Shrimp and Grits (Print Version)

Creamy buttery grits topped with savory shrimp in a rich bacon sauce - a comforting Southern classic that's ready in 40 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Grits

01 - 1 cup stone-ground grits
02 - 4 cups water (or a mix of water and milk for creamier grits)
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)

→ Shrimp

06 - 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
09 - ½ teaspoon paprika
10 - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
11 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ Sauce

12 - 4 strips bacon, chopped
13 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - ½ cup chicken stock
16 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in salt and grits. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened (about 20–25 minutes). Add butter and cheese (if using) once thickened; stir until melted and creamy. Keep warm.
02 - Season shrimp with salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne, and lemon juice.
03 - In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving bacon fat in the pan.
04 - Sauté onion in the bacon fat until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
05 - Add shrimp to the skillet and cook until pink and opaque, about 2 minutes per side.
06 - Pour in chicken stock and simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring to combine all flavors. Stir in butter and half of the chopped parsley.
07 - Spoon grits into bowls. Top with shrimp and sauce. Garnish with crispy bacon and the remaining parsley.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Ready in just 40 minutes
  • Uses simple ingredients that create complex flavors
  • Perfect balance of creamy grits and savory seafood
  • Easily customizable to your heat preference
02 -
  • This dish is incredibly versatile and can be made ahead partially
  • The combination of textures makes this dish special creamy grits with tender shrimp
  • Stone ground grits have more nutrients than instant varieties
  • Can be made gluten free with proper ingredient checking
03 -
  • Always buy shell on shrimp and peel them yourself for the freshest flavor and texture
  • Reserve some of the bacon fat in a small container in your refrigerator for future cooking projects
  • Taste your grits before adding cheese you may not need as much salt if the cheese is very salty

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