Half Note Club-Style Cajun Shrimp and Grits

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-10 · Updated 2026-07-10

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.

This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs medium shrimp, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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: 15 min Serves 4 Southern American cuisine 450 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb, peeled and deveined medium shrimp
2 tbsp olive oil
3, minced garlic cloves
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 cups water
1 cup quick-cooking grits
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp butter
2, thinly sliced green onions
for serving lemon wedges

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Instructions

Step 1: In a medium pot, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup quick-cooking grits and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes until thickened.
Step 2: Remove grits from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 2 tbsp butter until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: While grits cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Toss 1 lb peeled shrimp with 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then add to skillet.
Step 5: Sauté shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque with slightly crisp edges.
Step 6: Serve shrimp over warm cheesy grits, garnished with 2 thinly sliced green onions and lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.