Jerk Shrimp and Andouille Sausage are cooked to perfection and laid on a bed of ultra creamy cheddar grits for the ultimate Southern meal!
Today is my birthday!I love birthdays, love love love them. Not just mine, but anyone’s!
When people say they don’t celebrate their birthday I think about how super sad that is. Why wouldn’t you celebrate?! The fact that you were born, the fact that you are still here on this Earth, growing, learning, loving, why in the world wouldn’t you celebrate that?!
So because I am off celebrating I am going to share a revamped version of my classic Shrimp and Creamy Cheesy Grits recipe. If you have never had Shrimp and Grits, YOU ARE MISSING OUT! Sorry to yell at you, but I need you to understand the importance of going out right now and buying all of the ingredients.
This Andouille Sausage Jerk Shrimp & Cheddar Grits is so so good! My traditional recipe has shrimp coated in spices, pan seared then laid on a bed of cheese grits and topped with bacon and chopped green onions. It is fantastic.
But because one good recipe is never enough this variation has the shrimp tossed in Jerk spices and I threw in some sausage for good measure. Both are amazing, you will love them! I’m off to blow out some birthday candles! Happy Saturday my friends!
Ingredients for Southern Sausage Shrimp and Grits
Here’s a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this dish. Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for specific measurements and instructions!
- Raw shrimp- Deveined and shelled
- McCormick Jerk seasoning
- Johnsonville Andouille Sausage- sliced
- Olive oil
- Chicken broth
- Yellow corn grits- not instant
- Cream cheese- I used reduced fat
- Cheddar cheese- Sharp, shredded
- Green onion stalks- chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
How do I make Cheddar Grits with Sausage and Shrimp?
For this dish, we’ll be cooking the sausage and shrimp in a large pan while the grits are cooking in a medium-sized pot. I like to bring the broth for the grits to a boil before starting my shrimp and sausage so that they finish near the same time.
As the grits cook in the broth, make sure to occasionally stir so that the grits cook evenly and don’t stick together. Once the liquid is absorbed, you’ll add the cream cheese, cheddar, and seasoning. Evenly coat the shrimp in seasoning and cook in a large pan for 3 minutes on each side (or until all shrimp are pink and tender).
Remove from skillet and add sliced sausage, cooking about 2 minutes on each side. To serve, add a heaping spoonful of the grits to two bowls and top with half of the shrimp and sausage. Top with sliced green onions for garnish!
Why add Cream Cheese to the Grits?
Y’all. Adding cream cheese to your grits is a GAME CHANGER. By adding cream cheese, you’re adding a velvety texture to, in my opinion, the best thing corn has ever given us (mhm, grits!). Trust me, add the cream cheese!
Can I make Sausage, Shrimp and Grits Keto?
Yes, sort of… With one big change! While grits are not Keto (we can’t have it all), I do have a great alternative with some delicious Cauliflower Grits–Just under 5 net carbs per serving!
Can Andouille Sausage and Jerk Shrimp Cheddar Grits be made ahead of time?
Absolutely! Feel free to prepare the Sausage and Jerk Shrimp ahead of time, just store them in their own container. For the grits, you can make these ahead of time as well, just store them in a separate container in the fridge.
When reheating grits, I recommend adding a little bit of extra liquid to thin them out, as they will thicken in the fridge. I usually use milk, water or chicken broth.
To reheat the sausage and shrimp, just toss those in a skillet on medium heat until warmed throughout! All of these ingredients should stay good in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Andouille Sausage + Jerk Shrimp and Cheddar Grits
Jerk Shrimp and Andouille Sausage are cooked to perfection and laid on a bed of ultra creamy cheddar grits for the ultimate Southern meal!
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound deveined and shelled shrimp
- 2 teaspoons McCormick Jerk seasoning
- 1/2 package of Johnsonville Andouille Sausage, sliced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup yellow corn grits
- 2 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 green onion stalks, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Cheddar 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, shredded cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir mixture well, cover and remove from heat.
For the Sausage and Jerk Shrimp
- Place shrimp in a large plastic bag or mixing bowl and toss with the Jerk seasoning, making sure it is evenly 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.
- Remove shrimp from skillet.
- Add sliced sausage and let cook approximately 2 minute on each side.
- Remove sausage from skillet.
- To assemble the shrimp and grits add a heaping serving of grits to two shallow bowls. Top with shrimp, sausage, chopped green onions, and additional salt and pepper.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 623Total Fat: 33gCholesterol: 241.7mgSodium: 2032.5mgCarbohydrates: 35.6gNet Carbohydrates: 34.4gFiber: 1.2gSugar: 0.4gProtein: 36g
Looking for more Southern dishes? Look below!
- Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
- Corn Fritters
- Instant Pot Collard Green and Black Eyed Pea Soup
- Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon
- Cajun Pork Chops
Thao@ingoodflavor says
Happy birthday to you!! I hope you have a wonderful day!! This recipe looks soooo good!!
Starla B says
Happy Birthday! I hope your day is wonderful. I wish I could come through this screen and try some of that. Mouth watering! I will have to pin this recipe for later!
Maebells says
Thank you Starla! It was a great day!! And I hope you enjoy this as much as we did! It is our favorite! 🙂
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
Happy Birthday Annie! Hope you have a great day!
Maebells says
Thank you Ashley!! 🙂
Danielle says
What a perfect meal to post on your birthday, this looks delicious! Hope you have a great birthday too, Annie!
Maebells says
Thank you Danielle!! This is way better than Birthday cake, right?!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Happy birthday, Annie! Hope you’re having a fabulous time celebrating in NYC! I’ve never had shrimp and grits before, can you believe it?! This version sounds amazing! Love the sausage added in, too!
Maebells says
Thank you Gayle! We had a big time!! But it is good to be home now! 🙂
Thao@ingoodflavor says
Happy birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day! This recipe looks amazing!!
Maebells says
Thank you Thao!! 🙂
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
Happy Birthday, Annie! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! I just love shrimp and grits. Yours looks amazing!
Maebells says
Thank you Liz! It was a great day! 🙂
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Happy birthday, Annie! Hope you’ve had a fab day! And gaahh – I’ve never had shrimp and grits! That needs to change, immediately. This looks so delicious I bet I would love it!
Maebells says
Thank you Alyssa! And yes, it should!! 🙂 They are wonderful!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Happy happy birthday Annie! Hope you had an amazing day! This looks amazing!
Maebells says
Thank you Kelly!
grandbabycakes says
Happy Happy Birthday! This is amazing shrimp and grits! The flavor for this looks absolutely fantastic!
Maebells says
Thank you!! You can never have too many good shrimp and grits recipe!
Carla says
Happy Birthday! Mine was the 1st. Too bad I didn’t have these shrimp n grits then ; guess I’ll have to have some tomorrow ! 🙂
Maebells says
Happy Belated Birthday to you Carla!! I hope your day was fabulous!! 🙂
Crystal | Apples & Sparkle says
Happy birthday! I am just loving this dish, and I think you’re right I need to go out for the ingredients and make this asap! : )
Maebells says
Thank you Crystal!! It was a great day! 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Happy late birthday friend! I hope you had a great day celebrating. So…confession time…I’ve never even had grits. I know! So bad! They just don’t come up on the menu much here in California. But this dish sounds delicious. Can’t wait to try it : )
Maebells says
Oh Natalie! You must make them! They are really so so good! I know it sounds a little red neck, but you would love them! 🙂
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Happy birthday!!! I LOVE grits and your shrimp and andouille look amazing and perfectly cooked! I want a big bowl of this!!
Maebells says
Thank you Jess!! Finally someone who has tried them!:) The first time I posted a shrimp and grit recipe everyone said they had never had them! They are missing out! 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Happy belated birthday! Shrimp and Grits can only get better with jerk seasoning!
Maebells says
Thank you Christin!! 🙂
kathysteger says
Happy belated birthday Annie 🙂 And what a beautiful dish. I would certainly love to celebrate my birthday with one of these.
marcie@flavorthemoments says
Happy belated birthday, Annie — I hope you had a wonderful day! This looks like a wonderful meal to celebrate! I just recently started getting into shrimp and grits, and the andouille sounds like the best addition, ever!
Maebells says
Thanks Marcie!! It was a great day!! 🙂 And I’m so glad you have tried shrimp and grits, we seriously love them!
Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen says
Happy Belated Birthday! Mine was Sunday 🙂 This looks amazing- I love cheesy grits, but I don’t think I’ve ever had them with shrimp- how sad! Pinning to try asap.
Maebells says
Thank you Sherri!! And Happy Belated Birthday to you!! October is the best! 🙂