Description
A creamy, comforting Southern classic made easy with shrimp cooked perfectly over cheesy stone-ground grits, prepared using a slow cooker or Instant Pot for effortless cooking and rich flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp
- 3/4 pound shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning (or more)
Grits Base
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 2 cups milk of your choice
- 2 cups water (or more milk)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter (or ghee)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Spray the slow cooker generously with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Add the grits, milk, water, salt, pepper, and butter to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Cook Grits: Cook on HIGH for 2 to 4 hours or LOW for 4 to 6 hours. Stir occasionally to check the consistency, ensuring the grits are creamy and tender.
- Season Shrimp: While the grits are cooking, season the peeled and deveined shrimp with Old Bay seasoning to taste.
- Add Shrimp to Grits: Spread the seasoned shrimp evenly over the cooked grits in the slow cooker in a single layer. Cover and cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through and pink.
- Finish with Cheese: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese gently to melt and combine into the creamy grits and shrimp mixture before serving.
Notes
- Stone-ground grits provide the best texture; quick-cooking grits may not produce the same creamy consistency.
- Adjust the seasoning and Old Bay to your spice preference.
- If using the Instant Pot method, do not add shrimp during pressure cooking to avoid overcooking; instead, add them after and let steam in residual heat.
- Use butter or ghee to enrich flavor; for a dairy-free version, substitute with vegan butter.
- For thicker grits, reduce the liquid slightly or cook longer before adding shrimp.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (slow cooker on low) or 10 minutes pressure cooking plus 10 minutes resting (Instant Pot)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Keywords: shrimp and grits, slow cooker shrimp, Southern comfort food, creamy grits with shrimp, easy slow cooker recipe
