Smothered Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Creamy Parmesan Peppercorn Grits is decadent, delicious and the perfect way to spice up the night with your loved one!
Shrimp and grits, the classic Southern comfort food, originated in the coastal low country of South Carolina as a fisherman’s breakfast. Then in 1985, Craig Claiborne of The New York Times visited a popular restaurant there that served shrimp and grits. He subsequently wrote about it and this once humble regional dish gained national notoriety.
It has now evolved into an iconic dish that appears on restaurant menus all across the South and practically every Southern home cook also has their own version.
My version was inspired by a recipe from Emeril Lagasse, so it has a distinct New Orleans flair.
The Cajun seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes and Andouille sausage give this smothered shrimp dish an amazing depth of flavor without having to make a time-consuming roux.
I prefer to make the Cajun seasoning blend myself or I use a good blend such as the one from Penzeys. As with any spicy seasoning, adjust it to YOUR taste. What’s hot for one person can taste barely seasoned to another!
Make-Ahead Tip:
- If you want to make this ahead of time, prepare to the point of adding the shrimp. Cool thoroughly and refrigerate. To serve, bring to a simmer in a saucepan, then add the shrimp and cook through.
While we’re on the subject, please try to always use wild-caught American shrimp. Wild-caught American shrimp tastes better and has a superior texture. It’s the only type of shrimp I will eat and the only shrimp I use for my customers.
The grits are also best prepared shortly before serving. Quick (not instant) grits are fine to use and are readily available in the cereal aisle. If yo mama taught you to always use stone-ground, then, by all means, you’d better do it.
Laissez les bon temps roulez!
Thank you, hope you enjoy and please share this From A Chef’s Kitchen reader favorite!
Be sure to try my other shrimp and grits recipes!
Pumpkin Chipotle and White Cheddar Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
Pumpkin, Chipotle and White Cheddar Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp is the perfect autumn treat for an easy dinner or for entertaining guests!
Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole with Gouda Cheese
Shrimp and grits are comfort food perfection! Enjoy them together in Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole with Gouda Cheese, an easy to make and make-ahead casserole!
Cauliflower Grits with Gouda Cheese and Blackened Shrimp
Cauliflower Grits with Gouda Cheese and Blackened Shrimp is a low-carb update to traditional shrimp and grits that doesn’t leave out any of the comfort!
Helpful Tools and Equipment to make Smothered Shrimp with Andouille Sausage and Creamy Parmesan Peppercorn Grits (Affiliate Links):
Smothered Shrimp with Andouille Sausage and Creamy Parmesan Peppercorn Grits
Smothered Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Creamy Parmesan Peppercorn Grits is creamy, decadent and delicious and the perfect way to spice up the night with your loved one!
Ingredients
- SHRIMP
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 3 links (7 ounces) cooked Andouille sausage links, halved lengthwise and sliced
- 1 can (14.5-ounce) chicken broth
- 1 can (15-ounce) diced fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
- 12 ounces large wild-caught American shrimp, peeled, deveined and tail removed
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley plus more for garnish
- GRITS
- 3 cups chicken broth
- salt
- 1/2 cup quick grits
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- SHRIMP: Heat butter and oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion, reduce heat to medium-low and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until beginning to soften. Add the green bell pepper and celery. Cook 7 to 8 minutes or until very soft.
- Stir in garlic, flour, Cajun seasoning and cayenne and cook briefly (15 seconds).
- Add sausage, chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until reduced slightly and thickened.
- Stir in shrimp and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until just firm.
- Stir in heavy cream and heat through. Serve with grits.
- GRITS: Bring chicken broth to a boil. Add salt to taste.
- Slowly stir in quick grits and cook per package directions. Stir in cheese, cream and black pepper. Serve with shrimp.
Notes
MAKE AHEAD; Can be prepared up to two days ahead WITHOUT the shrimp. Heat on the stovetop and add shrimp before serving. The grits are best prepared shortly before serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield
2Amount Per Serving Calories 1132 Total Fat 69g Saturated Fat 32g Trans Fat 2g Unsaturated Fat 30g Cholesterol 527mg Sodium 6468mg Carbohydrates 61g Net Carbohydrates 0g Fiber 6g Sugar 12g Sugar Alcohols 0g Protein 67g
Pat G says
I have to say that this dish was DELICIOUS! I wanted more and more. I used regular 20 minute grits instead of quick grits and it was worth it. Everyone loved it. I will definitely make this again when I want to impress my guests.
Carol says
Thanks so much, Pat! If you have the time, regular longer-cooking grits are definitely worth it. Glad you and everyone enjoyed and you found this to be a “keeper!” Thanks again!
Francy says
I just made the shrimp and OMG… I’m in love!!!! This recipe was perfect. I didn’t need to add anything extra! Can’t wait for my guest to get here so I can make the grits. … yum, yum, yum! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Carol says
Hi, Francy, So happy to share and that you love this dish. Hope your guest did, too! Thanks so much and please stay in touch!
Julie says
Can I make this with sweet potatoes or cauliflower rice?
Carol says
Hi, Julie, You absolutely can. Here’s a link to one of my recipes where I use cauliflower in place of the grits: https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/cauliflower-grits-gouda-blackened-shrimp/ I’m sure sweet potatoes would be great, too. Thanks so much and hope you enjoy!
Terri says
I really want to make this for my Moms birthday party. Can it work if I make the sauce ahead of time, and if so, how to incorporate the shrimp to the sauce (cook first or heat sauce and add shrimp then)?
Carol says
Hi, Terri, Thanks so much for your question. You absolutely could make the sauce ahead of time and add the shrimp later. I’ve done this for my personal chef clients with the shrimp in it and they reheat it. As long as the shrimp is not overcooked in the first place, gentle reheating will work fine. However, if you can add the shrimp later, that would be preferable. Thanks again and hope you all enjoy!
Jane says
Can you combine the grits and shrimp mixture instead of serving separately. Would like to make this ahead and not have to cook grits at the last minute.
Carol says
Hi, Jane, Thanks so much for your question. I’ve never done this recipe like that so not sure how it would work. Here’s a recipe of mine for a shrimp and grits casserole you could follow or make instead. It’s one of my most popular. https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/spicy-shrimp-and-grits-casserole-with-gouda-cheese/ Thanks so much again and please let me know how it goes if you make this one in a casserole form.
Julie says
Can I replace kielbasa with sausage.
Carol says
Hi, Julie, I’m guessing you mean replace the andouille with kielbasa which is milder. Absolutely you can! Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
M Parrish says
Made this for the second time! Delicious! I did change a few things this go around with subbing some ingredients for others. Instead of celery I used a can of green chilies, instead of green bell pepper I used red and yellow sweet peppers, no fire roasted tomatoes on hand to use, instead of cayenne I used paprika, and for my grits I cooked them long and slow for extra creaminess and for them to completely absorb the liquid. I started the grits when I started everything else. Stir, stir, stir those grits! Also used shredded cheddar instead of Parmesan cheese. I think this meal could be cooked in 30-40 mins but I took my time and let things simmer a little longer than the recipe called for just to meld the flavors more and develop a creamier texture. I also pan seared my shrimp separately first in some butter and Cajun seasoning prior to adding them to the prepared sausage mix and then let them simmer about 5-7 minutes with the heavy cream once added. I LOVE this recipe and will be making it more as my husband informed me it’s in his top 3!!! Thanks so much for this delicious, better-than-restaurant-quality recipe!
Carol says
Wow, Maggie! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Not sure I can even add to this ringing endorsement. I love how you added your own little twists to make it your own! Again, thank you!!!
Lisa Hotten says
Delicious! I have made this a few times for my husband who loves shrimp and grits. This evening I had chicken thighs to use up and used them in place of the shrimp. It was terrific.
Carol says
Hi, Lisa, Thanks so much! Yes, I’ll bet it would be great with chicken. What a wonderful idea for people who are allergic to seafood or shellfish. Thank you again and hope you’ll keep in touch!
Regina says
Made this for my family (who is very finicky) and they loved it! Thanks for the recipe!
Carol says
Yesssss! Hi, Regina! So happy to hear that! Glad you all enjoyed!
Caroline @ chocolateandcarrots.com says
Made a triple batch for dinner last night and it was delicious!
Carol says
Thanks, Caroline! So glad you enjoyed!
Ricky says
Just made this for my wife, she is working late. Fantastic! All men should cook this for their wife😉. Thank you for posting this recipe.
Carol says
Hi, Ricky, You get my Husband of the Year award! That’s so awesome to do that for her. Glad you enjoyed and hope she did too!
Kevin says
Substituted the Heavy Cream with Coconut Cream. Great recipe!
Carol says
Hi, Kevin, Thanks so much! Glad that substitution worked out for you and that you enjoyed!
Cecilia says
Amazing recipe, easy to follow and very delicious!! I will never order Shrimp and grits out at a restaurant again :-). Thank you!
Carol says
Thanks, Cecilia! So glad you enjoyed! I’m a shrimp and grits fanatic and this recipe does spoil a person. Thanks again and please stay in touch!
Steve H says
Really great dish! Maybe too much cayenne for me. Will back that down next time. The next time I make this, I will prepare the sauce and refrigerate for a day or two. That’s because the left over meal of this was even better with flavor.
Carol says
Hi, Steve, Glad you enjoyed. Yes, cayenne pepper can really vary by brand and age. You can always start with a little and keep kicking it up. We grow a lot of hot peppers and we’ve even noticed the heat can vary from year to year. Thanks again and please stay in touch!
T Shields says
Shrimp and grits is a common dish in many restaurants now. Some are hit or miss… but this one is just right.
Carol says
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed!
Jessica says
Tried this tonight and the flavor was amazing! My cream sauce did come out a little runny so next time I will try using less chicken broth. Will definitely be making again!
Carol says
Hi, Jessica, Thanks for taking the time to give me your feedback! Some brands of fire-roasted tomatoes can have more juice while others seem a bit more “pasty.” Cutting back on the chicken broth is perfect. Thanks again and please stay in touch.
Sunny says
Silly question, but are you using raw or precooked shrimp?
Carol says
Hi, Sunny, Thanks for your question and it’s NOT silly. I never use precooked shrimp; I do not like the texture. The raw shrimp cooks very quickly in the sauce. Just make sure the sauce is hot enough so you don’t have to worry about any foodborne illness from the raw shrimp. If it’s a concern, you can cook the shrimp separately and add them in at the end. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Jamie says
I made this for dinner tonight for the first time and it has quickly became a household favorite! Absolutely delicious! I did make my own version of stone ground creamy grits. But it was all together the perfect dinner. Thanks for the recipe ☺
Carol says
Thank you, Jamie! So glad you enjoyed and please stay in touch!
Greg says
WARNING! This dish is extremely spicy hot. I made this according to the recipe and had to through it out. Just a spicy bowl of crap. There are much better recipes for shrimp and grits.
Carol says
Hi, Greg, Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. So sorry this dish did not work out for you. I know it’s frustrating when a recipe does not work out. Everyone’s spice/heat tolerance is different and depending upon the Cajun seasoning and the cayenne you used, it could have turned out hotter than you expected. Brands of seasonings vary as will the age of the seasoning. Fresher spices are going to have more punch than one that’s been around a while. There’s no way to predict or account for those things. Most people just use their judgment and adjust to taste. I’ve had great success with this dish for my personal chef clients and you may have seen the previous feedback that it was “delicious.” Based on your feedback, I added some information to the text in the post about adjusting spice levels to your personal taste and indicated in the recipe that the Cajun seasoning and cayenne should be adjusted “to taste.” Thanks again and hope you have a wonderful fall day otherwise! It’s beautiful here!
Julie Ana says
No, it was not spicy enough!
Carol says
Thank you, Julie Ana! You made my day! I love spicy food, too but I guess not everyone does…. 🙂
Natalie says
I made this last night for my husband & I and it was absolutely delicious! Definitely some of the best shrimp & grits I’ve ever had. Thanks for sharing such a great recipe!
Carol says
Thank you so much, Natalie! So glad you enjoyed; it is a wonderful dish. Please stay in touch!
Kitty says
This looks so decadent! Love shrimp and grits!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Pass me a fork! I love grits, this looks so delicious!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Shrimp? Grits? Spice? You have my heart and tummy. The recipe sounds and looks fabulous. But staying true to my Italian heritage I’ll just call it polenta with scampi. 🙂
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
This looks mouthwatering good! I have never made grits before but I definitely want to try this!