Southern-Style Shrimp and Grits with Creamy Cheese Sauce

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 drafted and published.

A comforting Southern classic featuring tender shrimp sautéed with spices, served over creamy cheesy grits. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs stone-ground grits, water, sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 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 cup stone-ground grits
4 cups water
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
for serving lemon wedges

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Instructions

Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits and 1 tsp salt. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, for 20-25 minutes until thick and creamy.
Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the cooked grits. Cover and keep warm.
Step 3: While grits cook, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Add 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet along with 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are pink and opaque.
Step 5: Remove skillet from heat and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley.
Step 6: Serve the cooked shrimp over a bed of cheesy grits, garnish with additional parsley and lemon wedges for squeezing.