Shrimp and Grits (New Orleans Style)
Enjoy a classic New Orleans shrimp and grits featuring cheesy grits topped with juicy Cajun shrimp and fresh herbs. Incredibly easy to make!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time35 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4
For the Grits:
- 3 ¼ cup water
- ¾ cup grits
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tbsp butter
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ cup sharp cheddar cheese freshly grate the cheese to avoid clumping!
Garnish:
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish
- ¼ cup grated parmesan for garnish
- ¼ cup chopped green onions for garnish
- ¼ cup cooked crispy bacon chopped
For the Shrimp:
- 1 lb large shrimp cleaned
- 2 tsp butter
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp old bay seasoning
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the salt, then slowly add the grits, stirring constantly to avoid clumping. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally. The grits will start to thicken in about 4 minutes. Remove them from heat, stir in the butter, cheese, a pinch of salt and pepper.
Clean and dry the shrimp, add the seasonings and mix well. Add butter to a skillet (or use the skillet you cooked the bacon in). Heat to medium and add shrimp. Cook for about 3 minutes each side or until pink and cooked through.
Serve the cooked shrimp hot over the grits, sprinkled with additional parmesan cheese, green onions, parsley and bacon.
- Don't overcook the shrimp. Cook the shrimp just until opaque and firm, about three minutes on each side. You should also avoid overcrowding the skillet as it can cause them to steam rather than sear.
- Keep the heat low while cooking the grits to prevent the bottom from burning. Stir it often to ensure even cooking and prevent lumps.
- If you like grits a little more runny, be sure to cook for a minute or two less, the cheese tends to thicken the grits up.
Serving: 1 cup shrimp and grits | Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 1522mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 687IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 1mg