Shrimp and Grits Casserole
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This spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole is a tried-and-true twist on a Southern comfort food classic. Creamy grits, tender shrimp, melted Gouda, and a little heat come together in an easy, oven-baked dish that’s perfect for weeknights or casual entertaining. It’s the kind of crowd-pleasing dish that feels right at home on any table!
“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!”
a brief intro to shrimp and grits:
Shrimp and grits is a classic dish in Southern coastal cuisine 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.
Initially intended as a breakfast dish for fishermen, it has evolved to become a favorite option for lunch, brunch, and dinner across the Southern United States. Here’s that classic combination in casserole form.
Why This Recipe is a Keeper!
Whether you’re hosting a family dinner or looking for a new comfort dish to enjoy, this shrimp and grits casserole hits all the right notes!
Before moving to the South 30 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.
This Shrimp and Grits Casserole recipe is:
- A Pinterest favorite!
- Tried and true! Over 450 4 and 5-star ratings!
- Restaurant-quality!
- Ideal for entertaining! It’s perfect for brunch, lunch, or supper and equally at home on a holiday table or weeknight.
- Endlessly adaptable! You can dial it up or down depending on your audience with smoked gouda or pepperjack cheese. Add andouille or ham for smokier depth. Crab, anyone?
- Make-ahead! Unlike traditional shrimp and grits, the casserole format allows you to prep components in advance and bake when needed, making it ideal for brunches, holidays, or entertaining.
Creamy, crowd-pleasing, and versatile, it’s the kind of dish that earns a permanent spot in your entertaining rotation!
How to Make shrimp and grits casserole:
Recipe Ingredients:
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this shrimp and grits casserole recipe. The exact quantities are on the recipe card below.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:
- Shrimp: It’s essential to always to use wild-caught U. S. Gulf shrimp. They are much more resilient to reheating in a casserole, unlike farmed shrimp, which most certainly will become rubbery. I used 31-40 count, which is considered “medium-large.” You can use larger shrimp or smaller shrimp. However, I found the 31-40 count medium-large to be the right size–substantial, yet easy to manage on the plate.
- Bacon: If you don’t consume pork, use turkey or beef bacon. You can also use diced andouille sausage.
- Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles: This shrimp and grits casserole recipe calls for a 10-ounce can such as Ro-Tel. You can substitute regular petite-diced tomatoes if you want to dial down the heat. Drain them well as the additional liquid could result in a soupy result.
- Jalapeno: Use as little or as much as you wish. Removing the seeds will cut the heat if you want a milder casserole.
- Quick Grits: Quick-cooking grits (not instant) work well in a casserole like this because of the other textures. Stone-ground grits will take much longer to cook, so cook them separately first, following the package directions, then add the vegetable combination and the remaining ingredients. I don’t recommend instant for this dish. They cook too fast and can turn mushy quickly.
- Chicken Broth: Can also use fish stock.
- Gouda Cheese: Gouda cheese melts beautifully and has a mild flavor, so it doesn’t compete with the shrimp. Smoked Gouda, Monterey Jack, or Pepperjack will also work well.
- Cornstarch: Helps to thicken and reinforce the casserole’s structure without changing the flavor. Also keeps it gluten-free.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Gather and prep all the ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Lightly grease a 1 1/2 – 2-quart baking dish with oil, butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook the shrimp: Place a colander in the sink to drain the shrimp. Then, bring a large, heavy saucepan of well-salted water (about 2 teaspoons) to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the shrimp, and cook for 10 to 15 seconds, or until they turn pink, stirring once or twice. Drain immediately into the colander and cool quickly under cold tap water. Alternatively, prepare an ice bath and cool the shrimp in that. Drain the shrimp and pat dry.
- In a heavy saucepan, cook the bacon over medium heat until browned and crispy. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, reserving the drippings in the saucepan.
- Keep the heat on medium and add the butter to the bacon drippings. When melted, add the scallion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño pepper. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until softened.
- Stir in garlic, diced tomatoes with chiles, and chicken broth (or fish stock). Bring to a boil.
- Slowly stir in the grits. Return to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and cool 15 minutes. Taste and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Whisk the cornstarch into the egg, then stir it into the grits …
- … and fully incorporate.
- Add the the shrimp, bacon, and 1 cup cheese …
- … and fold it in.
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish with more grits on the top than shrimp.
- Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through and bubbling. The casserole should be set around the perimeter with an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving
Chef Tips and Tricks:
- A shallow 1½ to 2-quart dish works best. Deep baking dishes take longer to set.
- Nearly all commercial shrimp sold is individually quick-frozen. The shrimp sold in the seafood display case has likely been thawed. If purchasing thawed shrimp, be sure to use it within a day or two and don’t refreeze it. I prefer to purchase frozen shrimp and thaw it myself.
- Be very careful not to overcook the shrimp. You don’t need to boil the shrimp; boil the water. Generously salt the water and get it to a rolling boil. Then, turn the heat off. Drop the shrimp into the water, stir it, and when the shrimp turns barely opaque (which happens quickly), remove it and cool it either under cold tap water or in an ice bath.
- The grits should be thick and spoon-standing before anything else is added. Undercooking the grits can result in a soupy casserole. (See Step #6 and how the grits hold their form.)
- Taste and season the grits with salt before adding the egg/cornstarch and remaining ingredients.
- The egg/cornstarch must be added in a separate step, rather than mixing it in with the bacon, shrimp, and cheese, so it distributes evenly throughout the grits. This ensures even distribution and proper binding. It’s also essential to let the grits cool for 15 minutes before adding the egg. If you add it too quickly, the egg could scramble. This also gives the grits additional time to thicken up before the egg (which is liquid) is added.
- Bake uncovered so excess moisture can evaporate. However, if the cheese browns too much, cover it loosely with aluminum foil.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving so the grits firm up. The perimeter of the casserole should be set, with the interior remaining creamy.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes. However, stone-ground grits require a much longer cooking time, so prepare them separately according to the package directions before incorporating the vegetable mixture and remaining ingredients.
Yes, I highly recommend it. Uncooked shrimp can create additional liquid, resulting in a soupy casserole. There is also a food safety concern. As long as you use wild-caught shrimp, don’t boil the shrimp, overcook it, and cool it promptly; it will hold up well to being reheated in the casserole.
Yes, I recommend it. I tested a batch of grits without the egg, and they were dense after baking.
A shrimp and grits casserole can turn out soupy for several reasons:
>>The grits were not completely cooked, and the grits mixture was not thick enough.
>>There is too much liquid. Excess moisture from ingredients like shrimp, vegetables, or tomatoes can thin the mixture if they aren’t well-drained first. The typical ratio of quick grits to liquid is 1/4 cup of grits to 1 cup of liquid. This shrimp and grits casserole recipe uses 3/4 cup of grits to 2 cups of liquid, so the extra 1/4 cup of grits helps absorb any additional moisture released by the vegetables and shrimp.
>>The casserole was made ahead of time and covered before it completely cooled, allowing steam to drip back down onto the casserole.
>>The casserole was covered while baking.
>>The resting time was skipped. Letting the casserole sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving allows the grits and eggs to finish firming up, often fixing what looks like a soupy texture straight out of the oven.
Yes, it can be assembled 24 hours in advance. Let it cool completely before covering it for refrigeration so condensation doesn’t drip onto the casserole, which can make it soupy. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before placing it in the oven.
Bake uncovered so moisture can evaporate. Cover loosely if the cheese is starting to look brown. Baking time may be longer if the casserole is super cold from the refrigerator.
Yes, cool uncovered, wrap securely, and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Let the casserole sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or so before placing it in the oven.
Bake uncovered so moisture can evaporate. Cover loosely if the cheese is starting to look brown. Increase baking time if the casserole is super cold.
Serve with:
- Garlic Green Beans
- Easy Braised Southern Greens Recipe
- Grilled Corn Succotash
- Fried Cabbage with Bacon
More shrimp and grits recipes:
- Smothered Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Creamy Parmesan Peppercorn Grits
- Cauliflower Grits with Gouda Cheese and Blackened Shrimp
- Pumpkin, Chipotle and White Cheddar Grits with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
Get all my fish and seafood recipes at Fish and Seafood Recipes – From A Chef’s Kitchen.
Shrimp and Grits Casserole
Ingredients
- Cooking spray, butter or oil, for the baking dish
- 1 pound medium-large uncooked shrimp (31-40 count), peeled, deveined and tail removed
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 slices bacon, chopped
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 bunch scallions (medium-width), white and light-green part only, chopped (scant 1 cup)
- 1 small red bell pepper, chopped (scant 1 cup)
- 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded if desired, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (10-ounce) diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
- 2 cups chicken broth, or fish stock
- 3/4 cup quick-cooking grits, not instant
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Gouda cheese, divided
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 1 1/2 – 2-quart baking dish. Set aside.
- Cook the shrimp: Place a colander in the sink to drain the shrimp. Then, bring a large, heavy saucepan of well-salted water (about 2 teaspoons) to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the shrimp, and cook for 10-15 seconds, or until they turn pink, stirring once or twice. Drain immediately into the colander and cool quickly under cold tap water. Alternatively, prepare an ice bath and cool the shrimp in that. Drain the shrimp and pat dry.
- In a heavy saucepan, cook the bacon over medium heat until browned and crispy. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, reserving the drippings in the saucepan.
- Keep the heat on medium and add the butter to the bacon drippings. When melted, add the scallion, red bell pepper, and jalapeño pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened.
- Stir in garlic, diced tomatoes with chiles, and chicken broth (or fish stock). Bring to a boil.
- Slowly stir in the grits. Return to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and cool 15 minutes.
- Taste and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- Whisk the cornstarch into the egg, then stir it into the grits and fully incorporate.
- Fold in the shrimp, bacon, and 1 cup cheese. Transfer to the prepared baking dish with more grits on the top than shrimp. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until heated through and bubbling. The casserole should be set around the perimeter with an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving
Video
Notes
- It’s essential to always use wild-caught U. S. Gulf shrimp. They are much more resilient to reheating in a casserole, unlike farmed shrimp, which WILL become rubbery.
- If using stone-ground grits, cook them separately following the package directions. Then, add the vegetable combination and the remaining ingredients.
- Quick-cooking grits (not instant) work because of the other textures.
- I don’t recommend instant grits for this dish. They cook too fast and can turn mushy quickly.
- If you don’t consume pork, use turkey or beef bacon. You can also use diced andouille sausage.
- You can substitute regular, drained, petite diced tomatoes if you want to dial down the heat.
- Can use fish stock in place of chicken broth.
- Smoked Gouda, Monterey Jack, or Pepperjack will also work well.
- Can be assembled 24 hours in advance. Let cool completely before covering for refrigeration so condensation doesn’t drip onto the casserole, which can make it soupy.
- Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before placing it in the oven.
- Bake uncovered so moisture can evaporate. Cover loosely if the cheese is starting to look brown.
- 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.
- Bake uncovered so moisture can evaporate. Cover loosely if the cheese is starting to look brown.
- Increase baking time if the casserole is super cold.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are automatically calculated using unbranded products and are estimates only. Actual results may vary based on ingredients used and portion sizes. Adjust as needed for dietary restrictions, allergies, or health concerns.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
This is definitely a do again dinner at our house! Subbed out the jalapeño for a few good shakes of hot sauce, otherwise followed the recipe as shown. So good!!
Hi, Nancy, Thanks so very much and so happy you enjoyed!
Please help! The recipe states that the shrimp should be cooked but there were no directions as to how/why the shrimp can’t be raw!
Hi, Emmy, Thanks for your question. Other readers have done that and the results were fine. I can’t tell you to put raw shrimp into a casserole for food safety reasons, just like you wouldn’t put raw chicken into a casserole because you want to make sure it’s all cooked properly to begin with. Definitely do not use pre-cooked shrimp. If you use GOOD wild-caught shrimp and don’t overcook the shrimp in the first place, you should be okay. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Do the shrimp need to be thawed? Or can they be added frozen (and cooked)?
Hi, Daniella, Thanks so much for your question. I’d be careful using frozen shrimp. I’ve cleaned enough shrimp in my career to know there are often veins left behind along with shell fragments. You’d want to make sure the shrimp is clean. People have used raw, uncooked shrimp in the casserole with success, so perhaps that’s an option for you. Thanks again and let me know how it goes.
Do you cook the grits first before you add them to the pan with the other ingredients. Thank you.
Hi, Robert, Thanks so much for your question. Yes, you’ll see in Steps #3 and #4: “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.” Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
If freezing this do you bake the casserole first then freeze or stop after assembling the casserole and freezer un-baked? TIA!
Hi, Lindsey, Thanks so much for your question. I freeze casseroles that I plan to bake later assembled and unbaked. You could bake it, cool it, freeze it then reheat it, but the shrimp could get really tough and “shrimpy.” Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Can smoked Gouda be used?
Hi, Francine, Thanks so much for your question. I haven’t tested this recipe with smoked Gouda but you probably could. Just expect a smokier flavor. Please let me know how it went. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!
Francine, I use smoke Gouda in this recipe and it is a family favorite! The smokiness is a great addition to this amazing recipe! ❤️
I made the shrimp and grits with Gouda cheese dish! When I read the recipe and saw all the flavors going into the pan before adding the grits, I knew it was going to be great! It did not disappoint! I had to make a day ahead due to time constraints on the day of and it heated perfectly. Not liquidy nor is it dry! Just perfect! I will enjoy this dish frequently! Easy to make! Thank you, Chef Carol!
Hi, Julie, Thanks so very much and so happy you enjoyed!
I didn’t realize my gouda was all dried up so I’m using Manchego instead. Can’t wait to eat!
Hi, Rachel, I think that will be just fine. Thanks again!
Made this recently and not sure what I did wrong but it was very soupy, never thickened up. Flavor was wonderful though.
Hi, Suzanne, Thanks so much for your feedback. Some people have reported that while others have not; I still have yet to find out why that happens. Glad it tasted good, though!
Just getting ready to make this and wondered if I could add some smoked sausage? It sounds delicious!
Hi, Tammy, Thanks so much for your question. Yes, I don’t see why not. However, I would cut the sausage into quarters and not use more than the amount of shrimp. A little dab will do ya. Otherwise, the smoked sausage could overpower the shrimp. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!!
Amazing. We were a little afraid of the jalapeño but the balance was perfection.
Thank you!
Hi, Janny, Thanks so much and happy you enjoyed!