A classic Southern dish you can make at home in minutes, Cheesy Shrimp and Grits is a creamy, comforting bowl of happy. Cheesy grits are topped with a healthy helping of tender shrimp swimming in a slightly spicy cream sauce that will keep you digging in for more.

Watch the video showing you how to make Cheesy Shrimp and Grits, then scroll to the bottom of this post and print out the recipe so you can make it at home!

overhead shot of shrimp and grits in a white bowl on a patterned napkin with a fork and two other partial views of shrimp and grits bowls

I spent years visiting Hilton Head, SC visiting my mother in law.  It was kind of a luxury having a relative that lived smack dab in the middle of  “low country.”  When I was a teenager, I had the chance to spend two weeks right outside Charleston and that’s when my love affair with the south began.  So, it had been almost 15 years before I was able to get down there again….but after that I was a frequent visitor biking along the coast while the Spanish moss blew in the breeze around me.

It’s a magical place with equally magical food, if you ever have the chance to visit…you must go.  One of my favorite things to eat every time I visited was Shrimp and Grits.  And everywhere you order it…it’s just a little bit different.

overhead shot of shrimp and grits in three white bowls with glasses and patterned napkin

Everyone has their own take on Shrimp and Grits.  Even me, I love my grits to be extra creamy and loaded with cheese….hence, Cheesy Shrimp and Grits. A lot of places skip the cheese and you can too, but try it with the cheese and I promise you you’ll love it.

The sauce is slightly creamy but not overly thick. It’s the perfect blanket for your shrimp, not too heavy….not too light.  Just right.  And I used yellow cornmeal grits….you can use white if you prefer but I love the vibrant yellow color it adds to the dish.  It’s like a bowl full of southern sunshine…but with shrimp and bacon and other goodness just ready for you to dig into. Drooling yet?

close up view of shrimp and grits in a bowl with a fork

Cheesy Shrimp and Grits couldn’t be easier to make.  I like to make the grits first so they’re perfect and smooth.  They take a few minutes of your attention at the beginning but the result is a velvety smooth bowl of heaven.

The shrimp and gravy comes together in about 15 minutes making this an easy weeknight dinner that will transport your tastebuds on a mini vacation.

shrimp and grits in three white bowls on a table setting with patterned napkin and a bottle of hot sauce

I can guarantee you’ll want to add this recipe to your weekly meal rotation.

shrimp and grits in a white bowl garnished with a lemon slice and served with wine

Here are a few more shrimp recipes you might enjoy:

overhead shot of shrimp and grits in a white bowl on a patterned napkin with a fork and two other partial views of shrimp and grits bowls
4.74 from 100 votes

Cheesy Shrimp and Grits

The best Shrimp and Grits recipe- super creamy and cheesy!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients

GRITS:

SHRIMP & SAUCE:

Instructions 

PREPARE THE GRITS:

  • In a large pot over medium heat, add the milk, water and salt. Bring to a simmer.  Whisk in the grits and continue whisking until they begin to thicken. (This will help eliminate lumps.)  Continue to cook the grits for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.  Stir in the butter and cheese. Cover and set aside.

PREPARE THE SHRIMP & SAUCE:

  • In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel lined platter using a slotted spoon to drain.
  • Return the skillet to the heat and add the shrimp to the pan. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side.  Transfer the shrimp to a platter and keep warm.
  • Add the onions to the skillet and cook until softened.  Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.  Sprinkle the cornstarch over the onions/garlic and cook for an additional minute.  Whisk in the chicken stock and cook until the sauce begins to thicken.  Whisk in the cream, butter, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the sauce starts to thicken more.  Return the shrimp to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes- making sure not to overcook the shrimp.  Stir in the bacon, green onions and parsley.

SERVE:

  • Spoon about 1 cup grits onto a plate and top with 4 to 5 shrimp. Pour about 1 cup gravy over the shrimp. Repeat with remaining grits and shrimp.  Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 931kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 56g, Fat: 54g, Saturated Fat: 30g, Cholesterol: 586mg, Sodium: 2735mg, Potassium: 708mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 2275IU, Vitamin C: 21.2mg, Calcium: 670mg, Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4.74 from 100 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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149 Comments

  1. Amy Moeller says:

    Made this recipe this evening (third time making shrimp and grits) and this was the best recipe, loved all the flavor!

    1. Lori Lange says:

      Great!

    2. Maria says:

      This is by far the most delicious recipe I have tried. I used smoked cheddar and it was fantastic!

  2. Tiffany Smith says:

    3 stars
    I followed this recipe to a T and I’’m an experienced cook. My sauce was far creamier than. what is pictured here. Mine almost looks like a cream gravy. It was tasty enough, but very cream heavy. It was just really missing something if I were to make this agiain, I would probably add a little white wine in place of some of the cream or maybe use half cream and half milk or half and half. Maybe the addition of some andouille sausage wound pump up the flavor. It’s not bad, it’s close to being excellent, but something about the proportions is just off.

  3. Fran says:

    5 stars
    A friend shared this on Facebook. It is now a family favorite. My daughter requests this every time she comes for a visit and my sister makes sure she knows when my daughter comes so she can enjoy this dish also. It kind of brings the family together. One of the best shrimp dishes out there.

  4. Lesley Pinckard says:

    This recipe was superb. Easy to make. I added finely chopped bell pepper and celery. Just the right amount of spicy and very creamy. Yum.

  5. BJ says:

    5 stars
    A friend shared this recipe with me and boy am i glad he did! I am not a fan of grits (I know, I know, all southerners are suppose to like grits LOL) but I absolutely love anything shrimp though. I decided to give this a try not expecting much but Wow. I can’t get enough. I’ve made this dish for several people and they all love it! Thank you so much for this recipe!!!

  6. Gerrie S says:

    3 stars
    A little bland and I am not into super spices. Seemed to lack something but not sure what.

  7. Jaime says:

    5 stars
    Five star! My friend shared this recipe to me and I was hesitant to make it because would never pick this dish. She said it was so good. It was so good!!!!! I loved making it too!

  8. TLC says:

    4 stars
    The dish turned out perfect and was delicious. Like my dad use to say, “ Don’t get any on your eyebrows cause you’ll lick yourself to death trying to get it off”. Only reason I didn’t give five stars was that you said it took 15 minutes to prep and 35 total. I might have done it in that timeline if I had a full kitchen staff, lol. Great recipe and I will make many more times.

  9. GrandBayGirl says:

    3 stars
    Not quite the flavor I was looking for, tastes like gravy and too spicy for my taste.

  10. Carlene Moore says:

    5 stars
    Best shrimp and cheesy grits ever! Have made it a few times now and LOVE it. Was planning to make and take to our daughter’s family, but some have a shrimp allergy… can you substitute scallops?

    1. Lori Lange says:

      Interesting question- you can certainly try!