Ahhhh fish and grits…a true southern comfort classic! There is just something about this dish that does it for me. It doesn’t matter what I’m going through at the time, when I sit down to a bowl of flavorful, creamy cheese grits and cajun fish, everything feels “alright” Yep it’s that deep for me lol.
This fish and grits dish was a big part of my childhood. We had it almost every week. There are so many ways to spin this recipe by adding different seasonings and cheeses to the grits or cooking the fish a different way, like deep frying in cornmeal.
Half n Half gives these grits a super creamy texture. Added spices, chicken broth and cheese kicks up the flavor.
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| Cajun Fish and Savory Cheese Grits: Food for the soul |
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| These savory cheese grits are loaded with flavor! |
DIRECTIONS
Watch me make this cajun fish and savory cheese grits from start to finish!
Cajun Fish and Savory Cheese Grits
Ingredients
- Easy Cajun Fish I never measure the spice ingredients. Season only one side generously
- 2 tilapia fillets thawed
- Olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- salt
- Cajun seasoning
- Old bay seasoning
- Parsley
- Black pepper
- Onion powder optional
- Oregano optional
- Butter
- Savory Grits
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup half n half
- 1/2 cup grits 5-minute Quick Cooking Grits
- 1-2 Tablespoons butter
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Brush thawed fillets with olive oil.
- Top with fresh minced garlic and a sprinkling of salt.
- Sprinkle generously with Cajun seasoning, Old Bay Seasoning, parsley, & black pepper.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add fish to skillet. Cook for about 5-7 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fish. Flip fish & cook for 2-3 minutes until fish is firm and flaky.
- While cooking, season the other side with onion powder and a little bit of oregano if desired.
- Add a thin slice of butter on top of fish.
- When fish is firm and flaky it’s done.
- Place on a plate and cover with foil to keep the fish warm.
- In a saucepan, add chicken broth, water and half n half.
- Bring to a boil.
- Add the grits slowly while whisking. Continue whisking while adding all the grits.
- Reduce heat to low.
- Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Stir the grits frequently while cooking.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter.
- Stir in paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, & white pepper.
- Stir in cheddar cheese.
- Add some salt if desired.
- Add a few drops of hot sauce.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Tips * If the grits are too thick just add in a little more hot water or hot broth to thin them out.
Wash the pot immediately since grits can really cling to the sides of the pot and harden if left sitting.
Made this tonight and it was amazing ! My dad is visiting and doesn’t like shrimp – I wanted to find a fish and grits recipe and so glad I found this one ! Thank you !
I served with sautéed collard greens and we loved it !
Hi Monique! Can I use the same recipe on the grits if I don’t use cheese? Will I need to alter anything if the cheese were left out?
Thank you,
Absolutely perfect! Most delish grits recipe for sure. We made this with baked trout (425*) and loved it! Only wish I had doubled the recipe 😉 This is going on our regular rotation for sure. Thank you!
I wish I could attach a pic of my version of this recipe with baked steel house trout at 425. I added parmesan sprinkled asparagus. The meal turned out even better than I’d hoped. I adored the southern cajun flavor. So glad to have found this gem of a website. I too enjoy cooking & learned from my grandmoms using fresh from the gardens ingredients. Idle hands snapped peas & peeled potatoes.
I just made this recipe for my husband; and he and I both absolutely loved it. I used Cod fish instead, but followed your time frame. Everything came out perfect!!! I will definitely be repeating this recipe several times. Thanks a million
I can’t wait to try this!! Thanks for the recipe.
Fantastic meal that cured my winter Monday blues!
This dish was delicious. I did season both sides of the fish. But that is the only alteration that I made. As usual with blackened fish, the kitchen was quite smoky. Make sure to turn on the vent! Grits were delicious and creamy. Fish was delicious! LOVE
I’ve made this twice now: once substituting the fish for shrimp (cooked the same way with the same seasonings) and then again with the tilapia. Both were bomb. The second time around I added cayenne pepper and garlic salt to the grits. Mmm mmm good. This is the only way I’m cooking my grits from now on!
Thanks for the perfect instructions. My husband and son loved this. I sautéed some chopped Napa cabbage to serve as our main vegetable. I think the mild flavor of the cabbage let the wonderful fish and grits stand out.
I LOVE this and come back to it over and over. I moved to another country and brought my seasonings with me. I making it with that fabulous topping for ten of my friends and can’t wait till they get hooked, too! Love your presentation and energy.
Have not yet made this, but it is exactly what I was looking for. I am a new convert to cheese grits as it is one of the favorite dishes I have found where my son attends college, Memphis!! Your presentation and honesty in the preparation phase won me over for sure!! Will let you know how my very picky eaters respond!!
This meal was DELICIOUS! I am so glad you posted this recipe! Thank you! I’ll be making this many times in the future.
Just made this for my boyfriend and he said it was ON POINT!
I made this for my boyfriend and his sister and neice and needless to say it was a BIG HIT. Even his 10yr. old niece, who is very picky, cleaned her plate. I followed the recipe to the T and added pineapple salsa on top of the talapia. I also put a little Louisiana Remoulade sauce on the side. PERFECTO!!! Made a talapia salad with the leftovers.
Savory Fish and Savory Cheese Grits. It was Awesome. Took minimal time to prepare. So good I made it two days in a row. Definitely will add to breakfast selections. Thank you keep the recipes coming. Divas most definitely can cook.
YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN….
I did not have tilapia so I substituted it with shrimp. Other than that I followed the recipe . I was born and raised in Louisiana and the flavors did not disappoint. Amazing doesnt do it justice… I only made enough for me and my boyfriend to eat once and I was extrememly upset that there was none left for seconds. Definitely a staple in my household!Making this again next week!!!!!!!
Made this tonight and my husband loved it!!! Thanks for another great recipe!!
This sounds amazing!!! Does anyone think this would taste good with whiting, instead of tilapia? I don’t eat tilapia
this was an excellent recipe, im always using your recipes!! i cook for my woman and she loves the food!!
I just finished making this dish for myself. I was looking for a shrimp and grits recipe and landed on this instead. OMG!!!!!! I’m in heaven, it is SOOOO good. I can’t wait to cook this for my kids and my man. THANK YOU!
To my surprise it turned out good. I say surprise only because I mess up every recipe I try. And I mean every. Lol.
Finally I got a recipe right!!! Thank you. This was easy to make and delicious. Lol now I’m laying on the chair with my stomach poked out. Lol. My goal is to try one new recipe a week.
Thanks again
Jeeezzzzzuuuuusss!! I just finished making and eating this meal. Hubbys is in the microwave awaiting his return. This was so darn good I wanted to slap my mama. Hunty you put any other fish and grits reciipes I have made to shame. Thank you love it.
Lord have mercy! I made this meal tonight and was pissed that I only cooked one piece of tilapia! I wasn’t feeling great earlier so I didn’t think I would eat much! Wrong! Lord have mercy I am going to need a diet if I keep cooking these recipes. I am already planning for the pineapple and mango salsa with fish in the next few days. I have enough grits left for tomorrow so I will cook one more piece of fish, lol! I’ve told all my friends about your blog! LOL
Soooo…i have never made or had grits and i’m 38. These looks sooo good. I have to try them this weekend.
But my real comment is, am I seeing this correctly…are there no catfish recipes on this website. Say it aint so! I have catfish nuggets to fry up.
Made this today and I’ve NEVER cooked Talapia or fish for the matter a day in my life. So I decided to give it a try. This was sooooooooooooooo delicious OMG! I was kind of hesitant at fist because I didn’t have any Old Bay seasoning but I swear the fish was still so GOOD! I seasoned it just right! I did not make the grits because I suck at making grits, lol. I made a salad and a side of pineapples instead. Soooo yummyyy! I can’t wait to make this for a friend or family member. Thanks again for another successful meal.
LOVE this recipe! My honey was in love and requested it again the next day. I only had salmon, and I didn’t have cajun seasoning but I substituted it with Sazon but it worked out great! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
I just made this, and OMG!!! This is sooo good, Like really good!!..Thanks for posting this!…(rushing back to my plate)
I made this for my family and they loved it, so much so that there was hardly any left over for me. The next time I make this I will do so when no one is home so that I can get first dibs!
I made this recipe for my BFF when she came into town and she was so amazed at how awesome it tasted….I said well it came from Monique from Diva’s Can Cook duhhhh! Lol, we’re both hooked. The recipe is awesome and I’ve never been a fan of cheese grits.
Tried this recipe today and OMG what an explosion of flavors and the creamy texture of the grits was perfect! Thanks for sharing. Will definitely be making this again
My husband didnt believe that I made this myself, he swore I got it from a restauraunt. It came out amazingly and the only complaint my husband had about was that he could “feel my arteries closing up” lol. thanks so much
Oh! No you didn’t! That was AWESOME! Thank you for sharing!
I can cook better.
This is very tasty…..We loved it…Keep it coming Monique!
I am sooooo happy you made this recipe. I had a taste for some fish and grits and decided to look up a recipe and found yours. I went to the grocery store today and purchased the ingredients. Can’t wait to make it!!! I bought some plantains to pair with it…..YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to try your tilapia bruscetta and roasted broccoli too!
Good Evening. I just made this dish with Catfish, Cabbage and Squash smothered in Onions. Absolutely Delicious. I used Extra Virgin Olive Oil instead of Butter and Catfish instead of Tilapia. Excellente! Keep up the Good Work. I can always count on your website to have a delicious, filling recipe available.
I just made this for the new man. His review: “These are the best grits I’ve ever had in my life.” I think he might stay a while. Thanks for this recipe!
You’re recipes are great. Paul Deen watch out! 🙂
You are an awesome southern cook.
This was really good. I’m not from the south so this was new to me, but I made it and it was great! thanks
I must admit, I was a little afraid to try this when I saw it. I think that maybe I thought I would not season the talapia quite right or something. However, I do make fish and grits sometimes but it’s kind of plain so I definitely took this as an opportunity to spice it up a bit. I’m so glad I tried it because it was DELICIOUS! My husband took some for lunch the next day (I think I made 6 fillets) and called me from work to tell me that he thought it was even better the second day AND that if there was any left, he wanted that for dinner that night! lol
I cooked this last night and hubby and I enjoyed it so much. We wanted more !!!! Yum yum, thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.
Ok, tried this a third time with catfish instead of talapia, not a huge fan of it, and OMG ….it was gone and everyone was asking for more. The grits were gone and normally we have at least half a bowl left over.
I tried this and it was a huge hit. My boyfriend loved it. I made it twice in one week, lol!
Girl this recipe is Good!!!!!!
you should put typed directions to make it easier to follow as you cook. it’s kinda hard to watch a video and cook at the same time
Greetings! I am trying my luck in quick cooking techniques. My specialty, I create or discover recipes that can be cooked within 15 or less minutes. Do give my site a look – lazyspinster.weebly.com
OMG! Everybody loved this recipe! So quick, simple, and good. You did that! I love your blog. Everything posted that I have tried has been fantastic! I faithfully await your new posts.
This recipe was such a hit in my household with loads of flavor thanks to youuuuuuuuu we loved it!!
That's a nice combination. I've never made grits before, but these look yummy!
GIRRRRRRRL……I just made this dish and it was AWESOME. I LOVE your site SO Much….I have made a ton of your recipes and each & every one has been GOOD. I don't have a hubby yet but when I do get one I will be able to cook for him – thanks 2 you…..Lol.
I'm going to have to try this. I've made it with catfish or shrimp, but never tilapia.
Thanks for the recipe just brought some fish the other day and will be trying this. You are uping my cooking game cause I had none thanks a bunch! Love the site
Just prepared the Tilapia for dinner and it is DELICIOUS!! Thanks for keeping the recipes coming 🙂
This looks simply delicious! I will definitely make this soon! Thanks so much!
This recipe looks great and I love talapia. You amaze me with your recipes all the time. I'm so trying this. Just to let you know, butter is good for you, much better than fake butter such as margarine. Don't believe people when they say it's not. Sorry to seem like I'm preaching to you. Love, love, love, this site. Keep up the good work.