Carolina-Style Shrimp and Grits with Spicy Tomato Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-22 · Updated 2026-06-22

Creamy stone-ground grits topped with sautéed shrimp in a tangy and spicy tomato sauce inspired by the North Carolina coast. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs stone-ground grits, water, milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 lb, peeled and deveined large shrimp
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
• 3 cloves minced garlic cloves
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water and 1 cup milk to a boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 tbsp butter and 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the grits. Keep warm on very low heat.
3. Step 3: While grits cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
4. Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer the sauce for 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Step 6: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp to the sauce and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until shrimp turn pink and opaque.
7. Step 7: Remove from heat, stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice.
8. Step 8: Spoon the creamy cheese grits onto plates and top with the spicy tomato shrimp mixture. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.