Jazzy Cajun Shrimp and Grits Skillet

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-11 · Updated 2026-05-11

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.

A soulful skillet dish combining spicy Cajun-seasoned shrimp with creamy cheese grits. This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs shrimp, peeled and deveined, Cajun seasoning, olive oil 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 American cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cups water
1 cup stone-ground grits
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 scallions, sliced
1 tbsp lemon juice
to taste salt
to taste black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 4 cups water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until boiling. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits and 1 tsp salt, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thick and creamy.
Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the grits, mixing until melted and smooth. Keep warm.
Step 3: While grits cook, toss 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp with 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
Step 4: 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 5: Add the seasoned shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until opaque and slightly charred at the edges.
Step 6: Remove shrimp from heat and drizzle with 1 tbsp lemon juice, then sprinkle with 2 sliced scallions, salt, and black pepper to taste.
Step 7: Serve the spicy shrimp atop the creamy cheese grits for a soulful, jazz-inspired meal.