Southern Model Shrimp and Grits

This iconic Southern dish was historically served as a morning meal. We like it a lot, we’d have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. These heat, creamy grits are loaded with butter and cheddar cheese, topped with sautéed shrimp and crispy bacon. Add a splash (or extra) of scorching sauce and a squeeze of recent lemon and also you’ve obtained a bowl of Southern consolation prepared in simply 45 minutes.

For extra Southern consolation meals, strive our Chicken and Dumplings or our Southern Style Red Beans and Rice.

Why Our Recipe

We use white grits for the creamiest grits after which load them up with cheddar cheese.
The shrimp is cooked in bacon grease and garlic to make sure it’s stuffed with taste.
It’s topped off with just a little lemon juice, scorching sauce (in fact), bacon, and inexperienced onions.

Spoon full of Southern Style Shrimp and Grits.

Shrimp and grits is an iconic, Southern breakfast meals. Image New Orleans and Charleston, the place this humble dish is an integral a part of their on a regular basis house life. This Southern staple is straightforward to organize, hearty and filling, whereas delivering massive taste. Buttery, tacky grits mixed with savory bacon and garlic shrimp makes our mouths water! High all of it off with just a little scorching sauce and also you’ve obtained a scrumptious meal that’s positive to grow to be a household favourite.

Ingredient Notes

Overhead shot of ingredient for Southern Style Shrimp and Grits.

White Grits: White grits are extra versatile and tackle the flavors of the dish, whereas yellow grits have a extra assertive corn taste.
Rooster Broth: Utilizing a low-sodium choice means that you can greatest management the flavour. It’s a fantastic chef tip.
Butter: We use salted butter so as to add simply the correct amount of salt to boost the flavors of the grits.
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Freshly shredded melts higher than pre-shredded cheese, which accommodates components to stop clumping.
Shrimp (peeled and deveined): Use massive, uncooked shrimp for the very best texture. Frozen shrimp can be utilized if thawed correctly. You ca go away tails on or take away them earlier than cooking..
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic offers the very best taste, however jarred minced garlic works too.
Bacon: Use normal bacon or thick-cut. You’ll wish to use precise bacon, fairly than pre-cooked, as a result of you may be cooking the shrimp within the leftover bacon fats.
Lemon Juice: Bottled lemon juice works nicely and retains prep to a minimal, however freshly squeezed at all times has the very best taste.
Sizzling Sauce: High off together with your favourite scorching sauce.

Shrimp Choices

You’ve gotten a number of choices to select from relating to shrimp, actually it’s various. There are completely different sizes, frozen or recent, veined or deveined, peeled or entire, and all of them work!

For comfort, we choose to prepare dinner with already peeled and deveined shrimp. If you happen to use frozen, make sure to thaw them earlier than utilizing.

Prompt vs. White Grits

Prompt grits could prepare dinner up sooner, nonetheless, they lack the higher taste of white grits. It’s price it to take the time to prepare dinner up the actual factor which is able to end result within the creamiest, most flavorful, completely restaurant-quality grits you may make at house.

Avoiding Lumpy Grits

If you happen to’re having points with clumping, don’t fear, you aren’t alone. It’s a standard drawback that may be simply mounted. The commonest explanation for clumping shouldn’t be stirring the grits instantly after including them to the liquid. This could trigger the grits to stay collectively and type lumps.

To stop lumps, be sure to stir the grits constantly for the primary jiffy after including them to the liquid. Stir, stir, stir!

Add grits just a little at a time whereas stirring to make sure that the grits are evenly dispersed within the liquid. You possibly can simply gently sprinkle them excessive of the boiling liquid.

In case your grits are already lumpy, seize a whisk! Strive whisking vigorously. If you happen to can’t whisk them out, add a splash of scorching water and preserve whisking till the clumps dissolve. For additional cussed clumps, you may even use an immersion blender briefly to easy them out. Simply don’t overmix.

Small bowl full of Southern Style Shrimp and Grits.

Modify the Warmth

For much less warmth: If you happen to don’t tolerate spice nicely, be at liberty to go away out the new sauce totally. In order for you just a little spice however not lots of warmth, add a pinch of paprika and chili powder as an alternative.

For extra warmth: Be at liberty to only add extra scorching sauce. Or, add 1/4–1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper when cooking the shrimp for much more warmth. You can additionally prime with recent jalapeño slices or a sprinkle of purple pepper flakes.

Storage and Reheating Directions

Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.

Reheat leftover grits in a saucepan on low warmth. Add just a little little bit of water or hen broth to maintain the grits from drying out, and stir often to make sure that they warmth by evenly.. Reheat the shrimp in a skillet over medium warmth which is able to solely take 1 to 2 minutes.

Microwave the grits in 30-second increments till warmed by. Add a small quantity of water to the grits to skinny out as wanted. Add shrimp on the very finish or reheat individually as they reheat a lot sooner and can get rubbery when overcooked.

Freeze leftover grits in an hermetic container or resealable plastic freezer bag for as much as 3 months. If you’re able to eat them, thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat as standard.