A new healthy dinner option is here! This lemon shrimp and grits recipe is pretty perfect and amazing for a quick summer southern meal when you are craving seafood.
Since I live in the south – shrimp and grits are pretty much the best thing created since sliced bread. If you don’t think you would like this dish, think again.
You don’t know what you are missing. The shrimp can be prepared so many different ways, which is fantastic. The cheese grits are a wonderful mix of cheese and deliciousness.
The lemon juice squeezed on top and in the sauce add just a hint of summer freshness to an already delightful dish.
I don’t know what it is about lemon, but I absolutely love it – and loved it with the shrimp and grits. These are life changing, I promise you that.
I personally love that you can lighten up something that you grew up loving, and making it into a healthy meal. It’s not always that you can lighten something up and make it taste amazing, but this dish does just that.
And it’s absolutely perfect for the summer weather that decided to show up here a few weeks ago. And it’s a quick meal that can be put on your table in about 35 minutes. Pretty perfect for me!
If you are interested in additional fish recipes, you should try this baked salmon in foil recipe or the tarragon shrimp with risotto recipe.
To make this Lemon Shrimp and Grits recipe:
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Bring 4 cups water to a boil over high heat. Once it’s boiling, slowly add in the grits, with a little bit of salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally until thickened, about 5 minutes.
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Stir in the Parmesan and cheddar cheese and 1 T butter. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm and set aside.
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Heat the olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, garlic and cayenne pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
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Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons water, lemon juice and parsley. Stir to coat the shrimp with the sauce.
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To serve, place the grits among shallow bowls and top with the shrimp and sauce.
What are your favorite seafood recipe?
Lightened Up Lemon Shrimp and Grits
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 cup instant grits
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 Tablespoon light butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2 Tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- chopped nuts for serving optional
Instructions
Cook the Grits
- Bring 4 cups water to a boil over high heat. Once it's boiling, slowly add in the grits, with a little bit of salt and pepper.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the parmesan and cheddar cheese and 1 T butter. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep warm and set aside.
Cook the Shrimp
- Heat the olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, garlic and cayenne pepper and cook until the shrimp are pink, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove shrimp from heat and add 2 tablespoons water, lemon juice and parsley to the same skillet. Stir in the shrimp and coat with the sauce
- To serve, place the grits among shallow bowls and top with the shrimp and sauce
Thank you Lauren. I hope you make this sometime soon and eat it all for yourself! Haha. My husband isn’t a huge fan of seafood either, so I totally understand.
Oooo, I want to make this recipe this week. I am always in the mood for seafood, where my husband hates it! Which means more for me!! Thanks for the recipe!
-Lauren
pinkonthecheek.com
This is great, Amanda! I am trying to add more seafood recipes so check back soon for those!
My hubby is always looking for new shrimp dishes so I am definitely sending this to him!
Thank you. It’s delicious and I bet your husband will love it too!
This sounds amazing! I bet my husband would love it.
Thank you Lauren! I really appreciate that. I love grits – and the cheesier the better! The shrimp on top is just an added bonus.
Thanks Emelia. I love grilled shrimp too, and I might make a cajun version of this. But this one was really good too.
I’m saving this one for later! I’m not always a huge fan of grits, but you can’t go wrong with cheese and shrimp!
Confession, I only like shrimp if it’s REALLY grilled, but this looks super delicious. I love that you find so many great ways to lighten up dishes!