Southern-Style Shrimp and Grits with Smoky Bacon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-03 · Updated 2026-08-03

Tender shrimp sautéed with smoky bacon served over creamy stone-ground grits for a comforting Southern classic. This Southern-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs stone-ground grits, water, salt 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.

Ingredients

• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 6 slices smoked bacon, chopped
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped green onions
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water and 1 tsp salt to a boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thick and creamy.
2. Step 2: While grits cook, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 6 chopped smoked bacon slices. Cook for 5-7 minutes until crisp and browned; remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, reserving bacon fat in the skillet.
3. Step 3: Add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 3 minced garlic cloves to the bacon fat in the skillet; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 1 lb peeled and deveined medium shrimp, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika. Cook shrimp for 3-4 minutes, turning once, until pink and opaque.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice and the reserved crispy bacon pieces into the shrimp mixture, remove from heat.
5. Step 5: Once grits are creamy, stir in 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 2 tbsp chopped green onions, mixing well until cheese melts.
6. Step 6: Serve the shrimp and bacon mixture spooned over the warm cheesy grits for a hearty Southern meal.