Spicy Sautéed Shrimp and Grits

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 developed and reviewed.

Creamy stone-ground grits topped with spicy sautéed shrimp, a Southern classic for any night of the week. This Southern American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 45 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 35 min Serves 4 Southern American cuisine 450 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Nonstick skillets worth buying → 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: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil with 1 tsp salt. Slowly whisk in 1 cup stone-ground grits. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, for 25-30 minutes until thick and creamy.
  2. Step 2: Remove grits from heat and stir in 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Cover to keep warm.
  3. 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.
  4. Step 4: Toss 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp with 1 tsp smoked paprika and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, then add to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until shrimp turn pink and opaque.
  5. Step 5: Remove shrimp from heat and drizzle with 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice.
  6. Step 6: Serve shrimp over creamy grits and garnish with 2 tbsp sliced green onions.

Related recipes