The BEST Shrimp and Grits Recipe

The Best Shrimp and Grits Recipe – I’ll be honest, every single time I took a big bite from this dinner bowl, I became 1000% certain that THIS is the Best Shrimp and Grits recipe ever made. And Wow!!! Expect a southern-shrimp-cheesy-grits-food-coma!

Truly, the BEST Shrimp and Grits Recipe Ever

This past week, my step-daughter Allie (raised in North Carolina) asked for some southern style Shrimp and Grits. Well, I am a Yankee, raised in western NY and had never made grits in my entire life.

Matter of fact, up until tonight, I had only eaten them twice that I can recall. Once was on our wedding night and they were amazing. Never did I think I would make them in my own kitchen.

But, I was determined to make the best shrimp and grits recipe ever to satisfy her little southern taste-buds.

Allie said they had to have the following conditions:

• Creamy, but dairy free (We are lactose-free and mostly dairy free in this house, so this was a must!)
• Light in color (So, no artificial flavors)
• Not too thin, but not too thick (Reminds me of the 3 little bears nursery rhyme)

I was up for the challenge and tonight was the night that I delivered.

How to Make the BEST Shrimp and Grits Recipe Creamy and Memorable!

Using an old Clean Cuisine recipe with cashew cream, I thought I would give it a whirl. And well, my husband and step-daughter immediately said, “This is the BEST Shrimp and Grits Recipe ever!!” Hence, the name of the recipe. 😉

Making cashew cream is wicked easy. Yes, wicked — meaning super easy.

HOW TO MAKE CASHEW CREAM

1. In a small saucepan, add 2 cups of filtered water and bring to a boil.
2. Place 1 cup of raw cashews and turn off the heat, allowing the cashews to soak for up to 30 minutes.
3. Strain the cashews and place in a high speed blender with 1 1/2 cups of filtered water.
4. THAT’S IT! Cashew Cream for this perfectly delicious shrimp and grits recipe!

Compare this Recipe to the Traditional Shrimp and Grits Recipe:

Unfortunately, I have learned while sourcing ideas for this recipe that most recipes are LOADED with dairy. Using the cashew cream method above, you will not miss the dairy and your gut will be much happier too.

How to Make the BEST Shrimp and Grits recipe

There are a few VERY important things that you must do in order to make the best shrimp and grits recipe. It’s also going to require your undivided attention. Also, recruit some help. I always ask my husband for his helping hands in the kitchen — plus, he makes the BEST Gluten Free Onion Rings and Fried Zucchini.

#1: Make the Grits First

Start making the grits first — and then during the 20 minutes that the grits will be cooking, you can prepare the shrimp. This is the best way to ensure your dinner will be ready all at once.

#2: Use REAL Old Bay Seasoning

More about Old Bay in a minute — but for less than $5 you can pick up a jumbo sized canister of Old Bay and it’s worth every single cent. You can also use it in: Crab Cakes Recipe, homemade Salmon Burgers with Garlic Cream Sauce, and my favorite, Bloody Mary. Perfect for weekend mornings.

#3: Don’t Overcook the Shrimp

In the card below for my Shrimp and Grits recipe, you’ll note the suggestion to only cook the shrimp on one side for a short time and then flip once. This will ensure the shrimp is cooked perfectly. If you flip it more than 1x or for more than the time suggested, they will be rubbery and not taste great at all.

What makes Old Bay So Special?

As stated on the company’s website: “In Chesapeake Bay area, it’s on every dining room table, nestled between the salt and pepper shakers. But it’s more than that. It’s a time-honored tradition. When somebody whips out the little yellow can, you know you’re in for a good time.” One thing is for sure, Old Bay Seasoning definitely does the trick. It flavors the Shrimp and Grits Recipe to perfection…without a lot of effort.

Old Bay Seasoning has been around for over 75 years. So, if you love seafood, this is a must-have pantry staple. At around $3.75, it is very affordable too. Yes, there are plenty of online recipes to concoct your own. However, just trust me on this one. Buy the little yellow container and support this old fashioned local business.

Plus, Old Bay is sold nationwide at pretty much any supermarket. You can also buy it online at Amazon too.

Is Old Bay Seasoning Clean?

And if you are wondering if Old Bay Seasoning is a “clean” seasoning ingredient, the answer is yes! The ingredients have not changed in over 75 years. Here’s what’s in it:

OLD BAY SEASONING INGREDIENTS:

CELERY SALT (SALT, CELERY SEED), A BLEND OF 18 HERBS & SPICES (INCLUDING RED PEPPER & BLACK PEPPER) & PAPRIKA.

An Old Bay Seasoning Warning:

I would be remiss not to share one Old Bay Seasoning warning though. Apparently just because a packaged food is labeled as being seasoned with Old Bay does not mean that the product is also “clean.”

For example, Old Bay Seasoning itself does not have monosodium glutamate (MSG) however potato chips that are seasoned with Old Bay DO have added MSG. If you are not familiar with MSG, this is a big red-flag ingredient to avoid at all costs.

MSG is a known neurotoxin found in many packaged foods, especially bottled Salad Dressings (I discuss more about the dangers of MSG in my Ranch Dressing Blog Post ).

If you stick to the original tried-and-true Old Bay Seasoning (as pictured above), you’ll be getting a clean product.

If you are going to make my Shrimp and Grits recipe, I would definitely just reach for the little yellow can….

The BEST Shrimp and Grits Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

The BEST Shrimp and Grits recipe is cheesy, savory, deliciously nutritious and packed with comfort food flavor in every single bite.

• Author: Ivy Larson
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Saute
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups cashew cream
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1 1/2 cups filtered water
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 30 large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup stone-ground grits
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 cup Spanish onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• Fresh green scallions, for garnish

Instructions

STEP 1: MAKE CASHEW CREAM

1. In a small saucepan, add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.
2. Place 1 cup of raw cashews and turn off the heat, allowing the cashews to soak for up to 30 minutes.
3. Strain the cashews and place in a high speed blender with 1 1/2 cups of filtered water. Set aside.

STEP 2: START THE GRITS

1. To a large saucepan, add 1 cup of cashew cream, 3 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Cover and bring to a boil.
2. Slowly stir in the grits and then return to a boil, lower temperature and cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. NOTE: Keep your eye on the pot and add more water, 3 tablespoons at a time, if necessary.
3. Remove the saucepan from the stove and cover grits to keep warm.

STEP 3: MAKE SOUTHERN SHRIMP

1. Rinse the peeled and de-veined shrimp with cool water and pat until dry with paper towels. Coat the shrimp with 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and the Old Bay Seasoning.
2. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat; add the three bell peppers, onions and garlic. Saute the vegetables for 6 to 7 minutes. Season with sea salt to taste.
3. Turn the skillet to medium-high, push the vegetables to the sides of the skillet and add the seasoned shrimp. Sear shrimp briefly on each side, turning only once, until pink and cooked through (Note: be careful not to overcook the shrimp!)
4. To the skillet, add the reserved 1/2 cup cashew cream. Cook for about 2 more minutes or until sauce thickens just a bit and all of the vegetables and shrimp are coated.
5. Serve shrimp and vegetables alongside or on top of the grits. Eat at once.

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P.S. Looking for More Everyday Healthy Dinner Recipes?

If you liked the BEST Shrimp and Grits Recipe, be sure to check out a full month’s menu of delicious healthy dinner recipes (including weekly shopping lists!) in our Clean Cuisine Dinners digital cookbook.