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Spicy shrimp and grits is a quick and easy meal that can be made in under 30 minutes. The grits are super creamy and cheesy while the shrimp are spicy and garlicky. A restaurant-quality meal that the entire family will enjoy!

This recipe for shrimp and grits will have every seafood lover coming back for more! It’s packed with flavor and hands down one of my all-time favorite meals. The cheese grits cook in under 20 minutes and the shrimp cook in just 2 minutes, you just can’t beat it. More of my favorite shrimp recipes are these Southern fried shrimp and creamy garlic shrimp.

Why You’ll Love These Spicy Shrimp and Grits

• The shrimp are juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned. They’re spicy but not too spicy, they’re just perfect!
• The grits are fluffy, smooth, and delicious.
• Although I highly recommend serving the shrimp and grits together, you may certainly make the grits and serve them on their own without shrimp.
• Grits can be served as a side dish, breakfast, or main course.
• You don’t have to travel to the south to get a plate of delicious Southern shrimp and grits. You can make them in your very own kitchen!

What Are Grits?

Grits are the official food of South Carolina in case you didn’t know. They originated hundreds of years ago and are made from dried corn that has been stone-ground. Similar to cornmeal, grits are made from ground corn but are usually a coarser grind.

Ingredient Notes

• Grits – I highly recommend using white old-fashioned grits. Avoid instant or quick grits.
• Shrimp – Medium-sized raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp work best for this recipe. You can use fresh or frozen shrimp, if using frozen, make sure to thaw completely.
• Cayenne Pepper – It adds heat.
• Cheese – I used a combination of sharp cheddar cheese and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
• Chicken Stock – If you don’t have chicken stock on hand feel free to use water instead.

How To Make

1. Add the water, chicken stock, granulated garlic, and 1 tablespoon of butter to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
2. Once it comes to a boil, whisk in the grits. Whisk the grits for about 1 minute so they don’t clump up. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 16 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. If the grits become too thick, add a splash of water.
3. Once the 16 minutes are up, turn off the heat and stir in the heavy cream, 3 tablespoons of butter, cheddar cheese, and parmesan cheese.
4. Season generously with salt and pepper and cover while you cook the shrimp. Keep in mind that the longer the grits sit, the thicker they will become. If the grits become too thick, add extra heavy cream or milk to loosen them up.
5. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute on each side. Stir in 1 tablespoon of butter and fresh minced garlic. Cook until the garlic becomes fragrant. Add the lemon juice and turn off the heat.
6. Top the grits off with the shrimp and juices and enjoy!

Top Tips

• Use a rubber spatula to remove the shrimp and juices from the skillet. You want to get every last bit of that delicious buttery garlic sauce and transfer it to the grits.
• To get ultra smooth grits, you’ll need to whisk them vigorously every 5 minutes so they don’t stick to the bottom of the pan or clump up.
• Don’t overcook your shrimp otherwise, it will become tough and rubbery.
• I recommend adding 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for every pound of shrimp but if you like it extra spicy, add more cayenne pepper.
• Some people prefer their grits overcooked, some prefer it undercooked, and some like it somewhere in the middle. Play around with this recipe and figure out how you like it.
• Season the grits and shrimp generously with salt and pepper.
• For best results, enjoy the shrimp and grits warm.

Storage

Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

More Recipes You Might Enjoy

• Creamy Shrimp Piccata – It’s creamy, lemony, and garlicky!
• Shrimp Risotto – Perfectly cooked shrimp served over creamy parmesan risotto.
• Crispy Shrimp Po’Boy Sandwich – Fried shrimp, lettuce, tomatoes, and remoulade sauce served on a bread roll.
• BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers – Juicy and plump shrimp cooked to perfection on the grill.

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