On my first visit to Crook’s, I dip my fork deep into the mound to pull up a small pile of grits. They offer up the faintest crust from a quick turn in a hot pan, and a hint of bacon-y smoke. The pink edges of the shrimp peek out, begging to be unearthed. A lemon garnishes the plate to be squeezed over the whole of it. The bacon is abundant, as are the mushrooms, big slices of mottled brown. The shrimp and grits at the venerable Chapel Hill, North Carolina, restaurant is a busy pile of food. Or try Instant Pot Shrimp Biryani, Camarones a la Diabla, Camarones al Mojo de Ajo, Sopa de Camarones, and Shrimp Yakisoba.My path to understanding this now iconic dish began at Crook’s Corner, where it’s been on the menu since the 1980s. If you love shrimp, don’t miss my Instant Pot Shrimp recipe. Or top them with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms. You could also serve Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, roasted asparagus, and Buttermilk Biscuits.

I like to serve a simple side of sauteed greens with garlic or roasted green beans with Shrimp and Grits. Serve the grits in a plate or bowl topped with the shrimp and garnished with parsley or green onions.Squeeze in the lime juice and add the Cajun seasoning.Add garlic and then add shrimp and cook for a few minutes, then flip the shrimp over and cook on the other side for a couple of minutes until they’re cooked through. To cook the shrimp, melt butter in a skillet.Stir the butter and cheese into the grits, cover again, and then let stand while you cook the shrimp.Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes, until the grits are tender and have absorbed most of the liquid. Cook the grits by whisking them into hot milk along with the garlic powder and pepper. This Cajun Shrimp and Grits recipe is easy to make. Scallions/green onions or parsley: A touch of green makes a nice garnish.Lime juice: A hit of acid brings out all the other flavors.Cajun seasoning: I like this Black Magic Cajun seasoning from Spiceology a lot!.Shrimp: I always buy my shrimp peeled and deveined if possible.Cheese: I use a sharp white cheddar, but you can use another cheese if you like.

You can always add more if you think it needs it. If you use salted butter, just be sure to reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.

Butter: I always use unsalted butter in my cooking because I like to control the salt myself.

Garlic: This recipe uses both garlic powder and fresh garlic.

Salt and pepper: Use kosher salt or additive-free sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Stone-ground grits are fine to use, but they are coarser than regular grits so they might need to cook a few minutes longer. You can use either yellow or white corn grits.

Grits: Use regular grits, not quick grits or instant grits.

You want the richness, so definitely don’t substitute skim milk. These Cajun Shrimp and Grits have a short ingredient list. Ingredients you need to make Cajun shrimp and gritsįor the complete list of ingredients with quantities and detailed prep and cooking instructions, please see the recipe card that appears at the end of this post. You’ll see sometimes see them served with andouille sausage, chicken, or other meats, or sauteed mushrooms, bell pepper, and onions. They’re a staple in the Southern US, often served with lots of butter and cheese (aka “cheesy grits”) or sweetened with brown sugar and served as a breakfast cereal. They can be made with either white or yellow corn. Serve it for Sunday brunch OR Sunday dinner.

It’s homey comfort food that’s also somehow elegant and impressive.

Cajun seasonings make it super flavorful.

I also like that it is light and showcases the seasonings you cook with it.

It’s a great way to serve shrimp, which is one of my favorite proteins because it’s so quick to cook.

Most of the ingredients are common pantry staples, too.

Short ingredient list! This dish has a ton of flavor, but you don’t need a million ingredients.Why you’ll love this Cajun shrimp and grits recipe I love the creamy grits topped with the spicy shrimp. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As an added bonus, this classic Southern recipe is quick to make, too! Creamy, buttery grits are topped with Cajun spiced shrimp. Cajun Shrimp and Grits is all of my favorite things in one dish-spicy, satisfying Southern comfort food.

Biscuit love shrimp and grits recipe