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A true Southern dish, these shrimp and grits are creamy and cheesy and taste delicious. Made with quick-cooking grits, this easy shrimp recipe can be on your table in under 30 minutes.

A bowl of easy Shrimp and Instant Grits next to a fork.

A signature Southern dish, creamy shrimp and grits is an easy-to-make yummy in your tummy kind of meal.

Today considered a go-to dish, you’ll find this classic on any menu in Charleston, South Carolina or New Orleans, Louisiana.

But if you are not from the South, grits may be a bit foreign to you.

To quote Joe Pesci’s character Vinny in “My Cousin Vinny,” – “What the heck is a grit?”

What is a grit?

Grits are made from ground corn and there are many different types of grits.

Hominy grits are also called white grits because they are made with white corn kernels.

Yellow grits are made from yellow corn and are sweeter that white grits, which are typically called breakfast grits or porridge.

Stone ground grits are dried corn kernels that have been coarsely ground and take longer to cook than instant or quick grits.

For this recipe we are using the instant kind.

Grits, which have mainly been served as a traditional breakfast dish, are not just for breakfast anymore.

Mixed with cheese, crispy bacon or ham, they are popping up on dinner plates around the country.

A close up of a bowl of Southern Shrimp and instant grits.

Today, creamy grits come in the instant variety and that is what we used.

This new recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish and will become a household favorite.

What you’ll need to make this recipe

Our cheesy grits feature Parmesan cheese, ham, freshly squeezed lemon juice, garlic and parsley. Here is what you’ll need:

Instant grits. I like Quaker Oats brand. It’s easy to make and the grits cook up in about 5 minutes.

Chicken stock. You can substitute chicken broth but stock is more flavorful and you want that flavor to infuse the grits.

White wine. Open a bottle and pour yourself a glass while you make this dish. Otherwise grab a bottle of white cooking wine from the store.

Lemon. Fresh lemon is best. The juice is more acidic and the flavor is just so much better than the bottled stuff.
Shrimp. Fresh shrimp is best. I prefer the medium to large variety and now a days you can find shrimp already peeled and deveined in the seafood department of the grocery.

Ham or bacon. Pick up tasso ham from the specialty deli section of the grocery or pickup a pack of bacon. You’ll need about a third to half a cup of cooked meat. If you use bacon reserve the bacon grease in place of butter to cook the shrimp. It will add a ton of flavor to this dish.

Parmesan cheese. Head straight to the deli section for the freshest, best tasting parmesan cheese. Skip the non-refrigerated stuff.

Spices, garlic, butter, salt, pepper. You should already have these in the pantry at home.

Adding flavor to the grits by way of sweet ham, Tasso (Cajun flavored smoked ham), crisp bacon, Prosciutto or Pancetta are all easy options depending on what is available at your local grocery store.

We had leftover Honey Baked Ham available for our recipe and it was delicious.

The freshly squeezed lemon juice made a world of difference.

This classic southern dish can be made easily for a quick dinner for busy weeknights or served at a party or plated for single serve appetizers.

The whole family will gobble this up. I promise even the picky eaters will love this recipe.

Bowl of shrimp and instant grits on a table top.

How to make this recipe

This recipe is easy to make in about 30 minutes from start to finish.

First, prepare the grits according to the boxed directions. Instead of using water, use stock or broth.

Add in black pepper, butter, Parmesan cheese and the cooked ham or bacon to the pot. Remove the pot from the heat and set aside while you make the shrimp.

In a skillet, saute the shrimp in butter or bacon grease, cayenne and garlic for about about 5 minutes until the shrimp are pink.

Once done, add the fresh squeezed lemon juice and white wine to the pan.

Spoon the shrimp and sauce over a bowl of the cheesy grits.

Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley.

More of my favorite shrimp recipes

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