The South, but it draws me in every time I visit. Maybe it’s the charming accent? The more relaxed pace of life? The abundance of high-quality fried chicken (try this Air Fryer Fried Chicken Breast for similar vibes), cheese straws, and Sweet Potato Pie? And oh yes, it is Southern cuisine. While I can’t pretend to be an expert at the real deal, I enjoy taking classic Southern dishes like shrimp and grits and adding my own healthy twists and preparation shortcuts to make them attainable for the average home cook. My first project was this juicy, crisp Baked Fried Chicken; I have these tasty Shrimp Kabobs with Pineapple, which were inspired by a trip to Louisiana. Now, I’m sharing my version of Cajun shrimp and grits. The shrimp is boldly-spiced, and the grits are rich, comforting, and perfectly suited for pairing with gooey sharp cheddar and Parmesan. With exceptional flavor and a lightened-up ingredients list, this is truly the BEST shrimp and grits recipe when you need an easy dinner.
How to Make Cajun Shrimp and Grits
Not only is this recipe exceptionally tasty and comforting, but it’s also lightning fast. Front to back, these skinny cajun shrimp and grits are ready in less than 30 minutes.
The Ingredients
Shrimp. Protein-packed, quick-cooking, and delicious. Shrimp Seasoning. A cajun-inspired mix of paprika, garlic powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, pepper, and salt. It’s smoky, a little spicy, and packed with bold flavors. Grits. Due to their mild, neutral flavor, grits are a blank canvas. In this recipe, they soak up the buttery, cheesy goodness and Cajun seasonings from the shrimp.
Butter. Grits and butter were meant to be. The butter helps ensure the grits are rich, creamy, and flavorful. Traditional grits often call for half-and-half, but I found the grits to be plenty rich and creamy without it.Cheese. What goes well in shrimp and grits? Cheese does! Parmesan and sharp cheddar cheese pair perfectly with the Cajun seasonings and melt lusciously into the grits. Green Onions. For a touch of freshness and crunch.
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Refrigerate shrimp and grits in separate airtight storage containers for up to 2 days.To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze shrimp and grits in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Saucepan. You’ll love this saucepan for everything from grits to sauces. Baking Sheet. Perfect for baking the shrimp. Cheese Grater. High-quality and incredibly easy to use.
Until next time, y’all.
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