9 Best Sides to Serve with Shrimp and Grits (Updated 2024)

Name: 9 Best Sides for Shrimp and Grits
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Side Dish
Ingredients: Green Bean Salad; Roasted Green Bean; Sautéed Greens; Creamed Corn; Garlic Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus; Buttermilk Biscuits; Fried Okra; Grilled Asparagus; Sweet Potato Fries

Updated Jan 26, 2023Recipe Marker

Are you wondering what goes well with Shrimp and grits? Stick around us as we share a list of the most popular Shrimp and grits in this article.

This dish has been a traditional dish in the South for generations. Shrimp and grits are the definition of comfort food and have gained enough renown in contemporary cooking to be offered in some of the most elite dining establishments on the planet.

It has a simple flavor profile that is favorable in several ways. Various side dishes pair well with shrimp and grits.

The greatest sides to serve alongside shrimp and grits are ones that don’t fight for attention; they should complement or enhance, not overpower, the flavors of the shrimp and grits.

Let’s look at some of the best side dishes for shrimp and grits.

What to Serve with Shrimp and Grits

1. Green Bean Salad

Because it is fresh, flavorful, and nutritious, green bean salad is the ideal side dish to serve along with shrimp and grits.

You can prepare your side quickly because it is very easy to prepare. Start by gathering some green beans, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and oil. Rosemary and basil are two other herbs and spices you could include in the recipe.

Pour this dish over some cooked shrimp and grits after combining all the ingredients in a big bowl for a fantastic flavor combination.

2. Roasted Green Bean

You can roast the green beans if you don’t want to eat green bean salad. This food tastes fantastic because it is straightforward, nutritious, and wholesome.

They can be made in about an hour and go great with either the traditional seafood dish by itself or with shrimp and grits. You’ll need fresh or frozen whole green beans, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make your roasted green beans.

For added flavor, you can also include other spices like garlic powder or onion powder. Before distributing your ingredients equally on a baking sheet and cooking them for around 25 minutes, you must mix them.

3. Sautéed Greens

In the South, sautéed greens are a common form of meal, especially mustard or collard greens. To temper the heat of spicy proteins, greens can be served with them, but they also go well with seafood, especially shrimp and grits.

They can be used with other spices like pepper, onion, and garlic for a distinctive flavor. To preserve some texture, it is recommended to sauté greens right before serving since they typically take approximately 12 minutes to cook.

Greens complement other traditional southern American dishes like fried catfish or fried chicken wonderfully because they are so common there.

4. Creamed Corn

The definition of comfort food is creamed corn. It is delectable because it simultaneously tastes salty, rich, and sweet. Creamed corn dishes can offer a wonderful texture contrast when served with shrimp and grits.

To begin making your creamed corn, you’ll need to prepare some frozen or fresh corn, butter, salt, and pepper.

To improve the flavor of the dish, you can also add other spices like garlic powder or cayenne pepper.

After thoroughly combining all the ingredients, you must spoon the mixture into a small baking dish and bake it for 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Garlic Roasted Tomatoes and Asparagus

Because of their freshness, tomatoes and asparagus cooked in garlic make a fantastic side dish for shrimp and grits. Shrimp’s rich, buttery flavor blends beautifully with the mild sweetness of tomatoes and asparagus that have been roasted in garlic.

The optimum time to make this vegetable dish is right before serving because it can take some time to prepare. All you need to get started are some fresh tomatoes and asparagus, as well as some salt, olive oil, and garlic.

To improve the flavors, you can also add some other spices, such as pepper and basil. The fact that you have a choice with this side dish, that you can serve it as a starter or a main course, is its best feature.

6. Buttermilk Biscuits

These Southern-Style Buttermilk Biscuits can give you a rich, buttery flavor; thus, they will undoubtedly give you that complete taste. This delicious milk-based meal is flaky, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth in texture.

Although making these biscuits, especially the dough and baking may seem a little tedious, it is worth the time and effort.

7. Fried Okra

With the rise of Cajun culture in relation to food, this has gained popularity recently. With seafood, especially shrimp and grits, this dish is exceptionally delicious. Making fried okra is really easy.

The primary components are salt, pepper, olive oil for frying, eggs for dipping the okra before breading it, cornmeal, and eggs.

The flavor of the okra can be improved by adding additional spices, such as cayenne pepper, onion powder, or garlic. The only drawback to this dish is that it can take some time to cook. It can be breaded and fried for up to two days before serving.

However, as the breading will become soggy if left out for too long, it is best served immediately

8. Grilled Asparagus

Your main course will go well with grilled asparagus because it brings out the natural flavor of the food. But it requires little work to prepare, so you may do it shortly before serving.

Grilling asparagus enhances its inherent sweetness, making it taste even better. Asparagus stalks must be mounted on sturdy skewers for grilling, which should first soak in water for around half an hour, and as a result, they don’t burn up.

Maintaining the grill’s temperature at roughly 390 degrees Fahrenheit is crucial. The asparagus will burn and become difficult to chew if it is placed too close to the heat source.

9. Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are another delectable side dish with shrimp and grits. In addition to being high in fiber, antioxidants, and minerals, sweet potatoes are also protein-rich.

They also taste fantastic when cooked into fries and served with the traditional toppings of ketchup or BBQ sauce. When it comes to cooking, sweet potatoes are incredibly adaptable.

You can grill them for a special flavor, bake them in the oven, or fry them on the stove. It might be preferable to serve these fries hot if you’re serving them as a side dish with shrimp and grits.

Final Words

A delectable seafood dish like shrimp and grits needs some equally delicious side dishes to go with it. Fortunately, there are many excellent ways to cook delectable foods that will taste wonderful with the shrimp and grits on your plate.

Choose one of these best side dishes and delight in it.

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