Cheesy Southern-Style Shrimp and Grits

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-18 · Updated 2026-06-18

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Creamy grits cooked with sharp cheddar cheese and topped with spicy sautéed shrimp for a comforting Southern classic. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, stone-ground grits, chicken broth 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 Southern cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup stone-ground grits
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
3 tbsp butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup green onions, sliced

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Instructions

Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups chicken broth to a boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits, reduce heat to low, and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 20-25 minutes until thick and creamy.
Step 2: Stir in 3 tbsp butter and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the cooked grits. Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then cover and keep warm.
Step 3: While grits cook, heat 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined medium shrimp, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper to the skillet. Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until pink and opaque.
Step 5: Serve the shrimp over the cheesy grits, garnished with 1/4 cup sliced green onions for a fresh finish.