Go Back
–+ servings
Up close shot of shrimp and grits with a spoon and fork.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Tuscan ‘Marry Me’ Shrimp + Grits 

Dive into the deliciousness of Tuscan ‘Marry Me’ Shrimp + Grits! Picture creamy, buttery wild-caught jumbo shrimp swimming in tomatoey Tuscan sauce, paired with velvety Southern cheese grits. It's comfort food with a flavorful twist--- a perfect weeknight dinner option! Dairy-free Option.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Main Course
Keyword: creamy, dinner, easy, family-friendly, grits, marry me chicken, savory, seafood, shrimp, southern, tuscan, weeknight, weeknight meals
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 627kcal
Author: Shanika

Ingredients

CREAMY GRITS:

  • 1 Creamy Southern Cheese Grits

HOMEMADE TUSCAN BLEND:

  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika 
  • 2 tsps dried parsley
  • 2 tsps dried basil
  • 2 tsps dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves

TUSCAN 'MARRY ME' SHRIMP:

  • 1 lb. wild-caught jumbo shrimp, deveined
  • 3 Tbsps unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1-2 Tbsps homemade tuscan blend
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 ½ cups organic heavy cream
  • ½ cup seafood or vegetable stock, organic
  • 3 Tbsps white cooking wine
  • ½ lemon, freshly-squeezed
  • 5-6 organic sundried tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon organic tomato paste
  • 1 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (You can also roast these for the best flavor; See Notes!)
  • 1 cup chopped kale, organic
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

TO MAKE THE CREAMY GRITS:

SAUTE/SEAR THE SHRIMP:

  • In a medium 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 Tbsps of butter until melted. Add in the minced garlic to sauté frequently about 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Next, add in the shrimp (season with salt + black pepper for taste) and cook on both sides (about 3-4 minutes), until pink and cooked through. Set aside unto a plate.

TO MAKE THE CREAMY TUSCAN 'MARRY ME' SAUCE:

  • In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil until heated.
  • Add in 1-2 Tbsps tuscan blend seasonings and stir until well combined. Add in the sundried tomatoes and tomato paste, stirring until combined.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly add in the heavy cream, seafood or veggie stock, lemon juice, and white wine, stirring until combined. Let it slightly bubble for 1-2 minutes and then add in the grated parmesan, whisking until fully melted and sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add in the chopped kale and tomatoes, stirring until combined and return the shrimp. Let everything simmer for 5-6 minutes or until the sauce has thickened more and the shrimp are fully cooked through.
  • Remove from heat once done.
  • To serve, add the creamy grits to your favorite bowl(s) and top with Tuscan 'Marry Me' Shrimp. Garnish with a bit of grated parmesan (for extra cheesy flavor), if desired.
  • Bon Appetit!

Notes

  • STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, it's best when done in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop. You'll need to add a bit of heavy cream or seafood stock to re-create the creaminess of the sauce when heating it up. Stir in the added liquid and it should become creamy again. 
  • GREENS: To add a bit more flavor to this dish, you can always feel free to add in your favorite greens such as spinach, broccolini, collards, or asparagus. 
  • TUSCAN SEASONING (STORAGE): Any leftover tuscan blend seasoning can be stored in a ziplock bag or jar for later use or used as garnish. 
  • DAIRY-FREE OPTION: To make this sauce dairy-free, simply use vegan butter instead of the regular butter. Then swap the cream with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. And use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese or nutritional yeast instead of parmesan. 
  • VEGAN OPTION: To see meat alternatives for this dish, see Post!
  • SPICES/HERBS: If desired, you can reduce the amounts slightly. Please know that this recipe is bold in spice/herb flavor, so feel free to adjust based on your tastebuds.
  • HERB ROASTED TOMATOES: For extra flavor and taste, you can roast your tomatoes by following my HERB ROASTED TOMATOES.

Nutrition

Calories: 627kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 501mg | Potassium: 318mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2751IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 333mg | Iron: 3mg