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 contemporary lemon and also you’ve bought a bowl of Southern consolation prepared in simply 45 minutes.
For extra Southern consolation meals, attempt 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 slightly 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 residence life. This Southern staple is straightforward to organize, 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 slightly scorching sauce and also you’ve bought a scrumptious meal that’s certain 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.
- Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium possibility means that you can 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 very best 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 gives the very best taste, however jarred minced garlic works too.
- Bacon: Use customary bacon or thick-cut. You’ll need to use precise bacon, moderately 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 very best taste.
- Sizzling Sauce: High off along with your favourite scorching sauce.
Shrimp Choices
You have got a couple of choices to select from in terms of shrimp, actually it’s quite a lot of. There are completely different sizes, frozen or contemporary, veined or deveined, peeled or complete, and all of them work!
For comfort, we favor to cook dinner with already peeled and deveined shrimp. If you happen to use frozen, remember to thaw them earlier than utilizing.
On the spot vs. White Grits
On the spot grits might cook dinner up quicker, nevertheless, 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 outcome within the creamiest, most flavorful, completely restaurant-quality grits you can also make at residence.


Avoiding Lumpy Grits
If you happen to’re having points with clumping, don’t fear, you aren’t alone. It’s a standard downside that may be simply fastened. The commonest explanation for clumping just isn’t stirring the grits instantly after including them to the liquid. This may trigger the grits to stay collectively and kind lumps.
To forestall lumps, be certain that to stir the grits repeatedly for the primary couple of minutes after including them to the liquid. Stir, stir, stir!
Add grits slightly 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! Strive whisking vigorously. If you happen to can’t whisk them out, add a splash of scorching water and hold whisking till the clumps dissolve. For additional cussed clumps, you may even use an immersion blender briefly to clean them out. Simply don’t overmix.


Modify the Warmth
For much less warmth: If you happen to don’t tolerate spice nicely, be at liberty to depart out the new sauce completely. If you would like slightly spice however not lots of warmth, add a pinch of paprika and chili powder as a substitute.
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 can additionally prime with contemporary 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 slightly little bit of water or rooster broth to maintain the grits from drying out, and stir often 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. Once you’re able to eat them, thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat as regular.
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