Creamy, cheesy shrimp and grits with bacon-perfect for brunch or dinner. A Southern classic with smoky bacon, tender shrimp, and rich grits.
I LOVE this meal, it's ready in 20 minutes and you can eat it for breakfast! Put a fried egg on top and yee haw! A perfect savory brunch. This has become a family favorite over the years, especially served with cheesy garlic drop biscuits or buttered peas.
There's a few differences between corn meal and grits. Grits are a type of porridge made from coarsely ground corn kernels, bigger pieces than corn meal. Grits take about the same amount of time to cook, 5-7 minutes on the stovetop.
I make these grits with chicken broth for more flavor, (you can use easy homemade chicken broth) and a little cream cheese because it's AMAZING.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Taste: Creamy, cheesy grits with crispy bacon and onions on top and perfectly seasoned shrimp.
- Ease: Beginner! No oven required, just a frying pan and cooking pot for the grits.
- Time: 20-30 minutes start to finish.
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Shrimp - I prefer to use a medium or small size since they cook a bit faster. A larger size would definitely be fine.
- Cream cheese- just a bit! Too much makes the grits way too rich. I add just a little and it's absolutely delicious.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
✏️ Substitutions & Variations
- Cajun/Spicy Shrimp & Grits - cajun seasoning, hot sauce, fresh sliced or pickled jalapeño on top.
- Bacon-Free Version- use smoked sausage or turkey bacon and swap bacon fat with butter + smoked salt for a different flavor profile.
Pro Tip: For extra smoky flavor, finish by sprinkling a little smoked paprika on top. Delicious!
🧑🍳 Instructions
- Step 1. In a pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Stir in quick grits, reduce heat and simmer until water is absorbed and grits are soft and cooked, about 5-7 minutes.
- Step 2. Add cream cheese and grated sharp cheddar cheese, stir until combined.
- Step 3. In a skillet, fry bacon until crispy, turning occasionally until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. (I do this while the grits are cooking). Drain slices on paper towels. Chop into bite sized pieces.
- Step 4. Clean skillet and melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and minced garlic, cooking until soft and beginning to brown, 5-7 minutes.
- Step 5. Add shrimp and paprika and cook until shrimp is completely pink, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes.
- Step 6. In a large serving dish or individually, layer grits, then shrimp and onion mixture, and sprinkle with chopped bacon. Add fresh ground pepper and chopped green onion to taste.
TIP: Grate your own cheese for the best results, using pre-grated cheese can result in grainier tasting grits due to the anti-caking additives most pre-shredded cheese brands have in them. Same thing goes for the cheese sauce in my lobster mac and cheese.
📌 Troubleshooting
- Grits too thin: add more grits or simmer longer or use a slurry of milk and flour.
- Shrimp rubbery: cook at medium heat until JUST pink. Smaller shrimp take less time to cook!
- Grits lumpy: whisk constantly early, soak ahead if using stone-ground.
❄️ Make Ahead, Store, and Freezing Tips
You can cook the bacon, shrimp and onions, and grits ahead, just keep them separate until ready to warm and serve.
Freeze - up to 3 months in individual serving containers and thaw overnight in the fridge before warming up.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
I prefer to use the 5 minute grits since they have a great texture and are faster than regular grits. They're the middle ground between instant and regular and the best of both worlds.
Make sure to cook the shrimp until pink but then remove them from heat! Cooking them for too long will make them rubbery and tough.
Yes, but I'd recommend keeping the cheesy grits separate from the onions and shrimp until ready to serve. The grits may need a splash of milk and a good stir after warming to thin them out a little.
🍽️ Serving Ideas
- Honey butter cornbread or soft fluffy french bread
- Fried okra, collard greens, or sauteed kale
- A lemon chicken caesar salad simple green salad with vinaigrette
🍤 More Delicious Seafood Recipes
Did You Try This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure to leave a star rating and a comment below the recipe card. I love hearing from you, and it is so helpful to other readers! Better yet, share it with family and friends. Thank you!!
📝 Printable Recipe
Cheesy Grits and Shrimp with Bacon
Ingredients
For the Grits:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup quick 5 minute grits
- 2 oz cream cheese (may use full fat or ⅓ fat)
- 1 cup grated colby jack or cheddar cheese see note
For the Bacon and Shrimp:
- 6 slices bacon (or more)
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic (2-3 cloves)
- 1 lb raw shrimp, rinsed and patted dry (peeled,deveined) tail off optional
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- optional, fresh ground pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Grits
- In a pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Stir in quick grits, reduce heat and simmer until water is absorbed and grits are soft and cooked, about 5-7 minutes.4 cups chicken broth, 1 cup quick 5 minute grits
- Add cream cheese and grated sharp cheddar cheese, stir until combined.2 oz cream cheese, 1 cup grated colby jack or cheddar cheese
For the Bacon and Shrimp:
- In a skillet, fry bacon until crispy, turning occasionally until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain slices on paper towels. Chop into bite sized pieces.6 slices bacon
- Clean skillet and melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and minced garlic, cooking until soft and beginning to brown, 5-7 minutes.2 Tablespoons butter, 1 small yellow onion, chopped, 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- Add shrimp and cayenne pepper and cook until pink and opaque, 3-4 minutes.1 lb raw shrimp, rinsed and patted dry, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- In a large serving dish or individually, layer grits, then shrimp and onion mixture, and sprinkle with chopped bacon. Add fresh ground pepper to taste.optional, fresh ground pepper to taste
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sara!
Registered Nurse by day, food blogger by weekend. Perfect dip tester & snack quester. I love short walks on the beach and long naps. Sharing my love for food, one bite at a time.
Susan says
Made this last night, my new go-to recipe for shrimp and grits! So good!
Sara says
Yay! So glad you love it as much as we do! I always love to hear that. ❤️
Amanda says
If u don't like cheese and bacon and grits get away from me I can't associate with you.
Mark Holloway says
WOW!!!