Description
A quick, restaurant-quality Southern comfort food dish featuring creamy cheese grits topped with spicy, smoky Cajun shrimp and andouille sausage, ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quick-cook grits
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz andouille sausage, sliced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 stalks green onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1–2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 1 stalk celery, diced (optional)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Slice sausage, mince garlic, chop green onions, and pat shrimp dry with paper towels.
- Cook grits: In a saucepan, bring chicken broth and water to a boil. Whisk in grits, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5-7 minutes until thickened.
- Finish grits: Stir in butter, heavy cream, cream cheese, and half the cheddar cheese. Season with pepper and keep warm.
- Cook sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook sliced andouille sausage for 3-4 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside, leaving fat in the pan.
- Sauté aromatics: Add diced bell pepper and celery to the skillet (if using) and cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook shrimp: Increase heat to medium-high. Add shrimp in a single layer, sprinkle with Cajun seasoning, and cook 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
- Combine: Return sausage to the skillet with shrimp. Add lemon juice and hot sauce. Toss gently.
- Serve: Ladle grits into bowls, top with shrimp mixture, and garnish with remaining cheese and green onions.
Notes
Pat shrimp dry thoroughly to ensure they sear rather than steam. Do not overcook shrimp or they will become rubbery. Grits thicken as they cool; reheat with a splash of milk or cream. This recipe is naturally gluten-free but check seasoning blends. Can be made vegetarian by omitting shrimp and sausage and using vegetable broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl with shrimp t
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 950
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 32
Keywords: Cajun Shrimp and Grits, Southern comfort food, quick dinner, shrimp recipe, andouille sausage, creamy grits, 30 minute meals