How to Make Chef John's Shrimp and Grits - A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're a fan of Southern cuisine, then you're probably familiar with the classic dish of shrimp and grits. This beloved comfort food combines the rich, creamy texture of stone-ground grits with the savory goodness of plump, juicy shrimp. It's a dish that's sure to warm your soul and satisfy your taste buds, no matter the occasion.

Today, we're going to take a closer look at a recipe for Chef John's shrimp and grits. This recipe is a testament to the chef's expertise in creating del...

Read more Snack recipes

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup white grits
  • ½ cup shredded white Cheddar cheese
  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper
  • 2 tablespoons minced green onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Information

  • Prep Time: 25 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 55 mins
  • Servings: 4
  • Yield: 4 servings

  • Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until almost crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer bacon to a dish, leaving drippings in the skillet.
  • Whisk 1/4 cup water, cream, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce together in a bowl.
  • Stir 4 cups water, butter, and 1 teaspoon salt together in a pot; bring to a boil. Whisk grits into pot, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until grits are creamy, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir white Cheddar cheese into grits.
  • Place shrimp in a large bowl and season with Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • Heat skillet with bacon drippings over high heat. Cook shrimp in hot bacon fat in a single layer for 1 minute. Turn shrimp and add jalapeno; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir cream mixture, bacon, green onion, and garlic to shrimp mixture; cook and stir, adding water as necessary to thin the sauce, until shrimp are cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.
  • Ladle grits into a bowl and top with shrimp and sauce.
  • Nutrition

    434 cal.

    • Total Fat: 20g
    • Saturated Fat: 11g
    • Cholesterol: 226mg
    • Sodium: 1499mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 33g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 30g
    • Vitamin C: 6mg
    • Calcium: 184mg
    • Iron: 5mg
    • Potassium: 328mg