Instant Pot Easy Cheesy Shrimp and Grits is a quick pressure cooker recipe that uses either stone ground grits or quick grits with cheese, butter, and tons of flavor. This dish highlights authentic southern shrimp and grits with gravy. The grits only take 10 minutes to make, no more standing at the stove stirring grits!
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FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST. BEFORE YOU SCROLL, THERE’S IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST.
I have finally tested out grits in the Instant Pot and I will be the first to tell you, I am never going back to stovetop! I have always enjoyed cooking! I was the girl right alongside my mama every Sunday and every single holiday washing greens and slicing up vegetables for family dinners and functions.
Often, we would eat grits often with fried catfish. If you are looking for catfish to pair with your Instant Pot grits, be sure to check out my Air Fryer Fried Catfish recipe!
As I grow older, I still have the same love for cooking, but I want things to be done faster! I have so much on my plate these days. I have to create balance in order to juggle it all.
I experimented with grits 4 times before posting this recipe. I have tried both quick grits (not instant) and stone ground. I have noted what worked for me with both types below.
Stone Ground Grits vs Quick Grits
Stone ground grits have a different texture than quick grits. Just an FYI there. Stone ground grits are harder to find at an everyday grocery store. Most are focused on instant grits. I got mine at Trader Joe’s and you can also pick up stone ground grits from Amazon.
What Type to Use in the Instant Pot
I have tested both stone ground grits and quick grits (not instant) in the Instant Pot. It makes more sense to use stone ground grits, because these grits usually take 35-40 minutes stovetop.
How to Cook Grits in the Instant Pot
- Salt your liquids. With the Instant Pot method, you simply add salt to the pan with the broth and milk.
- Whisk the grits well. While making grits stovetop, I always felt that I had to stand there for so long whisking. You still have to do some whisking with the Instant Pot, but not nearly as much. After adding the ingredients to the pot, I whisk to ensure there aren’t any initial lumps.
- After you remove the grits from the Instant Pot, whisk again (you can use a whisk or spoons). Ensure there aren’t any lumps in the grits. If you find it hard to remove lumps try adding a small amount of milk and whisk again.
How Long Does it Take to Cook? Cook Time
It will take 10 minutes on Manual > High-Pressure Cooking, with 15 minutes natural release and Quick Grits will take 10 minutes on Manual High-Pressure Cooking with 10 minutes natural release.
Can You Cook Them Without Using a Pan Inside the Pot?
Yes, in fact, this is my favorite way to cook grits in the Instant Pot. I provided instructions for how to cook the grits using the stackable pans for the people that would like to save time or don’t have two Instant Pots.
I have two Instant Pots. So I have also prepared this recipe by lining the Instant Pot with olive oil using a cooking brush and then adding my grits and other ingredients. I cooked the bacon and prepared the shrimp and gravy in my second Instant Pot.
Can You Add Tomatoes?
Yes, if you wish to add tomatoes, I recommend 15oz can of fire roasted diced tomatoes. Add them with the onions during the initial steps.
Growing up, we didn’t add tomatoes to our grits. Within recent years I have observed the trend of tomatoes with gravy and grits served at restaurants for dinner and/or brunch.
Try our Instant Pot Gumbo!
and our Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice!
More Southern Recipes
Homemade Southern Cornbread
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Southern Style Soul Food Mac and Cheese
Southern Cornbread Dressing
Healthy Southern Peach Cobbler
Southern Mustard Greens
Instant Pot Easy Cheesy Shrimp and Grits
Ingredients
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 pound fresh, large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup chicken-broth I use low-sodium
- 1 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning omit if you do not desire a hint of spicy
- 1/2 lemon juice of
Grits
- 1 cup stone ground grits
- 1 cups chicken broth I use low-sodium
- 1 1/4 cup milk I used almond
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup white cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan reggiano cheese shredded
Instructions
- Place the Instant Pot on the saute function. Add the chopped bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes until crisp. Remove the bacon and set aside, drain most of the bacon grease. I reserved about a teaspoon.
- Add the onions and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the garlic and onions become fragrant.
- Add the 1/2 cup chicken broth, Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, and fresh lemon juice. Stir.
- You can remove the sauce/gravy from the Instant Pot and cook the grits separately if you wish (without using the Pot in Pot method). Remove the gravy and add the grits, 1 cup of chicken broth, milk, and salt. Grits normally stick to the pot. Grease it with oil first, I use olive oil.
- Optional Pot in Pot Method with Stackable Steamer: Add the trivet and stackable steamer to the pot over the sauce. Fill the stackable steamer with the grits, 1 cup of chicken broth, milk, and salt. Wisk well to eliminate any lumps. You can choose to cover the grits or keep them uncovered. I have tested both and yielded similar results.
- Close and seal the pot. Cook for 10 Minutes on Manual > High-Pressure Cooking.
- Season the shrimp with Old Bay Seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
- When the pot indicates it has finished, allow the steam to release naturally for 15 minutes instead of performing a quick release.
- Open the pot and remove the stackable steamer.
- Place the Instant Pot on saute function. Add the shrimp to the pot. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the shrimp have turned bright pink.
- While the shrimp cooks add the butter and shredded cheese to the grits. Stir well to combine. Wisk any lumps in the grits. (Using the Instant Pot you shouldn’t have any!)
- Serve the shrimp and gravy sauce over the grits topped with the crumbled bacon.
Video
Notes
Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)
More Instant Pot Recipes:
Instant Pot Garlic Tuscan Chicken Thighs
Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Sweet Potato Soup
Instant Pot Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Instant Pot Low-Carb Pumpkin Spice Bread
Instant Pot Lasagna
Instant Pot Shrimp Risotto with Vegetables and Parmesan
Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs Using the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Chicken and Spanish Rice (Arroz Con Pollo)
Instant Pot Cheesecake
Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash
Instant Pot Mongolian Beef
Instant Pot Steak Tacos
Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowl with Quinoa
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Amanda
Sunday 15th of November 2020
My fiancé loves grits so I surprised him by making this for dinner tonight-it was fabulous! Perfect cozy food for the chilly stormy night were having here. :-)
staysnatched
Wednesday 18th of November 2020
Yes! So true. I'm glad you both enjoyed it.
Julie
Thursday 17th of September 2020
Thanks for this recipe. The grits worked! First time ever making grits in the Instapot.
staysnatched
Saturday 19th of September 2020
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Karen Stewart
Friday 17th of July 2020
We are southern folks with a brand new instant pot, so of course, just had to make your shrimp & grits recipe. It was absolutely delicious - more like Devine! Now we have a question on your stackable pan that we saw on your “how to video”. Could you please tell us the name of it and where we could find one like it. We had to make a Pyrex bowl work which wasn’t the best so now we would love to find a pan like yours that looked like it had a locking latch on the top of it? Love your website and thank you for your dedication to healthy& delicious recipes. Karen Stewart
staysnatched
Friday 17th of July 2020
Hi there! I just added a link to it in the recipe card.
Lauren
Wednesday 8th of July 2020
I live in CA after spending several years in DC and have been missing some of the delicious southern cooking I got there. This turned out amazing. I had to make my own creole seasoning because I couldn’t find it in stores in CA, and my grits wound up being very stiff out of the instapot (I didn’t exactly measure the liquid amount, so that’s on me) but I was able to thin the grits down following the blog suggestions and it turned out perfect and tasted amazing in the end!
staysnatched
Thursday 9th of July 2020
I'm glad it turned out!
Amanda
Sunday 5th of July 2020
Wow, this recipe is amazing! Best shrimp and grits ever.
staysnatched
Sunday 5th of July 2020
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!