Chef John's Shrimp and Grits

This shrimp and grits recipe cooks plump shrimp in a creamy Cajun sauce with bacon; serve on cheesy grits for a Southern classic that's great anytime!

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 434 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 4 cups water
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons minced green onion
• 1 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper
• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 cup white grits
• 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 0.25 cup water
• 0.5 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 0.5 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 0.5 cup shredded white Cheddar cheese

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Whisk 1/4 cup water, cream, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce together in a bowl.

Step 2

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until almost crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer bacon to a dish; reserve drippings in the skillet.

Step 3

Combine 4 cups water, butter, and 1 teaspoon salt in a pot; bring to a boil. Whisk in grits; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until creamy, 20 to 25 minutes. Off heat, stir in Cheddar cheese.

Step 4

Season shrimp with Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper in a large bowl.

Step 5

Heat bacon drippings in the skillet over high heat. Add shrimp; cook 1 minute. Flip shrimp; add jalapeño and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir cream mixture, bacon, green onion, and garlic into shrimp mixture; cook and stir until shrimp cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes, adding water as necessary to thin sauce. Off heat, stir in parsley.

Step 6

Ladle grits into a bowl; top with shrimp and sauce.