Southern Style Shrimp and Grits

4.96 from 22 votes

These shrimp and grits are the real deal with creamy, cheesy white grits topped with juicy shrimp cooked in bacon grease and garlic.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time45

Course: Brunch, Main Dish, Seafood

Cuisine: New Orleans

Keyword: Shrimp and Grits

Servings: servings

Bring 2 cups water and 2 cups chicken broth to a boil in a 3 to 4-quart saucepan over high heat. Season the liquid with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Slowly add in 1 cup white grits while stirring constantly until the grits are evenly distributed in the liquid. Reduce the heat to low and simmer grits uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30-35 minutes.
Once the grits are cooked, remove from heat and add in 2 tablespoons salted butter and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Stir until fully melted. Taste and add additional salt, if desired.

When there are about 15 minutes left for the grits to cook, dice 4 bacon slices. Cook in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon from the pan, and reserve about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.
Add 1 pound raw shrimp, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, and 1/2 cup sliced green onionsalf of the green onions to the bacon grease. Cook over medium heat until the shrimp just turns pink, about 5-6 minutes depending on the size of shrimp.
Drizzle with shrimp with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 2 dashes hot sauce, or to your liking. Stir to ensure the shrimp are well coated.
Serve shrimp on top of the cheesy grits and sprinkle bacon and the other half of the green onions on top.

[yeetvid]

Shrimp is sold in a variety of sizes. You can use small, medium, large, or even jumbo shrimp if you want more of a hand-held size. Remove the tails before cooking, if desired, for easier eating.
Use a Louisiana-style hot sauce which are vinegar-based with a moderate heat. Common brands include Crystal, Tabasco, or Frank's RedHot.
If your grits start to get lumpy, grab a whisk and whisk vigorously. If they remain, add a splash of hot water and whisk more.