Overhead of a bowl of shrimp and grits on a kitchen towel with whole green onions and dried red peppers nearby.

Shrimp and grits (or more commonly “shrimp ‘n’ grits”) is a Southern food cornerstone, and it was a staple on my Southern Midwestern dinner table growing up. Cheesy, stone-ground grits are topped with some plump shrimp sautรฉed in a lemon-garlic pan sauce. It’s topped with crispy bacon, bright green onions, and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for kick.

My favorite part of this dish is that it is perfect for the nights when I’m riding solo. It comes together in 15 minutes and makes a perfect single serving. Of course, just double, triple, or quadruple the ingredients for two or more servings.

Close view of perfectly cooked shrimp on top of creamy yellow corn grits.

Okay, um, what are grits?

If you’ve never heard of grits, I won’t hold it against youโ€”it’s definitely a regionalism! Grits are basically a cornmeal porridge. Here’s what you need to know about them:

  • Grits are made from ground-up dried corn, usually a variety such as dent or flint corn that isn’t as sweet as sweet corn.
  • Similar to oatmeal or any other hot cereal, grits are typically cooked with liquid and turned into a porridge. You can eat them sweet (with butter and maple syrup for breakfast is a fave in our house) or savory, like in this recipe.
  • Grits can be processed in various ways that change their texture and flavorโ€”you may see them sold as stone-ground grits, quick-cooking grits, instant grits, polenta, or “hominy grits,” which is alkali-treated dried corn that is ground up. (Note: This is not to be confused with just “hominy,” which is alkali-treated corn sold in cansโ€”it’s delicious and we use it in our Chicken Tortilla Soup, but not in Shrimp and Grits). To make it even more confusing, some people call hominy grits just “hominy.”
  • Grits can also be cooked and then cooled and cut into strips, circles, or wedges. These pieces hold their shape well and can be toasted, fried, or eaten as is.

Stone-ground grits tend to be my favorite for the best flavor and texture. They’re relatively bland on their own, but the butter, cream, cheese, or gravy they’re cooked with adds some serious flavor.

Close up of a spoonful of shrimp and grits with bacon bits and green onion.

What’s the difference between grits, cornmeal, and polenta?

Grits, cornmeal, and polenta are all ground-up cornโ€”which makes them pretty darn similar. The main difference is the grind size and in some cases, the type of corn used. In a lot of ways (but not all!), they can be used interchangeably. Here’s the info on each:

  • Grits: this is typically white corn and is ground to a medium grind to be boiled in liquid and turned into a porridge.
  • Cornmeal: this is typically yellow corn that is finely ground to be used as flour for bakingโ€”like cornbread. Cornmeal sometimes comes mixed with other baking ingredients. Sometimes you can purchase cornmeal in a “medium” or “coarse” grind that can be used in place of grits.
  • Polenta: this is typically yellow corn that is ground to a medium grind to be boiled in liquid and turned into a porridge. It’s basically Italian grits! The big difference here is that Italian polenta is typically yellow corn and grits is typically white corn, but that’s not set in stone.

While each of these has a kind of corn they are traditionally made with, other corns can be usedโ€”grits can be made with yellow corn, for instance, or cornmeal can be made with blue corn.

Wholefully Protip

To make things even more confusing, you can also cook and the cool grits/polenta into slabs to turn into foods with even more names! For example, slabs of grits that are then sliced and fried are called “Mush” (and they are delicious served with butter and maple syrup like pancakesโ€”YUM).

Top view of a bowl of grits topped with shrimp, bacon, and green onion with fresh scallions and dried chilies around it.

Where did shrimp and grits originate?

Many folks might think Shrimp and Grits originated in American South (where they were originally called “breakfast grits”), but as with many dishes in American food culture, shrimp and grits has its origins in Indigenous and enslaved peoples.

Food historians don’t agree on the exact origin story for shrimp and grits, but most agree that it’s a combination of colonizer adaptations of traditional Indigenous foodsโ€”like the Muscogee people’s corn preparation methodsโ€”and variations on traditional dishes from enslaved Africansโ€”like traditional corn porridge and shellfish dishes served in Mozambique.

If you’re interested in the origins of this dish (and you should beโ€”know the history of your food!), I highly recommend checking out a few of these resources on the history of shrimp and grits:

Shrimp and grits for one in a teal bowl with a gold spoon.

What do I need for this shrimp and grits recipe?

To make deliciously creamy shrimp and grits, you’ll need:

  • Water to cook the grits in. Some people choose to cook their grits in chicken broth or a mixture of water and milk, but for simplicity’s sake, we just call for water here.
  • Stoneground grits, which we will talk more about in a sec.
  • Shrimp (obviously)โ€”any raw shrimp, frozen or fresh, will work. For the best results, though, we recommend medium shrimp.
  • Butter and cheddar cheese to give the grits their characteristic creaminess.
  • A slice of bacon for extra flavor and texture (plus, you’ll cook the shrimp in the drippings for extra tastiness).
  • Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, and lemon juice for seasoning.
  • Green onion for garnishing.

Are grits gluten-free?

Yep! Since they are made from ground corn, grits are naturally gluten-free, as is this entire recipe.

Where are stone-ground grits in the grocery store?

If you’re hunting for stone-ground grits, you should start your search in the aisle that has breakfast foods. It’s often found with oatmeal and prepared pancake mixes. If it’s not there, you could try the gluten-free aisle, and if you still haven’t located it, try the baking aisle. Some stores don’t know what to do with them, so they put them there.

Close up of a plump, pink shrimp with crumbled bacon, red pepper flakes, and sliced green onion.

Help! I still can’t find stone-ground grits.

If you are way up north, you might not be able to find anything labeled grits anywhere. If so, look for coarsely ground cornmeal or polenta. If you’re planning ahead, you can get them through online retailers like Amazon. Bob’s Red Mill makes an excellent stone-ground batch of grits!

What kind of shrimp should I use?

Any raw shrimp will work in this recipe, including frozen shrimp. To save time, look for deveined and shelled shrimp that have the tail removed for you. Medium and large shrimp give you the perfect meaty bite, so I’d recommend staying away from tiny shrimp. If you’re going to use frozen shrimp, you can pop them in a bowl of cold water to defrost for 15-20 minutes.

Overhead of a single serving of shrimp and grits in a teal bowl on a grey and white kitchen linen.

Can you make this shrimp and grits recipe paleo-friendly?

This recipe works best with grits, but if you’re allergic to corn or you prefer not to eat it, you can check out my Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits recipe. It uses cauliflower instead of grits, but you still get that creamy, warming comfort food feel. There are guidelines in the recipe to make it dairy-free, so it’s a super adaptable recipe!

Can this recipe be doubled?

Absolutely! This recipe was designed to make the perfect serving for one person; however, it’s too good not to share. You can double, triple, or even quadruple the recipe if you’re looking to feed the whole family.

Close up of a teal bowl filled with grits topped with shrimp, bacon, and green onions.

Can this shrimp and grits recipe be made ahead of time?

Shrimp and grits are at their tastiest right after they’ve been made. This is when they’re super creamy and delicious. This shrimp and grits recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare. It should whip up quickly enough that you can benefit from the fresh, cheesy flavor, no matter how busy you are. You can make them ahead of time, but I wouldn’t suggest itโ€”reheating the grits takes nearly as long as making them from scratch!

Close view of a bowl of shrimp and grits garnished with crumbled bacon and sliced green onion.

Can this shrimp and grits recipe be frozen?

Absolutely! If you happen to have leftovers, you can freeze the shrimp in one container and the grits separately for up to 2 months. The cheesier and creamier the shrimp and grits are, the better they freeze. It’s best to allow your grits to cool completely before freezing.

When it comes time to defrost, place the container in the fridge overnight. You can then pop them in the oven, covered, at 350ยฐF until they’re warmed through.

 
Overhead of a bowl of shrimp and grits on a kitchen towel with whole green onions and dried red peppers nearby.

Shrimp and Grits for One

Yield: 1 serving
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Shrimp and grits is one of my favorite comfort foods at the end of a long day. Dinner in less than 20 minutes? Sign me up!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup stoneground grits
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 slice thick-cut bacon
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 scallion, white and green parts chopped thin

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir in grits. Cook grits for 7-10 minutes, or until they are tender and the water is absorbed.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in butter, cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir until melted. Set aside.
  4. While grits are cooking, cook bacon in a skillet over medium-low heat until crisp. Remove from pan, crumble, and set aside. Do not drain the skillet.
  5. To the bacon grease in the skillet, add the red pepper flakes and garlic. Cook for 1-3 minutes, or until garlic is just soft.
  6. Add shrimp and cook until opaque and pink, about 3 minutes.
  7. Remove the shrimp mixture from heat, and stir in lemon juice.
  8. Plate by pouring shrimp and sauce over grits and topping with crumbled bacon and scallions.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 385Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 155mgSodium: 1173mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 21g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

 

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14 Comments

  1. Thank you for this recipe! I was dying to try it a few years after moving out of my parentsโ€™ house, kosher people raised by even more kosher people on all sides of the family. And I was ready to break tradition as hard as I could! Haha. This was delicious and definetly at my very basic cooking level.

  2. I’ve never made grits, but it;s a favorite when my husband and I visit my parents in SC – looking forward to trying this

  3. I have to admit to ya, the other day I craved grits and usually eat them plain but remembered a blog post about mixing cheese and bacon in with them. Couldn’t remember where though. What I did. 2 oz Romano Cheese, two slices Oscar Myer Ready serve Bacon (17 calories a slice…yumm) and two packets instant grits. Microwaved together with some water and so very good.

  4. YUM! I’ve been wanting to try to make grits but my husband supposedly doesn’t like them (I don’t think he’s tried them, to be honest, then again, neither have I)
    Can’t wait to try these!

  5. Born and raised in the south, so yes, I’m all about Southern cuisine. I used to love cheese and grits before I became veg. It’s very popular here in SC.

    1. Mmmm, so good! I remember going on a trip with some friends in college to Tennessee and we stopped for breakfast and were served grits and everyone was like, “Uh. What’s this funny looking oatmeal?”

      1. LOL…that is funny. I was born and raised in TN,and we ate grits once in a while growing up, but I didn’t really eat a lot of them until I moved to SC about 11 years ago. Rice was our main breakfast grain in TN.

  6. How interesting! I grew up in NJ, but I now reside in SC, so there’s a huuuuge cultural difference, especially with food. I love southern food and shrimp and grits was one of my favorite dishes before I went veg. Cheese grits = sooooo yum!