Shrimp and Cheesy Grits with Bacon

Tender cheesy grits are served with cooked shrimp and bacon in a Carolina brunch classic.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 446 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons bacon drippings
• 1 cup chopped raw bacon
• 1 tablespoon shredded Cheddar cheese, or as desired
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 0.5 cup diced onion
• 1.5 cups evaporated milk
• 0.75 cup quick-cooking grits

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Pour chicken broth and evaporated milk into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in grits and salt; return to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer grits, stirring often, until thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese until melted. Set grits aside and keep warm.

Step 2

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir bacon in the hot skillet until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Drain all but 2 tablespoons bacon drippings from the skillet.

Step 3

Return the skillet to medium heat. Cook and stir shrimp, bell pepper, and onion in hot bacon drippings until shrimp are bright pink and no longer translucent inside and bell pepper is tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir cooked bacon into shrimp mixture.

Step 4

Spread grits into a serving dish, top with shrimp mixture, and garnish with 1 tablespoon Cheddar cheese.