Shrimp and Cheesy Grits

Name: Shrimp and Cheesy Grits
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup grits (uncooked, yellow); 2 cups vegetable broth; 1 tablespoon butter; 1/3 cup Gouda cheese (shredded); 1/3 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded); salt and black pepper to taste; 3 strips bacon (cooked and crumbled); 2 tablespoons butter (divided); 12 large shrimp (peeled and deveined); 1 tablespoon seafood seasoning; 1 stalk celery (diced); 2 green onions (sliced); 1/2 large sweet yellow pepper (chopped); 2 cups vegetable broth; 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, garnish); 2 slices lemon; salt and black pepper to taste

Published on April 22, 2025 by Raveaboutfood

Our favorite Southern dish is always a bowl of Shrimp and Cheesy Grits. This recipe is so savory and delicious. Using instant yellow grits makes it quick and easy. Get ready for a real Southern classic, it’s comfort food in a bowl!

This dish combines sweet shrimp with hearty, cheesy grits to make a comforting bowl of Southern food. We love it because it only takes 30 minutes to make and it is so satisfying and delicious.

If you love Shrimp and Cheesy Grits, you’re sure to like these southern classics, too. Try Cheesy Southern Red Potatoes, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Tennessee Peach Pudding. The flavors of the south are always welcome in our home.

Ingredients for Shrimp and Cheesy Grits

With less than 10 ingredients, you’ll have made a dish that won’t break the bank, but is sure to please the seafood lovers in your house. The flavorful quick-cooking grits are the perfect pairing with the succulent shrimp.

Ingredients:

LARGE SHRIMP– Peel and devein the shrimp before cooking. We buy shrimp fresh at a local seafood market. Frozen shrimp can also be used.
SHRIMP SEASONING– Use one that includes, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper, dried garlic, dried onion, and smoked paprika. A blend of some or all of these will give you sweet heat and lots of flavor.
CRISPY BACON– Cook strips of bacon until crispy. Drain them on a paper towel and cut into small pieces.
VEGETABLE BROTH– This forms the base of the sauce for the shrimp.
YELLOW QUICK-COOKING GRITS– Make grits according to package instructions. Then fold in some shredded cheese of your choice. We really love gouda and cheddar in our grits.
VEGETABLES– Yellow pepper provides some sweetness and green onions add flavor and crunch to the dish. Chopped carrots are also a great addition.
LEMON– The richness of the dish is balanced by adding a squeeze of lemon to each bowl before serving.

How to Peel and Devein Shrimp?

In just a few simple steps, you’ll have cleaned and deveined the shrimp needed for this recipe.

You can buy shrimp that are peeled and deveined. They are a bit more expensive that shrimp with the shells on, so if you have the time it is best to do it yourself.
Most shrimp will come without the heads, so you don’t have to worry about that. If they do have the heads, ask the butcher or fish market to remove them for you. If needed, simply twist the head and it comes off easily.
Rinse the shrimp and remove the shells by pulling the legs on the underside away from the body of the shrimp. Now peel the shells off. Pull the tail and it will easily slide off. Saving the shells and heads to make seafood stock is a great way to use them. Add the stock to soups and sauces for added flavor.
Now that the shell has been removed, you can devein the shrimp. Use a sharp paring knife to cut along the back of the shrimp from head to tail. Don’t cut too deep. Remove the grayish brown vein found inside. Rinse the shrimp one last time and place it in a bowl filled with ice while cleaning the rest of the shrimp. Each shrimp takes about 30 seconds to peel and devein.

How to Make Shrimp and Cheesy Grits?

Step-by-Step Instructions:

In a large skillet, cook bacon strips over medium heat until crispy, about 4 minutes on each side. Remove bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain.
While bacon is cooking, bring 2 cups of vegetable broth to a boil over medium high heat in a saucepan. Stir in 1/2 cup of grits and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done, stir in one tablespoon butter, shredded Gouda and Cheddar cheeses. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
In the same skillet with the bacon grease, add one tablespoon of butter and melt over medium heat. Season the shrimp with seafood seasoning. Add the shrimp to the skillet and sauté for about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the shrimp to a plate.
Add sweet pepper, celery and green onions to the skillet and cook for 3 or 4 minutes. Stir in the vegetable broth, scraping up all the brown bits from the pan. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add one more tablespoon of butter. Salt and pepper to taste. Add the shrimp back to the sauce and cook for one more minute. Crumble bacon into sauce.
Place a large scoop of grits in the bottom of a shallow bowl. Spoon the shrimp and sauce over the grits. Squeeze some lemon over each bowl. Garnish with more green onions or fresh parsley, if desired. Serve with cornbread and a tall glass of sweet iced tea. Recipe makes 2 servings.

Substitutions and Variations

Not a fan of shellfish? Swap out the shrimp for white fish of your choice. You’ll want to pan sear and cook the fish in the sauce before adding it to the grits.

Add sliced smoked sausage to the sauce instead of bacon. It makes the sauce even more hearty and is simply delicious served over grits.

Change up the vegetables used in the recipe. Don’t have celery, use carrots to add sweetness to the sauce. Chopped kale, spinach, green cabbage, tomato, and green peas all make great additions to the dish. If using kale, be sure to massage it before adding it to the sauce. This will soften it slightly.

Make it creamy! Add 1/4 cup half-and-half to the sauce and cook for an extra 2 minutes before serving. This will thicken it and make it creamy.

Really make the dish zesty by adding a few dashes of hot sauce to each bowl. We love it spicy!

Check out more of the Best Southern Dishes and Desserts!

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