Turn up the heat in your weeknight meals with Buffalo Shrimp and Blue Cheese Grits! Totally OOTW! Easy to make and packed with protein, this zesty dish is a delicious twist on a southern favorite.

Shrimp and Grits may be the epitome of southern cuisine. So much so that some people refer to the south as the “Grits Belt.” It is a staple throughout much of the southern US and especially many “low country” coastal towns (think Charleston, New Orleans, or Jekyll Island, GA).

In fact Georgia is really planting their flag in the ground with this southern specialty – they’ve declared Shrimp and Grits as the state’s official “prepared food.” Plain and simple shrimp and grits are to the south like “lobstah” is to New England.

And since I’m a southern girl at heart dwelling in New England, I thought I would put a northern spin on this popular southerly fare with buffalo sauce & blue cheese. Good idea – right!?

It’s is such a fun take on the classic dish – full of vibrant flavor, and really simple to make.

The first time I experienced shrimp and grits was in a small town called Clarksdale in northwestern Mississippi. I will never forget it – yep – that good. We were in town for our friends’ wedding and the tasty dish was actually served at the reception. (My mouth is literally watering just thinking about it.) While we waited for the bride and groom to make their appearance we served ourselves to the most tasty and memorable shrimp and grits I’ve had to this day. OTC people!

If you’re not familiar with the Clarksdale area it’s about an hour and a half southwest of Memphis, Tennessee. It’s considered the “Birthplace of the Blues” it is truly a unique and extraordinary locale. As you can tell it has made a lasting impression on me – not only for their cra-mazing shrimp & grits, but also for being one of my most favorite places visited in the States. You’ve got to check it out. And when you do here are a few things I’d like you to know about good ole’ Clarksdale…

1. It’s small in size but big on character. Seriously though, I think there’s only one stoplight in the whole town. Which I think is great, with only 20,000 people living in Clarksdale why in the world would you need more?

2. It is said that the Blues originated here in this dusty one-horse town… and by golly they’ve got the museum to prove it. The Delta Blues Museum is located smack dab in historic downtown Clarksdale – the address is 1 Blues Alley of course. The tour takes about two hours. They have a great gift shop selling all kind of blues merch. And if you’re really lucky you may actually get to look in on some classes in session – teaching young and old alike this unique musical art form.

3. Next door to the museum is the ever-popular Ground Zero Blues Club, named after – and celebrating – the local blues heritage. This acclaimed club has been named one of the “Top 100 Bars and Nightclubs in America” since 2005, and been featured in publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Southern Living, USA Today, Food and Wine, and The Washington Post — to name a few. It’s also partially owned by award-winning actor and my dance partner the evening I was there, Morgan Freeman. (True story – he’s such a charming fella and he can seriously cut a rug.)

Not only is Ground Zero celebrating the area’s rich blues heritage, but they’re providing a forum to ensure that it continues. And if your dancing shoes won’t take you another step after tripping the night life fantastic, you can always stumble upstairs to the Delta Cotton Company Apartments, also owned by the Ground Zero guys.

4. Speaking of places to stay – The Shack up Inn is just a few minutes down the road and truly a unique and must-have experience. Keep in mind it used to be an old cotton gin; their slogan reads “The Ritz we ain’t.” At first glance the compound is virtually unchanged from when it was a working plantation. While strolling the grounds you’ll find authentic sharecropper shacks, the original cotton gin, seed houses, and other outbuildings. But not to worry the Cotton House (now known as the Cotton Gin Inn) and Shotgun Shacks all have been renovated on the inside to accommodate 21^st century expectations.

Yes there are indoor bathrooms, heat, air conditioning, coffee makers with condiments, refrigerators and microwaves in all the units. And if you wanna grab some grub, or a cold brew and listen to some sweet sounding live blues you can meander over to Rust, the restaurant & bar on property.

5. If your trip allows for other stops while in Clarksdale you should definitely check out these venues: Red’s Lounge is located in the heart of downtown Clarksdale and it’s a must-visit for an amazing live Blues experience. Cat Head Delta Blues and Folk Art is helping to keep blues alive with their record/film label, Blues Award-winning store and more. Ranchero Restaurant has been around since 1959 and is still one of the town’s go-to spots for outstanding food, and Rock & Blues Museum takes you back in time through more than 3,000 square feet and over 50 years of music memories. Hambone Art Gallery offers a blues-infused environment with a sound stage (where the owner and other artists hold jam sessions), a small bar offering beer and wine, as well as paintings, prints, and mixed media selections, all available for purchase.

Who knew I was writing a travel post and a recipe all in one today? You’re totally getting your money’s worth!

Whether or not you’re into the Blues, you’re definitely gonna be into these Buffalo Shrimp and Blue Cheese Grits!

These Buffalo Shrimp and Blue Cheese Grits are bursting with so much flavor – a marvelous twist on a southern classic. They’re bold and zesty with spicy seasonings, hot sauce, and creamy blue cheese.

I picked up some fresh Florida Pink Shrimp from my local seafood shop. If they are available to you, I always recommend using fresh shrimp rather than frozen. But either will work for this recipe.

I deveined them and removed most of the shells, leaving the tails on for presentation and more seafood flavor. Then I marinated them for about 30 minutes in the fridge with minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, paprika, cayenne pepper and hot sauce. While they were getting all spicy and flavorful in the ice box, I went to work on my grits:

Heat up three cups of homemade chicken stock in a sauce pan on the stove.

Then add in salt, pepper and one cup of yellow grits and give it a good stir.

Let that come up to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, whisking regularly so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

When they are a creamy consistency and have thickened up, turn off the heat and stir in 4 ounces of blue cheese. Then set them aside while cooking the shrimp.

The shrimp will cook really quickly. Place them in a sauce pan with a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Then cook for 2-3 minutes a side. Be careful to not over-cook them or they will be dry and tough.

You could easily grill the shrimp if you’d prefer. Just cook them for about 2-3 minutes per side on a 450 degree grill and you should be G2G.

Then it’s time to plate this marvelous creation.

First a large dollop of cheesy grits goes down right in the middle of the plate. Then a few perfectly placed spicy shrimp. And finally a little garnish of chopped celery, parsley and chives, crumbled blue cheese, and a few dashes of hot sauce.

These Buffalo Shrimp and Blue Cheese Grits are easy enough to make on a weeknight, but fancy enough to serve for company. This combo of kickin’ finger lickin’ zesty shrimp and rich luscious blue cheese grits is one of my absolute faves and I know you’re gonna love it too!

Whether or not you’re into the Blues, these Buffalo Shrimp and Blue Cheese Grits will definitely have you singing (and probably dancing too)!

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Looking for more shrimp recipe ideas? Check out these reader favorites!

Sun-Dried Tomato Garlic Chorizo Shrimp:

Cilantro Lime Grilled Shrimp:

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