Southern Comfort Free recipe

Shrimp and Grits

This Shrimp and Grits is creamy stone-ground grits topped with garlicky sauteed shrimp. A gentle simmer -- not a hard boil -- is what keeps everything tender instead of tough.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Total: 40 min

40Minutes

4Servings

4.8Rating

MediumLevel

Why you'll love this recipe

The components can be made ahead and reheated without losing quality.
Leftovers hold up well for lunch the next day.
A reliable, kid-friendly flavor that does not need much convincing at the table.

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

1 cup stone-ground grits
4 cups water
1 tsp salt
1 cup shredded cheddar
3 tbsp butter
1 lb shrimp, peeled
4 slices bacon, chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
2 green onions sliced
juice of 1/2 lemon

Estimated Nutrition (per serving)

540Calories

37gFat

7gCarbs

45gProtein

Estimated from the ingredients above; actual values vary by brand and exact measurements.

Method

Step 1
Bring the water and salt to a boil. Whisk in the grits, lower the heat, and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often, until thick and creamy.
Step 2
Stir the cheddar and 1 tbsp butter into the grits, then keep warm.
Step 3
Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp; remove and leave the fat in the pan.
Step 4
Pat the shrimp dry and season with salt. Cook them in the bacon fat over medium-high 1.5 minutes per side until pink, adding the garlic in the last 30 seconds.
Step 5
Squeeze in the lemon juice and toss with the remaining butter.
Step 6
Spoon the grits into bowls, top with the shrimp, and scatter with bacon and green onions.

Cook's tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Taste and adjust the seasoning right before serving -- salt levels vary a lot between brands of broth, sauce, and canned goods.
Prep all the ingredients before you start cooking; this one moves quickly once it is on the heat.

Keep cooking