Perfectly creamy, tangy grits are packed with Gouda cheese, topped with plump shrimp and covered with crispy Brussels Sprouts and bacon. This is a game changer! 

Gouda Grits with Shrimp and Crispy Sprouts, seriously the best grits ever!

 

I know I am a broken record at this point. But, I am going to say it again. I love shrimp and grits. LOVE it.

Out of 200+ recipes on this blog I can tell you the two that get made the most in our house are this one and this one. I couldn’t even give it up when I went keto which is how we got this one!

Even if I buy shrimp with something else in mind I usually end up making shrimp and grits instead. It is just so darn good!

So a few Friday nights ago Mr. Maebell was working late. I put on some yoga pants, poured some wine, and pulled out all the ingredients in my fridge. I knew I wanted shrimp and grits, and I knew I wanted a fun and unique spin on it.

What I finally settled on was super creamy, tangy Gouda grits topped with perfectly plump shrimp and super crispy shredded Brussels sprouts. Oh, and don’t forget the chopped bacon and green onions. You definitely can’t have grits without bacon.

Hands down, this is my favorite.

Maybe it is the crispy sprouts that I love? Or maybe it’s the Gouda? Or maybe it is the combination of so many good ingredients packed into one dish that makes this so irresistible. Whatever it is, I am obsessed.

Gouda Grits with Shrimp and Crispy Sprouts, seriously the best grits ever!

Ingredients for Shrimp and Gouda Grits:

Here’s a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need to pick up for this dish. Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for specific measurements and instructions!

  • Shrimp (peeled & deveined; fresh or frozen are fine)
  • Seasonings: Garlic powder, Oregano, Cayenne, Garlic salt, Salt, and Pepper
  • Brussels Sprouts (very thinly sliced)
  • Olive oil
  • Chicken broth
  • Yellow corn grits
  • Cream cheese (I used reduced fat, but you can use full fat if you prefer)
  • Gouda cheese
  • Sharp cheddar
  • Green onions
  • Bacon

How do I make Gouda Grits with Shrimp?

This recipe does require several steps, but I promise it is SO worth it!

First you’ll want to fry your bacon. I cooked mine in a pan on the stove, but you can bake or air fry yours if you prefer. Then you’ll place your thinly sliced Brussels into a pan (medium high heat) with olive oil and cook for about 3 minutes. We just want to crisp these up, not cook them to death!

Next, you’ll bring a pot of chicken broth to a boil, pour in grits, reduce heat to low, and cover. The grits will need to simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure they don’t stick to the bottom.

When the grits have absorbed all the liquid, add the cream cheese, cheddar, gouda, then salt and pepper to taste. Stir, cover, and remove from heat.

Finally, the shrimp! To make sure each one is well seasoned, I like to toss the shrimp in a bag with the garlic powder, oregano, cayenne, and garlic salt. Once well covered, cook about 3 minutes on each side in a pan with olive oil. You know shrimp is finished when they are opaque and tender!

To serve, fill two large bowls with the grits, then top with crispy Brussels, bacon, and shrimp. I like to add chopped green onions for texture as well!

Gouda Grits with Shrimp and Crispy Sprouts, seriously the best grits ever!

Can I prepare Shrimp and Grits ahead of time?

Portions of this dish can be prepared in advance, but the components should stay separated until ready to serve. I would not recommend freezing.

Grits can be cooked up to 4 days before serving as long as they are kept in an air-tight container in the fridge. When reheating, you may need to add a bit of liquid (broth, milk, cream, water, etc.) to thin them out.

The shrimp and bacon can both be made up to 3 days in advance. I suggest slightly undercooking both the shrimp and bacon if cooking ahead of time to ensure they don’t overcook when reheating. These should be stored separately in the fridge to keep their best textures.

The Brussels sprouts don’t stay crispy if made in advance, so I recommend cooking them gently in the pan right before serving. They cook quickly, so you could easily cook the Brussels while reheating the pre-made grits, bacon, and shrimp!

How do I reheat Shrimp and Gouda Grits?

If you somehow have leftovers, I recommend storing the components of this dish separately to preserve the amazing textures! The shrimp and grits may be stored together, but I like to store them separately so I can make sure the shrimp doesn’t get overcooked when reheating.

To reheat the shrimp and grits, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring and checking to see if it’s warmed throughout each time. Alternatively, you could also warm these in a covered pot on low. 

Grits can get quite thick after cooling, so you may need to add a tablespoon of liquid to get a thinner consistency. I like to use broth for added flavor or milk for creaminess.

The Brussels and bacon can be stored together in the fridge. To reheat these, I warm them in a hot pan (medium heat), stirring to make sure they get crispy but not burnt.

More Shrimp Recipes:

Gouda Grits with Shrimp and Crispy Sprouts, seriously the best grits ever!

Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Gouda Grits

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Yield: 2
Author: Annie Holmes
Perfectly creamy, tangy grits are packed with Gouda cheese, topped with plump shrimp and covered with crispy Brussels Sprouts. This is a game changer! 
4.58 from 7 ratings
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Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 pound peeled and deveined shrimp
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 cup Brussels Sprouts, very thinly sliced (about 6-8 sprouts)
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup yellow corn grits
  • 2 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
  • 1/3 cup Gouda cheese
  • 1/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar
  • 2-3 tablespoons chopped green onions
  • 2 slices bacon, chopped

Equipment

Instructions
 

For the Toppings:

  • In a large skillet cook two slices of bacon over medium heat until crisp, remove bacon from skillet, roughly chop.
  • Wipe skillet clean, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and add the shredded sprouts to the skillet.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally for approximately 3 minutes until they sprouts are lightly browned and crispy.
  • Remove from heat and set aside.

For the Grits:

  • In a medium to large sauce pan bring chicken broth to a boil, add grits and reduce heat to low. Cover and let grits simmer for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • When grits have absorbed the liquid, add cream cheese, cheeses and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir mixture well, cover and remove from heat.

For the Shrimp:

  • Place shrimp in a large plastic bag or mixing bowl, add garlic powder, oregano, cayenne, and garlic salt. Toss until well coated.
  • Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add shrimp and cook 3 minutes on each side or until shrimp is pink and tender.

To serve:

  • To assemble the shrimp and grits, add a heaping serving of grits to two shallow bowls. Top with shrimp, chopped green onions, chopped bacon and additional pepper.
Serving: 1/2 recipe, Calories: 657kcal, Carbohydrates: 45.1g, Protein: 50.3g, Fat: 30.9g, Cholesterol: 282.2mg, Sodium: 1995.6mg, Fiber: 3.9g, Sugar: 5.4g
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