Keto Cauliflower Grits And Shrimp

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Keto shrimp and grits are the ultimate carb-conscious take on Southern comfort food! I’ll show you the best way to transform keto grits (a.k.a. cheesy cauliflower grits) into a luscious dish that tastes like the real deal, complete with juicy seasoned shrimp. You’ll never guess you’re eating a low carb grits swap!

Cajun shrimp is also delicious in other keto shrimp recipes, like Cajun shrimp caesar salad, jambalaya, and keto gumbo.

Are Grits Keto Friendly?

No, grits are not keto friendly. (That’s why we’re making these shrimp and grits keto style!) Traditional grits are made from dried and ground corn, which is high in carbs.

There’s good news, though: If you want to enjoy grits on keto, it’s easy to create a low carb grits substitute with cauliflower, which is very low carb. Let me show you how!

Keto Shrimp And Grits Ingredients

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for shrimp and cauliflower grits, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

For the low carb cheese grits:

• Danish Creamery European Style Butter – The only butter I’d recommend for this dish! Make sure you get the salted kind, made only with high-quality cream and sea salt. You’ll need 4 tablespoons butter, which is half a stick.
• Cauliflower – Look for tightly packed florets with no browning. You can also use pre-riced cauliflower, but the texture is more authentic when using a whole head of cauliflower.
• Heavy Cream – Makes these keto friendly grits oh-so-creamy. Any other keto milk substitute would dramatically change the flavor and texture, but coconut cream would be the closest.
• Cheddar Cheese – Shred it yourself, or get it pre-shredded to save time. Cheddar is a classic choice, but you can use any keto friendly cheeses you like.
• Sea Salt

For the shrimp & toppings:

• Bacon – To keep it as keto-friendly as possible, try to find a sugar free variety.
• Medium Shrimp – I find wild-caught shrimp when possible, but any will do. You can also use larger or smaller shrimp, but cook times will change.
• Cajun Seasoning – You can get it store-bought, but homemade Cajun seasoning is the best! It includes paprika, garlic powder, salt, oregano, thyme, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes. It also provides plenty of spice on its own, so you don’t need black pepper separately, but feel free to add some if you like.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic tastes amazing in this low carb shrimp and grits dish, but you can use jarred minced garlic as well.
• Green Onions – Adds a pop of color and flavor! Fresh parsley would also make a perfect garnish.

How To Make Low Carb Grits With Shrimp

This section shows how to make cauliflower grits and shrimp with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.

• Make grits. Finely chop cauliflower florets in a food processor using the S blade; you want it a bit finer than a regular cauliflower rice, but don’t let it get mushy.
• Cook grits. In a dutch oven, bring cream, butter, and cauliflower to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer the mixture until thick and creamy. Stir in cheese and salt, then set aside.

• Cook bacon. In a large frying pan, cook bacon until crisp. Set aside and drain some of the bacon grease, leaving a few tablespoons in the skillet.

TIP: Cooking bacon in the pan leaves you bacon grease for frying the shrimp. But if you already have some bacon on hand (team bacon in the oven over here!), you can skip this step and use oil to saute the shrimp instead, then add the chopped bacon to the dish at the end.

• Cook shrimp. Season shrimp with Cajun seasoning. Add garlic and the Cajun shrimp to the same skillet, and cook until opaque.

• Plate. Chop bacon and stir into the grits. Transfer the cauliflower grits to bowls, then top with shrimp and sprinkle with sliced green onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are shrimp and grits keto friendly?

Since traditional grits are not keto, most shrimp and grits dishes are not keto friendly, either. That’s because grits are traditionally made from corn, which has a high net carb count.

However, this cauliflower grits and shrimp recipe is keto because we cut out the corn entirely! Each bowlful clocks in at 8 grams net carbs.

Where can I buy keto grits?

Store-bought keto grits are tough to find — it’s much faster and easier to make your own. Try this low carb grits recipe and see for yourself!

What are keto grits made of?

You can make grits out of all kinds of keto ingredients, including almond flour, hemp seeds, or ground lupin. However, you’ll get the most authentic flavor and texture from finely riced cauliflower.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Meal prep: You can make any component of this meal (the grits or shrimp) in advance, then store until you’re ready to cook the rest. Or, make the entire meal in advance.
• Reheat: Heat on medium-low heat on the stovetop.
• Freeze: Avoid freezing, as the flavors and textures of this dish will change too much.

More Southern-Style Keto Recipes

If you love bold flavors, you’ll also want to try these Southern favorites with a low carb spin: