Pumpkin Cheese Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
Updated Mar 06, 2022, Published Oct 02, 2017
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Pumpkin Cheese Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp is the perfect autumn treat for an easy dinner or for entertaining guests that’s both savory and spicy!
The inspiration behind this recipe:
I think I’ve said it a time or two but I love me some shrimp and grits!
When I moved to the South, I never had grits nor shrimp and grits. I could handle shrimp in any form, but I was slightly apprehensive about grits. Then, my husband and I stayed at a Southern antebellum bed and breakfast a number of years ago. When we sat down to breakfast, on the plate served to me were grits.
Yes, they made me a little nervous, but they were creamy, cheesy and divine!
I then had shrimp and grits at an area restaurant not long after and from that point on I was hooked!
Now that its pumpkin season, pumpkin grits just seemed like the thing to do! This Pumpkin Cheese Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp is both a delicious savory and spicy main dish perfect for entertaining! Pumpkin, spicy and smoky chipotle peppers, cheese, shrimp and BACON!
Types of grits:
What I didn’t know about grits upon becoming hooked was there were so many different kinds! There are:
- Stone ground (sometimes referred to as old-fashioned) and will have the best texture.
- Quick (good in a pinch)
- Instant (for when you need a grits fix but don’t have any time)
Stone-ground is what I used here. You can generally find them in the breakfast cereal aisle.
How to make Pumpkin Cheese Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp:
- When cooking the grits, get the water or broth boiling.
- Use 1 cup of plain, solid-packed pumpkin as part of the liquid.
- Add the chipotle peppers along with some salt and pepper.
- Then, add the grits gradually. If you add them all at once, they have a tendency to lump up.
- Stir in some butter and cheese.
- Garnish with pumpkin seeds.
- While the grits are simmering away, wrap some colossal shrimp with half-slices of bacon and secure with toothpicks.
- If you’re nervous about overcooking the shrimp, you can par-cook the bacon a little bit. Simply get some of the fat rendered off but don’t let it get it crispy. Then, finish as directed.
- Be sure to always use wild-caught American shrimp for the best texture!
- Then brown well on all sides in a nonstick skillet.
Serve the bacon-wrapped shrimp over the spicy pumpkin and cheese grits, garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds and… Friends!
Pumpkin Cheese Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp is a crazy delicious autumn dinner that’s perfect for a great meal at home or for entertaining guests!
This dish uses only one cup of a whole can of pumpkin. Don’t discard the remainder! Save it to add pumpkin goodness and flavor to soups and stews this fall and winter!
Enjoy!
More shrimp and grits recipes:
- Cauliflower Grits with Gouda Cheese and Blackened Shrimp
- Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole with Gouda Cheese
- Smothered Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Creamy Parmesan Peppercorn Grits
Pumpkin Cheese Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
Ingredients
Grits
- 3 cups chicken broth, or water
- 1 cup pumpkin puree, (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 2 to 3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup stone-ground grits
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
Shrimp and Garnish
- ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 2 bags (1-pound each) colossal shrimp, (10-12 count per bag), peeled and deveined, tails left intact
- 12 slices bacon, halved
Instructions
Grits
- Bring water or chicken broth, pumpkin, chiles, salt and black pepper to a boil.
- Slowly add the grits in a constant stream, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, 15-20 minutes, or until thickened. Stir in butter and cheese, cover and let stand while browning the shrimp.
Shrimp and Garnish
- Toast the pumpkin seeds in a nonstick skillet for 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned in places, beginning to pop and you notice a toasted aroma. Transfer to a plate.
- Wrap each shrimp in half a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place the shrimp in the nonstick skillet you used for the seeds and cook, turning frequently until the bacon is nicely browned on all sides and the shrimp is cooked through.
- Serve the shrimp over the grits. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
You had me at shrimp and grits! What a yummy way to serve it. Looks like I might need to give this a try especially since my kitchen is overflowing with pumpkin puree.
WOW! This looks absolutely amazing!! I will have to try this – thank you for sharing!!
Finally a pumpkin recipe that is in a delicious meal as opposed to a dessert. This looks and sounds amazing and I am adding this to my meal plan for this week. Simply awesome!
I am salivating!! But I have to admit that I lived on polenta ( a poor man’s dish) long before it became popular fare. I do like grits or polenta any time of day and to think I used to complain about it when I was young. Silly me!! Do you have a hard time getting the bacon crispy without overcooking the shrimp? The dish looks wonderful!!
Hi, Marisa,
I’m a big believer in using wild-caught shrimp; it’s so much more “durable” than farm-raised. For this dish, be sure to use “colossal,” which is generally 10-12 count per pound. If you’re unsure, you can always parcook the bacon a little bit. Thanks so much about bringing that up! I put a note in the recipe about that.
I can’t wait to try this! π
Shrimp and grits is one of my all-time favorite meals but I live in the north and it’s pretty hard to find. I’ll definitely have to try this out. Love the addition of the chipotle pumpkin!
Wow. Really love this version of grits. I’m sure the addition of chipotle also makes it yummy. Thanks for sharing a savory pumpkin recipe amidst all these pumpkin recipes.
Shrimp and cheese grits are the best in Southern comfort food. I’ve never thought of adding pumpkin and chipotle. That sounds so good! Love this idea. Now I’m hungry.
There are a lot of sweet pumpkin recipes out there right now, so I appreciate that this one is savory! Looks SO delicious. Hope to try it soon!
I love grits, and adding pumpkin to them just makes me super excited to make this … I love twists on classic ingredients!