Description
Creamy, cheesy grits topped with tender shrimp and crispy bacon—Easy Shrimp and Grits is Southern comfort food at its best. This quick dinner or indulgent brunch dish is loaded with flavor, rich textures, and bold seasonings. Whether you’re looking for breakfast ideas, a fast and easy recipe, or new food ideas for your weeknight meals, this shrimp and grits combo is satisfying, soul-warming, and guaranteed to impress.
Ingredients
1 cup stone-ground grits
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups whole milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 slices bacon, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 scallions, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or smoked paprika (optional)
Instructions
1. In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth and milk to a gentle boil. Slowly whisk in the grits to avoid clumping. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and creamy.
2. Stir in butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover and keep warm.
3. While grits are cooking, season shrimp with salt, pepper, and cayenne or paprika if using. Set aside.
4. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve 1–2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan.
5. Add garlic to the pan and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for about 2 minutes per side, or until pink and opaque. Squeeze lemon juice over shrimp before removing from heat.
6. Spoon grits into bowls. Top with shrimp and crispy bacon. Sprinkle with scallions and serve hot. Add more butter or hot sauce if desired.
Notes
Stir the grits frequently to ensure they cook evenly and stay creamy.
For extra flavor, use smoked paprika or a splash of hot sauce in the shrimp.
Reheat grits with milk or broth to bring back their original creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 840mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 230mg
Keywords: shrimp and grits, easy dinner, quick breakfast, southern recipe, food ideas