Get zesty with this easy dirty jerk shrimp and grits recipe and how-to video! Add a twist to the traditional version with crispy bacon, roasted corn, tomatoes in a jerk creamed sauce with shrimp over cheese grits. In just twenty minutes, have a delicious meal that can be enjoyed at any time of day!
If you enjoy recipes that are easy but have a fun and tasty twist. Try smoked beef sausage breakfast pizza, easy chorizo hash with roasted poblano sauce or crab sushi bake!
TRADITION OF SHRIMP AND GRITS
Being a true southern girl at heart, I find such pride in sharing dishes that are true to my heritage!
Classic shrimp and grits, derive from the deep south and considered a true delicacy. Dating back to days where Africans were enslaved in America, have created some of the most popular dishes that are alive and well today.
In detail, traditional shrimp and grits are prepared starting with creamy grits, then the shrimp are sauteed in a butter sauce and it all comes together for an overly pleasing meal!
Southern food has that effect, as a matter of fact, wouldn't you agree?
WHAT MAKES THIS RECIPE DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL SHRIMP AND GRITS?
The jerk flavor baby! Not to mention the additional toppings that make this dish just down right dirty. This recipe holds a strong caribbean flair that is filled with authentic jerk flavor.
Jerk shrimp is usually served with rice, pasta or kabob style with a tasty fruit style salsa that beautifully cuts the spice from the jerk.
Moreover, the flavors in this spicy and flavorful bowl work so well together. The creamy cheese grits cuts some of the spice from the jerk and add greats texture to the plumpy shrimp and crispy bacon.
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN JERK SHRIMP AND GRITS?
With about just ten ingredients, this recipe comes together in under twenty minutes!
- Quick Grits
- Chicken Stock
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Butter
- Garlic
- Shrimp
- Jerk Marinade
- Heavy Whipping Cream
ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Roasted Corn
- Bacon
- Green Onion
- Cilantro
WHAT'S THE BEST JERK SEASONING OR MARINADE TO USE?
I have been lucky to meet some talented and amazing cooks along the way in my blogging journey. One of my dearest friends Taneisha who is the food blogger behind The Seasoned Skillet has an amazing recipe for a Jerk Cobb Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing.
After trying her recipe and using one the suggested marinade that she uses, I'll never use another jerk marinade!
She suggests two brands only one I've tried but either of these will give a true Jamaican jerk flavor. And trust me on this one, Taneisha is of full Jamaican descent so we can crown her with the authentic wand!
HOW TO MAKE EASY DIRTY JERK SHRIMP AND GRITS
RECIPE VIDEO
To maximize time and flavor, always prep your ingredients!
First, prepare the bacon by baking 2-3 slices on 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
Then, peel the shrimp and place on a towel or paper towel and pat dry. Once shrimp are dry, place them in a bowl and add jerk marinade stirring to combine and set aside until later use.
Next, roughly chop the tomatoes, green onion and cilantro and set aside.
HOW TO PREPARE THE CHEESE GRITS
First start with a sauce spot on medium heat with chicken stock and butter. As the stock slowly comes to a boil, pour in grits and using a whisk at the same time, stir.
Reduce heat to low and let grits cook for five minutes adding extra water or stock as needed. It's important to note, the grits do not need to stick to the pot and should have a small amount of liquid as it cooks.
AFTER THE GRITS HAVE COOKED THROUGH
Finally, add mozzarella cheese and garlic giving a final stir.
Set heat to low and set aside until plating.
HOW TO PREPARE THE JERK SHRIMP & SAUCE
In a large saute pan, add butter and corn and saute until cooked through about five minutes. Set corn aside until later use.
Then, in that same pot add butter and marinated jerk shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes. When shrimp are almost cooked through, add heavy cream and cook until the sauce begins to thicken.
Lastly, add in fresh herbs and give one final stir.
PLATING THE EASY DIRTY JERK SHRIMP AND GRITS
In a bowl, pour in cheese grits. Then, top with shrimp in jerk cream sauce. Lastly add toppings starting with the roughly chopped crunchy bacon, corn, tomatoes, green onion and cilantro.
Repeat the above steps for the second bowl if serving for an additional person and enjoy!
Easy Dirty Jerk Shrimp & Grits
Ingredients
Cheese Grits
- 2 Cups Chicken Stock (plus ½ cup -1 cup) as needed
- 1 Cup Instant Grits
- ¾ Cup Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Unsalted Butter
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste fresh minced garlic
Jerk Shrimp
- ½ LB Medium Sized Shrimp about 10
- 1.5 tablespoon Jerk Marinade
- ¾ Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
Toppings
- 2 tablespoon Cherry Tomatoes sliced in half
- ½ Cup Roasted Corn
- ¼ Cup Bacon Crumbles 2-3 slices
- 1 tablespoon Green Onion roughly chopped
- ½ tablespoon Cilantro roughly chopped
Instructions
Prep Work
- Prepare bacon according to package instructions.
- In a small bowl, add peeled and deveined shrimp. Add jerk marinade, stir and let marinate for at least 10-15 minutes.
- Prep cherry tomatoes by slicing in half.
- Roughly chop cilantro and green onion.
Cheese Grits
- Start with a sauce spot on medium heat with chicken stock and butter.
- As the stock slowly comes to a boil, pour in grits and using a whisk at the same time, stir.
- Reduce heat to low and let grits cook for five minutes adding extra water or stock as needed.
- It's important to note, the grits should not stick to the pot and should have a small amount of liquid as it cooks. Add more chicken stock as needed every ¼ cup.
- Finally, add mozzarella cheese and garlic giving a final stir.
- Set heat to low and set aside until plating.
Jerk Shrimp
- In a large saute pan, add 1 teaspoon of butter and corn and saute until cooked through about five minutes. Set corn aside until later use.
- Then, in that same pot add butter and marinated jerk shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- When shrimp are almost cooked through, add heavy cream and cook until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Lastly, add in fresh herbs and give one final stir.
Plating Easy Dirty Jerk Shrimp and Gritss
- In a bowl, pour in cheese grits.
- Then, top with shrimp in jerk cream sauce.
- Lastly add toppings starting with the roughly chopped crunchy bacon, corn, tomatoes, green onion and cilantro.
- Repeat the above steps for the second bowl if serving for an additional person and enjoy!
Leslie Harlow says
Slap grandma with a biscuit! That shrimp and grits looks so GOOD!
Carita says
Haha! Thank you so much! xoxo
Eric G.v.R. Finke says
Carita, OMG, this is THE BOMB! I can't believe you don't have 100 five-star reviews on here. I first made this dish while we had a completely gutted kitchen in mid-November - we were cooking using just a microwave and our air fryer in the living room where we had to be careful not to use both at the same time or I would trip the old circuit breakers in our 1941 vintage home with an electrical panel from 1960.
My wife couldn't believe how amazing this was. Now that we have our December 2022 brand new kitchen, I have cooked this dish 5 times and it is one of the best seafood recipes I have ever made. Bursting with flavor. I did use more shrimp (maybe 12-13 ounces - about 9 for me, 7 for my wife of 20-25 per lb size) and I substituted Trader Joe's "Quatro Formaggio" cheese for the Mozzarella to give the grits a little bolder cheesy flavor and upped the tomatoes for the garnish. Otherwise, everything was following your truly AWESOME recipe. Thank you!
Carita says
Hi Eric! Thanks for the feedback and congrats on the new kitchen! I'm so happy to hear you and your wife enjoyed the recipe as much as I do. I'm now excited to try the Quatro Formaggio cheese from TJ's, yummy!