Black Folks Southern Shrimp And Grits

This is the Black folks’ shrimp and grits recipe you’ve been searching for! A beloved Southern comfort classic. My easy version has been shared nearly 10,000 times online, and for good reason.

It’s a soul-satisfying African-American dish packed with creamy, saucy seafood goodness. Think: a rich, flavorful Creole sauce poured generously over a warm bed of fluffy, buttery grits, all topped with succulent jumbo shrimp seasoned in garlic and butter for a bold, unforgettable bite.

Soul food origin of shrimp and grits 

Shrimp and grits, a staple of soul food cuisine, originated with the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of the Central and West African ancestors enslaved in the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. Creole cuisine and Low Country cooking have further influenced the dish, evolving into a beloved breakfast favorite across Charleston and New Orleans.

This dish has a rich history that spans centuries while still being an essential part of the African American community. A traditional Black folks’ shrimp and grits recipe stands out, featuring a fluffy bed of grits, incredible seafood, and a flavorful sauce bursting with the savory deliciousness of soul food. It serves as a testament to the resilience of Black people, ingenuity, and skillful blending of local seafood with the hearty, comforting base of Southern staple grits.

What you need 

This iconic Southern shrimp delicacy features creamy grits, a delicious savory sauce, and well-seasoned, succulent shrimp. The recipe uses a variety of savory seasonings that create an amazing flavor profile, delighting your taste buds while honoring a rich soul food tradition. 

• Shrimp seasonings – The shrimp are generously seasoned with garlic, butter, salt, and pepper—not just thrown on top without care.
• Savory sauce – This is the key component of the dish, made from scratch with heavy whipping cream and a mix of flavorful seasonings, including chicken bouillon, garlic, smoked paprika, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
• Grits – A staple in Southern homes, this recipe produces an exceptionally fluffy version of Southern-style grits. Coarsely ground white corn grits absorb the broth, becoming creamy and delicious, enhanced by savory mascarpone cheese. 

Shrimp and grits cream sauce

The secret of a Black folks’ shrimp and grits recipe? It’s all in the Southern Creole sauce! Like most soul food dishes, the magic lies in the seasoning, and this recipe doesn’t hold back. The star is a rich, creamy Creole sauce infused with bold garlic, smoky paprika, and a kick of chili powder. Each bite bursts with layered flavor, turning a comforting classic into a celebration of African American culinary heritage and Southern pride.

How to make shrimp and grits the Black way 

The from-scratch preparation of shrimp and grits is deeply rooted in the soul food tradition of a well-seasoned dish, a legacy passed down through generations of Black cooks. Made the Black folks’ way, this dish transforms humble ingredients into something unforgettable, cooked with rhythm and soul: creamy, buttery grits crowned with juicy, garlic-butter shrimp and smothered in a rich, savory sauce layered with love and flavor. The final touch? Bring it all together in a cast-iron skillet, where the shrimp and grits can soak up every drop of that soulful sauce.

1. Sauté the shrimp in oil with the seasonings.
2. Boil the grits, then stir in the mascarpone cheese until well combined.
3. Simmer the heavy whipping cream with the spices to create the flavorful Creole sauce.
4. Combine the shrimp and grits in a large cast iron skillet, then generously smother the dish with the savory sauce to warm it up before serving.

🎙 Listen to the recipe on The Soul Food Pod episode: Black Folks Southern Shrimp And Grits Recipe

Getting the perfect grits texture 

To make the best grits that are soft and fluffy, aim for a texture that is not hard on the outside but also not mushy. I recommend using 100% white corn or yellow corn grits. My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill creamy white corn grits. 

Here’s my pro tip for perfect grits: When it’s time to add the grits to the skillet, mix in ¼ to ½ cup of heavy whipping cream to loosen the mixture. The key to thickening grits is mastering the precise timing and temperature during cooking. Alternatively, you can simply follow the steps in this recipe! Or use my easy drop-in-the-pot Instant Pot shrimp and grits recipe! You want the grits to thicken naturally without any additional assistance.

Serving authentic shrimp and grits

Whether for dinner, breakfast, brunch, or any time of day, this shrimp and grits recipe makes a delightful meal you won’t want to miss! It’s a classic Southern dish that can stand alone without needing a side, often garnished with crumbled bacon bits for added texture and flavor. 

For an authentic Southern experience, consider pairing this dish with soul food favorites such as black-eyed peas and Southern soul food cornbread. And for dessert, you can’t go wrong with homemade Southern bread pudding!

Black Folks Southern Shrimp And Grits

This is the Black folks’ shrimp and grits recipe you’ve been looking for! It’s a creamy, saucy seafood goodness dish, featuring a rich and flavorful Creole sauce generously drizzled over a warm bed of the fluffiest grits, complemented by succulent, jumbo garlic-butter seasoned shrimp to keep things interesting.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save Recipe!Go to Collections

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food

Servings: 6

Calories: 508kcal

Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• 10-inch cast iron skillet
• Large frying pan with a lid
• Medium-size saucepan

Ingredients

Ingredients for the shrimp

• 2 pounds shrimp jumbo, frozen or thawed, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil *I use avocado oil
• 1 tablespoon butter unsalted
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Ingredients for the grits

• 1 cup corn grits white
• 2 ½ cups chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream and another ½ a cup on reserve in case it’s needed at the end
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• ¼ cup mascarpone cheese

Ingredients for the sauce

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granulated
• 3 strips crumbled bacon (Optional to garnish the dish at the end)
• 1 tablespoon chopped green onions (Optional to garnish the dish at the end)

Instructions

Instructions for the shrimp

• Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the shrimp, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Sauté the shrimp with the seasoning ingredients for about 4 minutes or until they turn coral/pink.
• Remove the cooked shrimp from the skillet and set them aside to add to the grits later.

Instructions for the grits

• Bring the chicken broth, whipping cream, salt, and butter to a boil in a large frying pan or skillet, then stir in the grits. 
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover, stirring occasionally.
• After 5 minutes, fold in the mascarpone cheese, then immediately remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Set aside the cooked Southern grits and cover them to keep warm. 

Instructions for the sauce

• In a medium-sized saucepan, stir together the heavy whipping cream, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and chicken bouillon and bring to a boil for about 3-5 minutes.
• While the sauce is boiling, keep watch of it and occasionally stir to avoid overcooking and burning.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes before removing the saucepan from the stovetop.

Instructions for setting up the completed shrimp and grits recipe

• Add the prepared grits to a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. If needed, mix in ¼ – ½ cup of heavy whipping cream to loosen the grits.
• Place the cooked shrimp on the grits.
• Then pour the sauce over the shrimp and grits.
• Heat the skillet with the shrimp and grits in the oven at 150 degrees F or use the 'warm' setting for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the oven and optionally garnish the finished dish with crumbled bacon bits and chopped green onions. Serve immediately, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

 

 

Nutrition

Calories: 508kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 1023mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2949IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 1mg

Save it so you can make it!Pin this recipe to remember it later.

Like this post? Pin the below image to your Pinterest “Soul Food Recipes” board!

The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide

What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!

Check out this recipe!