Blackened Shrimp and Gouda Grits

You’ll love this quick and easy Southern combination of Blackened Shrimp and Gouda Grits (grits with smoked Gouda cheese!)  All-natural ingredients and a quick weeknight dinner that’s ready in minutes! 

The combination of Shrimp and Grits has been a Southern favorite for years right up there with purple hull peas, skillet cornbread and chicken fried steak! One might consider this zesty meal a “Cajun” shrimp and grits recipe or a New Orleans style due to the spicy blackened seasonings.

This easy shrimp and grits recipe adds a little smoke-flavored spin on the traditional dish with the addition of creamy smoked Gouda cheese!

Shrimp and grits are about as Classic Southern as you can get, (thank you South Carolina)!

You’ll find this combination in just about every restaurant south of the Mason-Dixon line! Most Southerner’s serve this as a main dish, but if you want a side dish, consider a green salad or some good ole’ collard greens!

Why this recipe works

This is one of the easiest shrimp recipes you’ll come across!

• The blackening technique of cooking is quick and easy and lightening-fast-about 2-3 minutes per side. I use quick-cooking grits, so those take about 5-minutes, or you can use regular “slow cooking” grits that take about 25 minutes to cook. Your call.
• Great texture and flavor: the blackened shrimp are somewhat crunchy and pair well with the creamy, cheesey smoked-flavored grits
• Easy to reheat: if you’re lucky enough to have any leftover, just re-heat in the mirowave and you’re done!

Ingredients for blackened shrimp and grits

The ingredients for this classic Southern shrimp and grits recipe is pretty simple. You can cook the grits in water or chicken broth.

• Shrimp– you can use fresh Gulf shrimp or frozen shrimp; for best results, get the freshest you can find- get medium or large size, not the tiny salad shrimp
• Blackened seasoning– this is a prepared combination of dried spices: smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and more. You’ll find it on the spice aisle at your grocery store
• Grits– you can use traditional grits (they take a little longer) or quick grits; you can cook them in water or use chicken broth for added flavor!
• Heavy cream– the inclusion of heavy cream gives the grits a bit of sweetness; it’s in the dairy section labeled as “heavy cream” or “heavy whipping cream”
• Aged smoked Gouda cheese-for best results, get a block of smoked Gouda from the delicatessen and shred it yourself with a cheese grater or food processor. Block cheeses melt better than pre-shredded cheese, which are coated with an anti-coagulant that doesn’t lend itself to melting very well
• Garlic powder
• Smoked paprika– optional, but I highly recommend adding a pinch of smokey paprika (not sweet paprika)
• Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

How to make it

Blackened shrimp and grits is ready in minutes, so the first thing you want to do is take the heavy cream out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature. (If you add cold cream to the hot grits, it turns into lumpy grits)

This cooks up really fast, so prep and season the shrimp first, then cook grits. If you buy fresh or frozen shrimp in the shell, you’ll want to remove the shell and devein it. Rinse them, pat dry and generously sprinkle them with the blackened seasoning.

Meanwhile, prepare the grits. Whether you’re using fast-cooking grits or traditional grits, you’ll want to follow the cooking instructions on the package. Bring water (or chicken broth) to boil, then reduce heat to medium heat and stir in grits. Cook the grits over medium heat until they are tender, then add in the heavy cream. 

Stir and combine the grits and cream until its formed a smooth mixture, then add in the shredded smoked Gouda cheese.

Use a spoon or spatula to stir the smoked Gouda cheese into the grits on low heat; cook until the cheese is melted, then add in the garlic powder and smokey paprika. Taste the grits to see if they need a little teaspoon of salt.

How to blacken shrimp

The secret to a really good blackened shrimp is zesty seasonings and a hot, dry skillet – preferably a well-seasoned, dry cast-iron skillet.

After you season the shrimp, on the stovetop, heat a  dry, seasoned cast-iron skillet on medium high heat. Do not add any vegetable oil, olive oil or butter. Place them in the hot skillet in a single layer for 2-3 minutes.

Use long handled tongs to flip them and cook another 2-3 minutes. Remove the hot shrimp from the skillet immediately and place on a plate.

Once the blackened shrimp are done, transfer to a plate; Serve the creamy smoked Gouda grits in a bowl and top with the blackened shrimp. Garnish the cheesy grits with chopped bacon, chopped green onion or fresh parsley and enjoy!

FAQ

Storage and Reheating

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, store and reheat the smoked Gouda grits separately from the blackened shrimp. The grits will thicken upoon refrigeration, so add a little water to them and reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop.

As for the shrimp, they can be reheated in the microwave but make sure they’re covered; if reheated uncovered, they get rubbery.

Serving suggestions

Blackened shrimp and Gouda grits is a meal in itself, however, if you want to serve it with something else, you can never go wrong with a crisp green salad, a bowl of collard greens, a cup of Louisiana Gumbo or crab puffs.

Blackened Shrimp and Gouda Grits is a quick and easy weeknight meal, perfect for when you’re too tired to cook!

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• New Orleans Cajun Chicken Gumbo
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• Fried Potato Cakes
• Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

If you make this recipe, please scroll down and leave a rating and comment! I love to hear from you!