Cajun Shrimp and Grits

Cajun shrimp and grits is a classic southern comfort food dish made with creamy cheese grits and cajun spiced shrimp swimming in a spicy cream sauce with spicy smoked sausage and chopped vegetables. This bold and flavorful dish comes together easily and will blow your family and guests away!

I have made shrimp and grits dozens of times over the years, tweaking the recipe along the way, and this version gets insane reviews every time I prepare it! For more Cajun recipes, check out our Cajun Jambalaya Pasta and Cajun Crawfish Etouffee recipes next!

Where Did Shrimp and Grits Originate?

I feel it is important to start with the history of shrimp and grits before diving into the recipe. Shrimp and grits is a Southern dish that originated in the "Lowcountry" of Charleston, South Carolina.

Shrimp and grits began as a breakfast dish for the people of South Carolina and was made with fresh shrimp caught in the Lowcountry marshes and either grits or hominy. It remained an unknown dish to the majority of the country until the 1990s.

Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe

Shrimp

• Large peeled and deveined shrimp. Clean and pat your shrimp dry with paper towels. Love shellfish? Check out our crawfish cornbread dressing recipe next!
• Blackened seasoning. My homemade blackened seasoning is super easy to make and is spicy but not overpowering. Store-bought blackened seasoning also works.
• Unsalted butter. To cook the proteins and veggies.
• Extra-virgin olive oil. To cook the proteins and veggies.
• Spicy smoked sausage. Spicy pork sausage such as Andoullie works best, but any spicy smoked sausage works great.
• Red bell pepper. For freshness and texture.
• Green bell pepper. For freshness and texture.
• Yellow onion. For added flavor.
• Fresh garlic. Gotta have fresh garlic!
• Chicken stock. To make a creamy sauce.
• Heavy cream. To help make the creamy sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce. For added flavor and depth.
• Salt and cracked black pepper. Add to taste as needed.

Grits

• Water. To cook the grits.
• Half and half. To add creaminess to the grits.
• Salt. To season the grits.
• Garlic powder. For added flavor.
• Onion powder. For added flavor.
• Cayenne pepper. For a subtle kick.
• Old-fashioned corn grits. Do not substitute quick cooking or instant grits. They require different liquid measurements and cooking times. If you do substitute, be sure to follow the package cooking instructions. Bob's Red Mill Yellow Corn Grits are my favorite! As you will see on the package, old-fashioned corn grits are also used for polenta.
• Smoked gouda cheese. For a delicious smoky flavor and creamy, cheesy texture.
• Unsalted butter. For added flavor and a smooth texture.
• Cracked black pepper. I like to add a good bit of cracked pepper right at the end for a peppery bite. It also adds visual appeal when cracked over top!
• Freshly chopped green onions and parsley. For serving.

How To Make This Recipe

1. Start the grits by adding water, half and half, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to a medium saucepan. Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat. Slowly pour in the grits while stirring with a wooden spoon to avoid lumps.
2. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and cook the grits for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of blackened seasoning in a small mixing bowl and set them aside.
4. Heat the oil and butter in a 10-inch cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the smoked sausage and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until browned. Add the bell peppers and onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables soften. Add the garlic and cook for one additional minute until fragrant.
5. Season the veggies with 1 tablespoon of blackened seasoning and add the chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce and cook the sauce for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp are opaque and the sauce has reduced a bit. This should take about 5 to 7 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp. Season the sauce with salt and cracked pepper to taste and remove the pan from the heat.
7. Once the grits are thick and creamy, remove them from the heat and stir in cheese and butter. Season the grits with more salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
8. Serve cajun shrimp and grits immediately by spooning a couple of ladle-fulls of grits into a bowl and spooning the shrimp with sauce over top. Garnish with fresh chopped green onions and parsley and enjoy!

Variations and Substitutions

• Feel free to make this dish either 1 whole red or green bell pepper if you would prefer to not have half peppers left over.
• Make this recipe with andouille, spicy pork sausage, smoked beef sausage, or smoked turkey sausage.
• While I highly recommend old-fashioned grits for the best flavor and texture, quick-cooking grits will also work. Just be sure to follow the cooking instructions on the package.
• Feel free to substitute smoked gouda cheese for any good melting cheese, such as cheddar, havarti, or Gruyere.

What Are Grits?

Grits, simply put, are ground corn. They are made from less sweet varieties of corn and be either yellow or white.

There are several different varieties of grits, including stone-ground or old-fashioned, hominy, quick-cooking, and instant grits. Each type of grit has its own preparation and texture once cooked.

Old-fashioned grits, which are what this recipe calls for, are ground with the germ intact, giving them a coarser texture and more corn-forward flavor. They take a bit longer to cook and turn out incredibly creamy when properly prepared.

What Shrimp Work Best For This Recipe?

I recommend either large or jumbo wild-caught shrimp for this Cajun shrimp and grits recipe. Not only is the presentation more visually appealing, but getting mouthfuls of big, plump shrimp is always satisfying!

You can use medium or even small shrimp for this recipe if you prefer. My mother-in-law uses large shrimp but chops them in thirds. Whatever works for you is totally fine!

More FAQs

How To Store Shrimp and Grits

Leftover shrimp and grits can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend reheating shrimp and grits on the stovetop for the best texture.

More Cajun-Inspired Recipes You Will Love!

📖 Recipe

Cajun Shrimp and Grits

Ashley Boyd

Cajun shrimp and grits is a classic southern comfort food dish made with creamy cheese grits and cajun spiced shrimp swimming in a spicy cream sauce with spicy smoked sausage and chopped vegetables. This bold and flavorful dish comes together easily and will blow your family and guests away!

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings 6 servings

Calories 627 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  10-inch cast iron skillet

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For The Shrimp

• ▢ 1 pound large shrimp - peeled and deveined
• ▢ 2 tablespoons blackened seasoning - homemade or store-bought, my recipe linked
• ▢ 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
• ▢ 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ▢ ½ pound spicy pork smoked sausage - such as andouille
• ▢ ½ red bell pepper - seeded and chopped
• ▢ ½ green bell pepper - seeded and chopped
• ▢ 1 small yellow onion - chopped
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic - minced
• ▢ 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken stock
• ▢ ½ cup heavy cream
• ▢ 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ Salt - to taste
• ▢ Cracked black pepper - to taste

For The Cheese Grits

• ▢ 2 ½ cups water
• ▢ 2 cups half and half - or 1 cup milk and 1 cup heavy cream
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ▢ 1 cup old-fashioned corn grits
• ▢ 8 ounces smoked Gouda cheese - freshly grated
• ▢ 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ▢ Cracked black pepper - to taste

Instructions

 

• Start the grits by adding water, half and half, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper to a medium saucepan. Bring the ingredients to a boil over medium-high heat. Slowly pour in the grits while stirring with a wooden spoon to avoid lumps.
• Lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pot and cook the grits for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, toss the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of blackened seasoning in a small mixing bowl and set them aside.
• Heat the oil and butter in a 10-inch cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the smoked sausage and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until browned. Add the bell peppers and onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables soften. Add the garlic and cook for one additional minute until fragrant.
• Season the veggies with 1 tablespoon of blackened seasoning and add the chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce and cook the sauce for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
• Add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp are opaque and the sauce has reduced a bit. This should take about 5 to 7 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp. Season the sauce with salt and cracked pepper to taste and remove the pan from the heat.
• Once the grits are thick and creamy, remove them from the heat and stir in cheese and butter. Season the grits with more salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
• Serve shrimp and grits immediately by spooning a couple of ladle-fulls of grits into a bowl and spooning the shrimp with sauce over top. Garnish with fresh chopped green onions and parsley and enjoy!

Notes

 

• Make this recipe with andouille, spicy pork sausage, smoked beef sausage, or smoked turkey sausage.
• While I highly recommend old-fashioned grits for the best flavor and texture, quick-cooking grits will also work. Just be sure to follow the cooking instructions on the package.
• Feel free to substitute smoked gouda cheese for any good melting cheese, such as cheddar, havarti, or Gruyere.
• Leftover shrimp and grits can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  •  

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 627kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.2g | Protein: 29.9g | Fat: 50.1g | Saturated Fat: 25.3g | Cholesterol: 244mg | Sodium: 976mg | Potassium: 320mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 3.7g | Calcium: 251mg | Iron: 1mg

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