grits, water, and salt, then run a normal white rice cycle. Once done, stir in butter, heavy cream, and shredded cheese. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Stovetop Grits Option: Bring water to a boil in a nonstick saucepan, add grits and salt, cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes until water is absorbed. Stir in butter, cream, and cheese, then season as needed.
- Cook the Bacon: Place bacon in a cold skillet, set heat to medium, and render the fat by cooking until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes.
- Cook the Shrimp: Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon bits from the skillet, leaving the bacon grease and brown bits in the pan. Add shrimp in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 60 seconds.
- Flip and Flavor Shrimp: Turn shrimp over, season again with salt and pepper. Add scallions, minced garlic, lemon juice, optional Tabasco sauce, and reserved crisped bacon bits to the pan.
- Finish Cooking Shrimp: Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until shrimp are just cooked through, tossing gently to combine flavors. Avoid overcooking as shrimp will carryover cook slightly.
- Serve: Spoon grits into the bottom of bowls and top with the shrimp and bacon mixture. Serve warm for best flavor combination.
Notes
- Cooking grits in a rice cooker is a convenient and hands-off method but may vary depending on your model.
- Make sure to undercook shrimp slightly to avoid a rubbery texture due to carryover cooking.
- Feel free to substitute cheddar cheese with asiago for a different cheese flavor.
- Tabasco sauce is optional but adds a nice subtle heat to the shrimp.
- Use high-quality wild shrimp and thick-cut bacon for best flavor.
Find it online: https://bitezly.com/shrimp-and-grits-recipe/
