What’s important is there’s butter, bacon, and cheese, and tons of flavors!
When it comes to Southern comfort food, shrimp and grits reign supreme. This hearty, flavorful dish combines creamy, buttery and cheesy grits with succulent, seasoned shrimp, creating the perfect balance of textures and flavors. Whether you’re making it for a special brunch, a cozy family dinner, or just a comforting meal on a busy weeknight, shrimp and grits never disappoint!
Ingredients
Grits
- 1 cup Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Grits
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp chicken base
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Shrimp Sauce
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1/2 cup diced onion or 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/2 cup diced red or green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced mushrooms
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 1/2 tsp cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried fennel
- 1 lbs jumbo shrimp deveined with tail-on
- 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- crushed red pepper flakes and diced green onions (optional)
Instructions
Grits
- In a large saucepan, add water, chicken base, cream, butter, and bring to a boil.
- Slowly stir in the grits. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 12 - 14 minutes or until thicken.
- Occasionally stir grits to prevent sticking and clumping. The grits should be nice and smooth. If clumping does occur, use a whisk to stir and remove the clumps. If it's too thick, add a little milk.
- Stir in cheese until melted. Turn off the stove. Set grits aside and keep warm.
Shrimp Sauce
- Rinse shrimp, pat dry, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon to a paper towel. Drain the pan, but keep at least 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings.
- On medium-low, sauté minced garlic, bell pepper, onion, and mushrooms in the bacon grease. After 5 minutes set to the side in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, add raw shrimp (pat dry) and olive oil and sprinkle 1/2 tsp of cajun seasoning. Sauté the shrimp in the skillet. After pink on both sides remove from skillet and add to a separate bowl.
- In the same skillet, add butter, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions. Next add shrimp. Next add heavy whipping cream and stir. Next add 1 tsp of cajun seasoning, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, dried fennel, and smoked paprika. Heat for 2 minutes.
- Once sauce is complete, serve over grits. Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes and diced green onions.
