What to Serve with Shrimp and Grits: 15 Meal Elevating Sides

Shrimp and grits is a dish that’s synonymous with southern cuisine. But with its creamy, cheesy grits and umami, saucy shrimp, it has mouths salivating all across the nation.

The best part:

This scrumptious southern delicacy can be served for breakfast and lunch for a hearty, filling meal.

For dinner, however, you may want to combine it with other dishes to create a full, harmonious meal.

So, if you’re wondering what to serve with shrimp and grits, you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re looking to add some crunch to your creamy grits or to incorporate some vegetables into your meal, we’ve got you covered.

Read on to explore 15 mouth-watering ideas for side dishes to try the next time you’re having shrimp and grits for dinner.

What Goes with Shrimp and Grits: A 15-Dish Guide That Has It All

While you wait for the grits to cook, you can whip up one of the following 15 delicious side dishes that pair perfectly with shrimp and grits.

1. Baked Sweet Potato Fries

 

You may have tried French fries with shrimp and grits, but have you tried sweet potato fries?

If you haven’t, you’re certainly missing out on some extreme deliciousness!

Not only do sweet potato fries add a mouthwatering crispy element to your shrimp and grits’ flavor, but they’re also packed with fiber and antioxidants.

Whether you bake, grill, or fry them, you’re bound to love the combination of sweet potato fries with shrimp and grits.

2. Creamed Green Pea Soup

This soup is an excellent option to warm up for the main event. 

There’s nothing quite like a bowl of creamed pea soup to get those taste buds ready for a hearty meal of shrimp and grits.

With some peas and cream, preparing this soup should be a breeze.

It goes without saying that fresh peas will give you a more punchy flavor, but you can use frozen peas and still end up making some delicious creamed pea soup.

3. Collard Greens

 

You were probably wondering when this one was going to come up.

We simply can’t talk about southern food without mentioning collard greens.

Shrimp and grits with a side of collard greens is a combo that rivals peanut butter and jelly.

This classic southern dish is my personal go-to side when I want to serve a dish with my shrimp and grits.

You simply can’t go wrong with these delectable veggies.

There are plenty of collard green recipes, but this one is hands-down my favorite

4. Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits

 

When you try this combo, you’ll find your hands perpetually occupied with a spoonful of grits in one and a buttermilk biscuit in the other.

The way they just melt in your mouth with the grits is simply indescribable. 

No, really, you have to try it to fully understand how sublime this flavor combo is.

Buttermilk biscuits can be time-consuming to prepare, but they’re most definitely worth it!

5. Crispy Cheesy Breadsticks

Just imagine dipping some cheesy breadsticks in your grits and having all that creamy, gooey goodness melting in your mouth.

Now you know how cheesy breadsticks are a great side dish for shrimp and grits.

In just 30 minutes, that culinary dream is attainable.

You only need some refrigerated pizza dough from the grocery store and a few extremely simple ingredients.

Once you’ve tried this combination, cheesy breadsticks will be a staple in any future shrimp and grits meal.

6. Fried Okra

 

If you live in the south or are familiar with southern cuisine, chances are that your taste buds have encountered fried okras before.

Imagine dipping these crispy gems in some warm, creamy grits.

Are you salivating yet? So am I!

This pairing will definitely leave you wanting more, so make sure to fry plenty of okras.

All you need to make this tasty side dish is eggs, flour, oil, salt, and pepper.

You can also add a spicy twist by using cayenne peppers for seasoning.

The only downside to fried okras is that they take time to prepare. You may actually need to get them ready a couple of days in advance.

7. No-Buttermilk Southern Cornbread

 

Yet another staple of southern cuisine, cornbread can be paired with practically any southern dish.

Shrimp and grits are no exception. Once you get to dipping some cornbread in your grits, you’ll find it very hard to stop.

It gets better.

You can go for the classic, tried-and-true cornbread, or you can get creative and add a twist of flavor to it.

8. Green Bean Salad

Whoever told you that healthy food can’t be delicious lied to you. 

If you’re still in doubt about what to make with shrimp and grits, this is another excellent option.

Add some fresh green bean salad on top of your shrimp and grits, and your taste buds will be in for a treat.

To get the maximum flavor out of this side dish, season the green beans with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Toss all of this together in a bowl, throw it on top of your shrimp and grits, and enjoy a superb dining experience.

9. Zesty Garlic Bread

 

Garlic bread is one of those side dishes that goes with virtually any main dish, and that includes shrimp and grits.

It’ll add some crunch to your meal, as well as some cheesy goodness if you opt to go with a mozzarella or cheddar cheese topping.

Want to know the best part?

Preparing garlic bread is a piece of cake.

The only things you need are some simple ingredients and 15 minutes of spare time.

10. Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

 

Looking for a side dish to make your shrimp and grits meal an even more hearty, nutritious one?

Look no further than these loaded twice baked potatoes.

They’re full of carbs, protein, and fiber.

Make sure you have some baking potatoes, butter, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper.

11. Corn on the Cob

There’s just something about eating corn right off the cob that brings me, and my taste buds, great joy.

I guarantee you that your first time adding some buttered, salted, and peppered corn cobs to your shrimp and grits meal won’t be your last.

12. Best Homemade Coleslaw Salad

 

Another salad that goes hand in hand with shrimp and grits is coleslaw.

The mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, vinegar, and honey dressing covering the cabbage will bring a new heavenly flavor dimension to your meal.

The best part is that you can have this salad ready in as little as 10 minutes.

With prep out of the way, all you have to do is stir the coleslaw mix and the dressing together in a bowl.

Leave the bowl covered in the fridge for 20 minutes, and then you’ll be ready to indulge in this delicious combination.

13. Spinach and Tomato Galettes

 

If you’re looking to add a sophisticated gourmet element to your shrimp and grits dinner, try out this amazing French pastry.

These spinach and feta cheese stuffed pastries are addicting in and of themselves (I say that from experience).

Combining these fluffy Galettes with shrimp and grits is something that should be on your bucket list for sure.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, get some ready-to-bake puff pastry dough and give this delicious side dish a try.

14. Creamy Red Potato Salad

 

In just 30 minutes, you can make some out-of-this-world potato salad that rivals mama’s home cooking.

You just have to boil some potatoes in water for about 12 minutes and leave it in the fridge to cool.

Then, mix the quartered potatoes with dill pickles, mustard, mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

The result will be an appetizing bowl of tasty potato salad that complements your shrimp and grits to perfection.

15. Healthy Oven-Roasted Broccoli

 

Who said eating broccoli has to be an ordeal?

Once you’ve tried roasted broccoli, you’ll wish you’d found out about it when you were a kid.

This crunchy broccoli seasoned with olive oil and cheese will complement the soft creaminess of your shrimp and grits perfectly.

You know what’s even better?

You can have a whole batch of roasted broccoli ready to go in under 20 minutes.

Conclusion

If you’re ever in doubt about what to serve with shrimp and grits, this guide will definitely come in handy.

Of course, check out our list of grilled shrimp sides for even more similar, great tasting ideas.

All of the side dishes listed above can add a new dimension of flavor to your shrimp and grits that will surely have your mouth watering.

What I’m sure of is that once you’ve tried some of these shrimp and grits sides, they’ll become staples in your shrimp and grits meals.