SHRIMP AND GRITS
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A quick Shrimp and Grits recipe for weekday meals. This simple dinner idea is full of flavor. The grits are smooth, creamy, and buttery. This shrimp is spicy and tender. A sprinkle of bacon gives this dish a smokey and salty flare.
Even though I make a weekly meal plan, sometimes the week doesn’t go as planned, and I have nothing to eat and no time to go to the grocery store. That’s when I either get creative or rely on my pantry recipes. I always have the ingredients for those recipes thanks to my pantry essentials.
Shrimp and Grits
This dish is Southern comfort food at its best! Tender pan-grilled shrimp is the star of the show, served atop creamy, buttery grits in this recipe.
When I want to make a quick meal for my family, this recipe always comes to the rescue. Additionally, shrimp pairs well with rice, pasta, or potatoes.
Shrimp and Grits Nutrition
Did you also know along with being low in fat, shrimp provides key nutrients? Aside from protein, shrimp provides an impressive array of nutrients. Four ounces of steamed shrimp contains over 100% of the Daily Value for selenium, as well as vitamin B12, phosphorus, choline, copper, and iodine.
Substitutions
You could use chicken instead of shrimp to make this dish. I would cube chicken boneless, skinless breasts, but you could use thighs. This cooking time might take a few minutes longer, but it tastes incredible.
For this recipe, you will need one pound of raw shrimp. Click over and watch my tutorial on how to peel and devein shrimp.
Shrimp and Grits
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Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp
- 3 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream or milk
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 cup quick cooking grits not instant
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 tsp garlic clove minced
- 6 slices bacon crumbled
- green onions optional
Instructions
- Boil shrimp 90 seconds to 1 minute or until done. (Perfectly cooked shrimp curl to form a ‘C’. Overcooked shrimp form an ‘O’.) peel, sprinkle with red pepper and paprika and set aside.
- Cook bacon then chop.
- Bring broth, cream, butter and the salt to a boil.
- Stir in the grits and reduce heat to medium.
- Cook, whisking 7 to 8 minutes.
- Stir in cheese and garlic, cook 1 minute or until cheese is melted.
- Spoon the grits into bowls and top with shrimp, bacon, and green onions.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.
Paula Jones is the founder, creator, and cook at CallMePMc.com, where she provides simple recipes & time-saving strategies for nutritious & delicious meals for your family. Born and raised in the South, Paula, or PMc as her friends call her, understands that many life events happen around the dinner table, & she wants you to enjoy that time in the kitchen & around the table stress-free with your family and friends. You’ll enjoy a variety of recipes at CallMePMc.com, from updated Southern classics, to practical, healthy, and indulgent. Learn more about Paula.
Great recipe. Cut in half for my husband and I. He raved about the grits….asked what I did to make them so flavorful. Recommend half the salt.
Paula, I’m going to make this soon for sure! I love shrimp AND grits but have never put them together. Yum!
Oh, my, this sounds delish! Had the best grist ever at a B&B in Vicksburg, MS – I bet this recipe will beat it!
Thank you! I was trying to remember what B&B I stayed in at Vicksburg, but I can’t.