This iconic Southern dish was historically served as a morning meal. We like it 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 sizzling 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 stuffed with taste.
- It’s topped off with a little bit lemon juice, sizzling 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 residence life. This Southern staple is simple to arrange, hearty and filling, whereas delivering huge taste. Buttery, tacky grits mixed with savory bacon and garlic shrimp makes our mouths water! Prime all of it off with a little bit sizzling sauce and also you’ve bought a scrumptious meal that’s positive to develop into 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 permits you to finest management the flavour. It’s an ideal chef tip.
- Butter: We use salted butter so as to add simply the correct amount of salt to boost 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 giant, uncooked shrimp for the perfect texture. Frozen shrimp can be utilized if thawed correctly. You ca go away tails on or take away them earlier than cooking..
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the perfect taste, however jarred minced garlic works too.
- Bacon: Use normal bacon or thick-cut. You’ll need to use precise bacon, reasonably than pre-cooked, as a result of you’ll be cooking the shrimp within the leftover bacon fats.
- Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works properly and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed all the time has the perfect taste.
- Scorching Sauce: Prime off together with your favourite sizzling sauce.
Shrimp Choices
You will have a couple of choices to select from in relation to shrimp, actually it’s quite a lot of. 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. When you use frozen, you’ll want to thaw them earlier than utilizing.
Immediate vs. White Grits
Immediate grits could cook dinner up quicker, nevertheless, they lack the higher taste of white grits. It’s value it to take the time to cook dinner up the true factor which is able to outcome within the creamiest, most flavorful, completely restaurant-quality grits you can also make at residence.


Avoiding Lumpy Grits
When you’re having points with clumping, don’t fear, you aren’t alone. It’s a standard drawback that may be simply fastened. The most typical reason for clumping shouldn’t be stirring the grits instantly after including them to the liquid. This could trigger the grits to stay collectively and kind lumps.
To stop 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 little bit at a time whereas stirring to make sure that the grits are evenly dispersed within the liquid. You’ll be able to simply gently sprinkle them excessive of the boiling liquid.
In case your grits are already lumpy, seize a whisk! Attempt whisking vigorously. When you can’t whisk them out, add a splash of sizzling water and preserve whisking till the clumps dissolve. For additional cussed clumps, you may even use an immersion blender briefly to easy them out. Simply don’t overmix.


Regulate the Warmth
For much less warmth: When you don’t tolerate spice properly, be happy to go away out the new sauce solely. If you need a little bit spice however not a variety of warmth, add a pinch of paprika and chili powder as an alternative.
For extra warmth: Be happy to only add extra sizzling sauce. Or, add 1/4–1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper when cooking the shrimp for much more warmth. You could possibly additionally prime with recent jalapeño slices or a sprinkle of purple 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 little bit little bit of water or rooster broth to maintain the grits from drying out, and stir sometimes to make sure that they warmth via 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 via. 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 quicker and can get rubbery when overcooked.
Freeze leftover grits in an hermetic container or resealable plastic freezer bag for as much as 3 months. If you’re able to eat them, thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat as typical.
Extra shrimp recipes…
Trending Merchandise
Key Holder for Wall, Ornamental Key and Mail Holder with Shelf Has Massive Hooks for Baggage, Coats, Umbrella – Paulownia Wooden Key Hanger with Mounting {Hardware} (9.8”W x 6.7”H x 4.2”D)
BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Toaster, T2569B, Extra Wide Slots, 6 Shade Settings, 850 Watts, Crub Tray, Cancel Button
30-LED Movement Sensor Beneath Cupboard Lights, Magnetic Rechargeable Beneath Counter Closet Mild, Wi-fi Night time Mild Bar Stick-On, 2-Pack, Cool White
Tastee Air Fryer, 8-in-1 Compact 5.5QT AirFryers, 450°F Digital Airfryer Dehydrator with Dual-sensor Smart Probe, 24 Presets One-touch Cooking, In-app Recipes with Window, Dishwasher-safe & Non-stick
Acrylic Magnetic Dry Erase Board Calendar for Fridge, 16.5″x12″ Inch Clear Dry Erase Calendar for Fridge, Magnetic Planning Calendar Contains 6 Colours Dry Erase Markers and Magnetic Pen Holder
Elite Gourmet EOM205 Non-Stick Omelet Frittata Snack Pocket Maker for 2 Individual 6.5″ Omelets, Stainless Steel and Black
Salt and Pepper Shakers Set, Cute Glass Spice Shaker with Stainless Metal Lid, Black and White Farmhouse Kitchen Desk Decor and Equipment for Counter, for Kitchen Marriage ceremony Items, 2.7oz Every
