This iconic Southern dish was historically served as a morning meal. We find it irresistible a lot, we’d have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. These heat, creamy grits are loaded with butter and cheddar cheese, topped with sautéed shrimp and crispy bacon. Add a touch (or extra) of scorching sauce and a squeeze of recent lemon and also you’ve bought a bowl of Southern consolation prepared in simply 45 minutes.
For extra Southern consolation meals, strive our Chicken and Dumplings or our Southern Style Red Beans and Rice.
Why Our Recipe
- We use white grits for the creamiest grits after which load them up with cheddar cheese.
- The shrimp is cooked in bacon grease and garlic to make sure it’s filled with taste.
- It’s topped off with a bit lemon juice, scorching sauce (after all), bacon, and inexperienced onions.

Shrimp and grits is an iconic, Southern breakfast meals. Image New Orleans and Charleston, the place this humble dish is an integral a part of their on a regular basis house life. This Southern staple is straightforward to arrange, hearty and filling, whereas delivering huge taste. Buttery, tacky grits mixed with savory bacon and garlic shrimp makes our mouths water! High all of it off with a bit scorching sauce and also you’ve bought a scrumptious meal that’s positive to grow to be a household favourite.
Ingredient Notes


- White Grits: White grits are extra versatile and tackle the flavors of the dish, whereas yellow grits have a extra assertive corn taste.
- Hen Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can finest management the flavour. It’s an incredible chef tip.
- Butter: We use salted butter so as to add simply the correct quantity of salt to reinforce the flavors of the grits.
- Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded melts higher than pre-shredded cheese, which accommodates components to forestall clumping.
- Shrimp (peeled and deveined): Use massive, uncooked shrimp for the most effective texture. Frozen shrimp can be utilized if thawed correctly. You ca depart tails on or take away them earlier than cooking..
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the most effective taste, however jarred minced garlic works too.
- Bacon: Use customary bacon or thick-cut. You’ll wish to use precise bacon, relatively than pre-cooked, as a result of you may be cooking the shrimp within the leftover bacon fats.
- Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works nicely and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed all the time has the most effective taste.
- Sizzling Sauce: High off along with your favourite scorching sauce.
Shrimp Choices
You’ve got just a few choices to select from in relation to shrimp, actually it’s various. There are completely different sizes, frozen or recent, veined or deveined, peeled or complete, and all of them work!
For comfort, we want to cook dinner with already peeled and deveined shrimp. Should you use frozen, remember to thaw them earlier than utilizing.
Immediate vs. White Grits
Immediate grits could cook dinner up sooner, nonetheless, they lack the higher taste of white grits. It’s price it to take the time to cook dinner up the actual factor which is able to end result within the creamiest, most flavorful, completely restaurant-quality grits you can also make at house.


Avoiding Lumpy Grits
Should you’re having points with clumping, don’t fear, you aren’t alone. It’s a typical drawback that may be simply mounted. The most typical reason behind clumping shouldn’t be stirring the grits instantly after including them to the liquid. This will trigger the grits to stay collectively and kind lumps.
To forestall lumps, be sure to stir the grits constantly for the primary couple of minutes after including them to the liquid. Stir, stir, stir!
Add grits a bit at a time whereas stirring to make sure that the grits are evenly dispersed within the liquid. You may simply gently sprinkle them excessive of the boiling liquid.
In case your grits are already lumpy, seize a whisk! Attempt whisking vigorously. Should you can’t whisk them out, add a splash of scorching water and preserve whisking till the clumps dissolve. For further cussed clumps, you possibly can even use an immersion blender briefly to clean them out. Simply don’t overmix.


Alter the Warmth
For much less warmth: Should you don’t tolerate spice nicely, be at liberty to go away out the new sauce solely. If you would like a bit spice however not numerous warmth, add a pinch of paprika and chili powder as an alternative.
For extra warmth: Be happy to only add extra scorching sauce. Or, add 1/4–1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper when cooking the shrimp for much more warmth. You might additionally prime with recent jalapeño slices or a sprinkle of pink pepper flakes.
Storage and Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.
Reheat leftover grits in a saucepan on low warmth. Add a bit little bit of water or rooster broth to maintain the grits from drying out, and stir often to make sure that they warmth by means of evenly.. Reheat the shrimp in a skillet over medium warmth which is able to solely take 1 to 2 minutes.
Microwave the grits in 30-second increments till warmed by means of. Add a small quantity of water to the grits to skinny out as wanted. Add shrimp on the very finish or reheat individually as they reheat a lot sooner and can get rubbery when overcooked.
Freeze leftover grits in an hermetic container or resealable plastic freezer bag for as much as 3 months. Once you’re able to eat them, thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat as typical.
Extra shrimp recipes…
Trending Merchandise

OLANLY Bathroom Rugs Mat 30×20, Extra Soft Absorbent Microfiber Bath Rugs, Rubber Backing, Quick Dry, Machine Washable Bath Mats for Bathroom Floor, Tub, Shower and Home Decor Accessories, Grey

NEWCOSPLAY Super Soft Throw Blanket Ivory Premium Silky Flannel Fleece 3D Checkered Lightweight Bed Blanket All Season Use (Ivory Checkered, Throw(50″x70″))

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR), Versatile Cookware for Large Families or Entertaining

Aroma Housewares 4-Cups (Cooked) / 1Qt. Rice & Grain Cooker (ARC-302NGP), Pink
