Gluten-Free Shrimp and Grits with Cajun Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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 drafted and published.

Creamy stone-ground grits topped with tender shrimp sautéed in a spicy Cajun butter sauce, perfect for a comforting gluten-free meal. This Southern-inspired gluten-free recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs stone-ground grits, water, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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: 35 min Serves 4 Southern cuisine 400 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

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

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits and reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring frequently, for 25-30 minutes until thickened and creamy.
  2. Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the grits until melted and smooth. Season with salt to taste and keep warm.
  3. Step 3: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Add 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp and sprinkle 2 tsp Cajun seasoning over them. Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  6. Step 6: Spoon the cheesy grits onto plates and top with the Cajun butter shrimp. Garnish with extra parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Related recipes