Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole with Gouda Cheese
Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole with Gouda Cheese is the South’s perfect comfort food. Here, it’s made into an easy-to-make and make-ahead casserole, perfect for busy weeknights or weekend gatherings. The creamy grits, smoky Gouda, and a kick of heat make this dish a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re hosting a family dinner or looking for a new comfort dish to enjoy, this casserole hits all the right notes!
“Oh, my word! I made this–first time cooking grits. It is literally out of this world! Reheats well also. Will make again and again!”
Why are shrimp a grits a thing?
A classic dish in Southern coastal cuisine is shrimp and grits, which features a creamy ground corn porridge that resembles polenta.
Although the true birthplace of shrimp and grits is thought to be Charleston, South Carolina, it has since gained widespread popularity. This dish was even declared the official state food of South Carolina in 1976. Although initially intended as a breakfast dish, it has evolved to become a favorite option for lunch, brunch, and dinner across the Southern United States.
Before moving to the South 25 years ago, I never had grits, nor shrimp and grits. Frankly, grits scared me because I thought them to be bland and boring.
I finally tried them some years back when my husband and I stayed at an elegant bed-and-breakfast in Mississippi while taking the long way home from New Orleans. Breakfast was plated and served to all the guests and there they were in front of me: Grits.
Not boring at all, but creamy and delicious cheese grits.
After that day and after enjoying shrimp and grits at numerous restaurants if they’re on the menu, I’m now somewhat of a fanatic.
Here’s that classic combination in casserole form. It’s inspired by a casserole a dear friend makes. It’s also one of my most popular recipes on Pinterest.
Recipe Ingredients:
- Butter
- Scallions
- Red Bell Pepper
- Jalapeno Pepper
- Garlic
- Diced canned tomatoes with green chiles
- Chicken Broth
- Quick-Cooking Grits (See note above if using stone-ground grits)
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Wild-Caught Shrimp
- Bacon
- An Egg
- Gouda Cheese
Which grits to use for a shrimp and grits casserole:
For this recipe, use the type of grits you’re most comfortable with.
- If using stone-ground grits, cook them separately first, then add the vegetable combination and the remaining ingredients.
- Quick-cooking grits (not instant) also work in a casserole such as this because of the other textures.
- I don’t recommend instant for this dish. They cook too fast and can turn mushy quickly.
Type of shrimp to use:
Something else I’m a fanatic about is always using wild-caught American shrimp. (Now…farmed and imported shrimp is something to be afraid of!) I do not eat shrimp nor will I prepare shrimp for my clients unless it’s wild-caught.
Nearly all commercial shrimp sold is individually quick-frozen. The shrimp sold in the seafood display case likely has been thawed. If purchasing thawed shrimp, be sure to use it quickly and don’t refreeze it.
How to cook shrimp for a casserole:
Be sure to use WILD-CAUGHT U. S. gulf shrimp if at all possible. Wild-caught shrimp is going to be much more resilient and will hold up to being heated through again in the casserole. Anything farmed and imported is going to be rubbery and tough.
When you cook the shrimp, DO NOT boil it. Get a saucepan full of water boiling, salt it generously, turn the heat off, add the shrimp, give it a stir and let it just turn pink. It will also curl. Transfer to a colander and run cold tap water over it to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly. Your shrimp will be ready to go.
Shrimp doesn’t need to be boiled as it cooks quickly and remember, it will cook again in the shrimp and grits casserole.
Time-Saving Tip:
If you don’t want to go to the trouble of cooking and crumbling bacon, use “recipe ready” cooked and crumbled bacon available in the salad dressing area of the grocery store.
Thank you, hope you enjoy and please share this From A Chef’s Kitchen reader favorite!
More shrimp and grits recipes:
- Cauliflower Grits with Gouda Cheese and Blackened Shrimp
- Pumpkin, Chipotle and White Cheddar Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
- Smothered Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Creamy Parmesan Peppercorn Grits
Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole with Gouda Cheese
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter - plus more for baking dish
- 1 bunch scallions - white and light-green part only, chopped
- 1/2 large red bell pepper - chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper - seeded if desired, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 can (10-ounce) diced tomatoes with green chiles - drained
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2/3 cup quick-cooking grits - not instant
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- 1 pound large shrimp - 16-20 count, peeled, deveined and cooked
- 2 slices bacon - cooked and crumbled
- 1 large egg - beaten
- 1 1/4 cups shredded Gouda cheese - divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8 x 8 baking dish or another similar-sized baking dish. Set aside.
- Heat butter over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Add the scallion, red bell pepper and jalapeño pepper. Reduce heat to medium, cook 4-5 minutes or until beginning to soften.
- Stir in garlic, diced tomatoes with chiles and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Slowly stir in grits.
- Stir continuously until mixture returns to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Stir in shrimp, bacon, egg and 1 cup cheese. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and bubbling. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.
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Recipe Notes
- It’s important to always use wild-caught U. S. gulf shrimp. They are much more resilient to being heated again in a casserole, unlike farmed shrimp which WILL become rubbery.
- If using stone-ground grits, cook them separately first, then add the vegetable combination and the remaining ingredients.
- Quick-cooking grits (not instant) also work because of the other textures.
- I don’t recommend instant for this dish. They cook too fast and can turn mushy quickly.
- Can be assembled 24 hours in advance. Baking time may be longer if the casserole is super cold from the refrigerator.
- Cool, wrap securely and freeze.
- Thaw at least 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Let the casserole sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or so before placing it in the oven.
- Increase baking time if the casserole is super cold.
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
I was really excited about this recipe. We love shrimp and grits. I hate to complain or be really critical but I am beyond disappointed. First. I barely cooked the shrimp so it would be raw in the middle before adding to the grits. They were tough and over cooked. ( I used Florida key west fresh) the grits were grainy. Perhaps I was hoping for too much but if you want shrimp and grits go with a traditional recipe.
Thanks so much for your feedback and so sorry this didn’t work for you. Hard to say what went wrong; this recipe has over 200 4 and 5-star ratings. You didn’t say anything about the flavor so am guessing that was okay? Did you use quick-cooking grits and not stone-ground?
I have made this several times now. The first time I made it for my college age son and I and I told him he could take some of the leftovers and hit took all but maybe four bites. My husband came home to have just enough to know he missed out. I made it again for us and our other 13 yr old the next day! They loved it! Making again for Mother’s Day brunch tomorrow! Thanks for the recipe!
My 91-year-old very southern mother-in-law lives with us. I made this tonight for dinner as she is super fond of grits. We all really liked it. Love the spice. Having never made grits before I am curious as to how thick this should be when done. Ours was soupy enough that I served it in bowls. Did I goof? Thanks for the recipe.
Hi, Dee Ann, Thanks so very much for your feedback. I know some people have had that problem. It shouldn’t be stiff but should still be able to be spooned up easily. I compared my recipe to a Southern Living recipe and theirs calls for 4 cups of liquid to 1 cup of grits while mine is 2 cups of liquid to 2/3 cup grits. The diced tomatoes with green chiles will add a small amount. I will retest this recipe very soon and make adjustments if necessary. Thanks again and glad you enjoyed the flavor!
My sister-in-law made this when my husband was at her house without me. He absolutely raved about it so, of course, I asked for the recipe. We follow it exactly but use raw shrimp and I use long-cooking stone-ground grits. I simply keep an eye on it during the 20 minutes it needs to cook and add liquid as needed. It not only comes out perfect but she said it freezes well. On a recent fishing trip, my husband got the opportunity to confirm that. It doesn’t last long enough in our home to make it to the freezer. Love it!
Hi, Sandra, Love that! Thanks so much and so glad everyone enjoys!
I made this recipe as written. I failed to notice that the amount of grits had been changed but, while I was making mine I decided that it was a little too soupy so I added some more grits. This actually ended up matching the recipe perfectly. It was delicious. You can’t beat shrimp and grits and Gouda cheese all I can say is Yum!
So I am sorry I posted this in reviews first 🙄
I am wondering if I need to thaw the shrimp before I add to grits?? I am nervous about overcooking shrimp so I may just use raw, I’m having a hard time finding big enough cooked shrimp with the tail already off. Still wondering if it should be thawed or can go in frozen. My guess is thawed.
Hi, Laurie, Thanks so much for your question. Definitely don’t use “store-bought cooked shrimp” as it’s probably farm-raised and it’s going to be tough. Cook the shrimp yourself. Just get a small saucepan of salted water boiling, add the shrimp and they’ll pretty much cook in 30 seconds. Drain and cool under cold tap water. I believe someone put the shrimp in raw and said it was fine. I always use wild-caught American shrimp and never had a problem with tough shrimp. Hope that helps!
Ah that’s makes more sense, you are just saying to cook it before hand! Not buy cooked shrimp 🥴!
I am making this tomorrow, so I appreciate the response.
Thanks so much, have great day!
Hi, should the shrimp be thawed first? I am having a hard time finding cooked shrimp bigger than small with the tail off. I’m a little nervous about overcooking it’s so may just use raw, but still wondering if it goes in frozen or thawed?
I’m concerned about the sodium content of this recipe. Does a serving really have over 3500 mg of sodium? What changes can I make to reduce the amount of sodium? Thanks.
Hi, Janet, Thanks so very much for your question. I calculated the nutritional information on 2 servings, but it really makes more like 3-4 servings so I recalculated on 3 which cut the sodium level by a third. I didn’t indicate an exact salt amount because I tend to go by taste instead. If you leave out the salt and use unsalted or low-sodium chicken broth–I’m sure that will bring it down substantially. You might also be able to find low-sodium diced tomatoes with green chiles. Thanks so much, hope that helps and hope you enjoy!
I just left it in my oven-safe fry pan. Worked wonderfully. My daughter is recovering from throat surgery, so I diced the shrimp. This recipe is delicious.
Hi, Joyce, Thanks so much and so glad you enjoyed. Hope your daughter is doing well and healing quickly!
OK I finally made this recipe it was delicious I did cook the shrimp in the casserole, I used stoneground grits which I made separately and added to the other ingredients, If you do this be sure and do not add the broth to the recipe. It was not too spicy but was very flavorful.
Thanks, Marilyn! Glad you enjoyed! Yes, if you cook the grits separately as you did, you won’t need to add any additional broth. Thanks again!
Hi! How many servings does this yield and can it be doubled ?
Hi, Elizabeth, Thanks so much for your question. The recipe yields 2-3 servings, but could probably stretch to 4. You definitely can double it, you’ll just need to increase the baking time. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Hi Can you do it with cauliflower instead of grits. If so, anything I need to know?
Hi, Laurie, Thanks so much for your great question. I haven’t done this specific recipe with cauliflower, but you may be interested in these two recipes: https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/cauliflower-grits-gouda-blackened-shrimp/ AND https://www.fromachefskitchen.com/low-carb-jambalaya/
It probably would work fine, but in this case, I can’t know without testing it. I’ll certainly put it on my list to test, though! If you try it, please let me know how it worked. Thanks again!