This Creamy Shrimp and Grits Recipe is delicious and as classic as it gets. The shrimp are simmered in a cream sherry cream sauce while the grits are loaded with white cheddar for an unbelievable combination of flavors.
It’s been years since I’ve made this recipe and I’ve been recently chomping at the bit for the opportunity to make it again.
This creamy shrimp and grits recipe is absolutely delicious, super easy to make and one of those perfect recipes where you can feed the masses, well because there are so many dang grits!
Too many leftover grits is a good thing, trust me :-).
Ingredients for White Cheddar Grits
Just like I stated in the video, no self-respecting southerner makes instant grits, and neither are we.
Now, that doesn’t mean we are cooking these cheddar grits for 2 hours, but you can expect to be stirring for about 10 minutes or so which really isn’t that bad, see risotto!
It’s also important to make the cheddar grits recipe first because it can hold really well over low heat for long periods of time, the shrimp cannot and really needs to be eaten asap.
Nothing worse than mushy overcooked shrimp, NOTHING!! So, in other words, don’t ruin this creamy shrimp and grits recipe!
Grits are delicious and work well for things like porridge or polenta, another huge fav in my house!
How to Make White Cheddar Grits
To cook cheddar grits it’s as simple as bringing your liquid, in this case, I used chicken stock but you can absolutely use vegetable stock or even water, to a boil. Sounds a lot like making polenta right?
Once you are rolling you then pour in your grits and stir.
This is similar to risotto but doesn’t worry your arm won’t fall off stirring grits as it will with risotto because it takes about 10 to 15 minutes of stirring and then you can kind of leave it alone over really low heat to carry the rest of the way.
The importance of stirring the cheddar grits at the beginning is so that it doesn’t clump up!
Once the grits are at al dente, or slightly crunchy, you then finish it off with some unsalted butter, shredded aged white cheddar cheese, sea salt, white pepper and a few dashes of hot sauce.
You use white pepper in the food you want to keep white because if you used cracked black pepper then you would see it and it would take away from the beauty that is your white corn grits recipe.
Now at this point just simply put the top on it and let it sit over very low heat until you’re ready to serve the cheddar grits up.
If for some reason you won’t be eating it for a while then I recommend reconstituting it with a little water or stock to sort of cream it up a bit as it will have a tendency to clump back together if you let it sit for too long.
Just a little FYI there, that’s all!
We are one step closer to finishing up this creamy shrimp and grits recipe!
How to Make the Shrimp
The creamy shrimp portion of this creamy shrimp and grits recipe is really easy and holy smokes is it delicious!
You first start off by rendering some pancetta or bacon in a large saute pan over medium heat.
Once those little fellas turn nice and crispy remove them from the heat.
Next, simply add in the shrimp and cook them just for a few minutes and remember we don’t want to cook these all the way through because they will continue to cook when they are in the hot cream sauce, which is coming up next!
Remove the shrimp and then deglaze your pan with some cream sherry.
This stuff is seriously liquid gold and you will probably want to use it in all of your cooking because of its’ just that good!
Reduce the liquid by half and then add in your heavy whipping cream and cook it down until it becomes super thick, like alfredo sauce.
Oh yeah, cook the cream over lower heat so that it does not burn, yuck!
Finish by adding back in the shrimp, crispy pancetta, salt, and pepper and serve this tasty creamy shrimp over some white cheddar corn grits and you are good to go!
Garnish with some parsley and green onions and BOOM, let’s eat these creamy shrimp and grits!!
My Favorite Shrimp Recipes
Here’s a list of some of my favorite shrimp recipes.
- Shrimp Boil Recipe
- Easy Jambalaya Recipe
- Leftover Turkey Gumbo
- Pesto Shrimp Scampi
- Thai Curry Shrimp
Video
Creamy Shrimp and Grits Recipe
Ingredients
For the Grits:
- 96 ounces of chicken stock
- 4 cups White Corn Grits
- 1 stick of unsalted butter
- 8 ounces of shredded white cheddar
- Kosher salt ground white pepper and hot sauce to taste
For the Shrimp:
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/2 cup of small diced pancetta
- 1 pound of peeled and deveined tail on 16/20 shrimp
- 2 finely minced cloves of garlic
- 1/2 cup of Harvey's Bristol cream sherry
- 2 cups of heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup of sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley
- Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Grits: Bring the stock to a boil. Once boiling, slowly stir in the grits and turn the heat down to a simmer, while constantly stirring. The grits will take 25 minutes to cook. finish with butter, cheese, salt, and white pepper and keep warm with a lid.
- Shrimp: In a large hot saute pan with olive oil add in the pancetta and cook until crispy. Once crispy, remove the pancetta lardons and add in the shrimp and garlic and saute for 3 to 4 minutes on high heat.
- Next, remove the shrimp and deglaze with sherry cream and reduce by 1/2. Add in the cream and cook until very thick (think alfredo sauce).
- Once the cream is thick, add back in the shrimp and pancetta stir.
- Serve the shrimp in sherry cream over the grits. Garnish with sliced green onions and chopped parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Kevin Baker says
What can I substitute for the Baileys. Non alcoholic.
Chef Billy Parisi says
There is unfortunately no substitute. You can do without it, but it will alter the flavor a little bit in this instance.
N Carolina Gurl says
I’m a a native North Carolinian… so, down here, we all have our own version of Shrimp-n-Grits that we whip up on sultry summer evenings when the shrimp is abundantly fresh and you can’t bear to turn on a hot oven. Your recipe with the cream sherry is soooo good! Let’s just say, “The possum’s on the stump!” Y’all, it just doesn’t get any better than this! Are you sure you’re not a tad southern? LOVE your recipes! Yum!
Bob D. says
Made this tonight (cutting the proportions in half, which proved just the right amount for our family of five) and it was a BIG hit! Fantastic flavors, a creamy sauce that was satisfying but not overly-rich, and a colorful and pleasing presentation–just a wonderful dish in every way. And those grits! I think I could eat a shoebox covered in those grits when they are hot off the stove–and I used Quaker 5-minute (not instant) grits, by the way, because that is all I could find at my small local grocer.
My daughter goes to college in North Carolina and has been missing her new “comfort foods” since coming back north for the summer. She gave this dish a BIG thumbs-up and says it rivals the shrimp and grits at her favorite restaurant in Winston-Salem. Thank you, Chef!!!
Chef Billy Parisi says
Bob, this is amazing! I can’t thank you enough for the kind words and I am so glad it turned out well for you. Have a great summer sir!
Theresa says
I fell in love with this dish when I had it Georgia Brown’s in DC about 8 years ago. I’ve been trying to find a recipe that compares ever since and am still looking. I can’t wait to try yours!
Kathryn E. Starr says
I receive The Daily Meal Newsletter & was thrilled to watch you cooking shrimp and grits. I’m also thrilled that you share your recipes. It looks delish and after reading 2 other recipes, I like you twist to this one. As a matter of fact, I’ll probably go to this website daily–I go by pictures. And your presentation is wonderful. At the wonderful age of 73, though, I don’t think I’m going to be able to make all the recipes I’ve been copying! I love Alamaylu (Indian Chef) on Create TV. Indian spices are so good for your health, and I’m sure you have some Indian recipes as well. God bless and I’m glad to have me you via “Shrimp and Grits.”
Kate Starr and Lady Clare, PSA Team (Service Dog)