Southern Style Shrimp and Grits Recipe
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Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
Shrimp and Grits is a popular Southern dish usually offered as a breakfast entree but don’t be surprised if you see it on the menu for brunch, lunch or even dinner. As for our home, we normally serve this dish for dinner.
Several years ago we first experienced shrimp and grits for brunch at one of our favorite sidewalk cafe’s in Kansas. I immediately knew this was a dish I had to recreate.
Jump to RecipeShrimp and Grits Recipe
This recipe isn’t just shrimp and grits! It’s Shrimp and Grits like you have never known! It’s seasoned cheesy grits with a garlicky tomato creamy kickin sauce! A recipe you will crave from time to time.
Note: this recipe was updated May 30, 2021 thanks to Allan for catching my error. So what was the error? The ingredient “olive oil” was listed in the grits ingredients where it should have been in the shrimp sauce ingredient list. Again, thanks Allan! Appreciate your feedback and your Five Star Rating!
Ingredients
Shrimp Sauce
- 1 pound medium-sized shrimp deveined
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon Herbs de Provence
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup sweet red bell pepper chopped
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2/3 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
Grits
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup grits (not instant)
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Herbs de Provence
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded fontina cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
I highly recommend getting all your ingredients measured out and ready to go before getting started because once you get going it will be ready in no time flat.
Instructions
For the grits:
- In a sauce pan add chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, butter, spices, and bring to a boil.
- Add grits and stir until well combined and turn heat to low. Cover with lid. Cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
- While the grits are simmering start making the shrimp sauce.
For the shrimp sauce:
- In a large fry pan melt butter along with the red pepper flakes and Herbes de Provence over medium heat.
- Add red bell pepper, olive oil and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes. Check on grits and stir then come back to the shrimp sauce.
- Stir in tomato paste until it softens then pour in the chicken broth.
- Slowly add heavy whipping cream and stir to incorporate. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add shrimp and continue cooking until shrimp is fully cooked.
- Stir grits. They should be thickened up by now and since the shrimp sauce is about done go ahead and add the fontina cheese to the grits and stir to combine.
- When serving, place some grits in an individual serving bowl and top with shrimp sauce. If you want to get a little fancy add some garnish like fresh thyme.
- Enjoy!
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I AM EXCITED YOU ARE VIEWING JETT’S RECIPE FOR SHRIMP AND GRITS AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW YOURS TURNS OUT SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO MAKE IT!
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Southern Style Shrimp and Grits Recipe
This recipe isn’t just shrimp and grits! It’s Shrimp and Grits like you have never known! Seasoned cheesy grits with a garlicky tomato creamy kickin sauce!
Ingredients
Shrimp Sauce
- 1 pound medium-sized shrimp deveined
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon Herbs de Provence
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup sweet red bell pepper chopped
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2/3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
For the grits:
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cups grits (not instant)
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded fontina cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the grits:
-
In a sauce pan add chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, butter, spices, and bring to a boil.
-
Add grits and stir until well combined and turn heat to low. Cover with lid. Cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
-
While the grits are simmering start making the shrimp sauce.
For the shrimp sauce:
-
In a large fry pan melt butter along with the red pepper flakes and Herbes de Provence over medium heat.
-
Add red bell pepper, olive oil and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes. Check on grits and stir then come back to the shrimp sauce.
-
Stir in tomato paste until it softens then pour in the chicken broth.
-
Slowly add heavy whipping cream and stir to incorporate. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add shrimp and continue cooking until shrimp is fully cooked.
-
Stir grits. They should be thickened up by now and since the shrimp sauce is about done go ahead and add the fontina cheese to the grits and stir to combine.
-
When serving place some grits in an individual serving bowl and top with shrimp sauce. If you want to get a little fancy add some garnish like fresh thyme.
-
Enjoy!
11 Comments
Tracey Skafidas
This looks amazing! I will have to switch out the cream for non dairy, but I’m sure it will be great.
admin
Tracey: Sometimes we use unsweetened non-dairy products in our recipes and the dishes still turn out great! Enjoy!
Rachel
OMGawwww I just want to say THANK YOU to whoever made this recipe!!! My man and I went to atlanta a few months ago and got some shrimp and grits from Copper Cove and they were so good when I got back home I was DYING FOR SOME!! Let me tell y’all I didn’t even like shrimp before Atlanta lol.. but anyway I looked up “southern shrimp and grits” and tried this recipe first.. so glad I did.. it’s not exactly like the copper cove but damn near. My man loves it too.. this is the only way I make grits now even if I don’t use shrimp 😆😆😆
admin
That’s the ultimate compliment! Thank you Rachel. So glad your man and you will be enjoying this recipe! Thanks again! Georgette aka Jett
Sara
I made this recipe the other day. Neither hubby nor I thought we even liked grits. Surprise…surprise…we both LOVED this! Thanks so much for the wonderful recipe!!
Laura Byes
Absolutely excellent recipe. I did use instant grits and they turned out perfect. The sauce was off the chain! I will use this time and time again.
admin
Laura, thank you so much for sharing your experience with this recipe! It’s good to know instant grits work as well. Happy dance happening right now. Thanks again 😉 Jett
Ashley Church
Thank you!!!!! I made this recipe today and it was soooo good and rich in flavor. I did leave out the Herbes de Provence and will use it next time. I also added sausage. Thanks again for sharing!!
admin
Thank you Ashley! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe. I’m liking the thought of adding sausage. Isn’t it fun to experiment?!
Allan Henry
We love grits and love all forms of shrimp and certainly love southern shrimp and grits. The Backyard Low Country Restaurant in Hilton Head makes a great one. But we never tried making our own. This was excellent. One question I do have is: Why does the recipe for the sauce say add the olive oil, but there is no olive oil listed in the sauce ingredients. I did not add any and it was still wonderful. I think that the next time I will cut back a bit on the crushed red pepper and add Andouille sausage. Thanks for the recipe.
Jett
Thank you for pointing out the olive oil error. Looks like I had the olive oil listed in the grits ingredients. I will correct that ASAP. So glad you enjoyed this recipe. I like your substitution of cutting down the crushed red pepper and adding Andouille sausage. Sounds like a yummy twist. Maybe you’d like to check out my recipe for making homemade Andouille sausage. You can also make it into patties if desired: https://jettskitchen.com/homemade-cajun-andouille-sausage-louisiana-style/