25 polenta recipes

A quick and delicious polenta recipe that's very easy to make and tastes great the next day! Best served with a bit of parmesan cheese.

Polenta pasticciata layers firm cooled polenta squares with porcini-spiked beef ragù, plum tomatoes, and grated pecorino into a rustic Northern Italian bake. Lasagne, but with cornmeal instead of pasta.

Grilled polenta topped with charred radicchio, olive oil, and a drizzle of vinegar. A rustic Italian antipasto where crispy-edged polenta meets the bitter smoky bite of grilled chicory.

Polenta and vegetable bake layers prepared polenta slices with sauteed eggplant, zucchini, and spinach in marinara, topped with melty mozzarella. A naturally gluten-free, lighter take on eggplant parm.

Polenta Toscana with rosemary and toasted walnuts sauteed in olive oil, stirred into creamy polenta. Serve it soft or cool it and slice into crostini. A simple Tuscan vegetarian side or appetizer.

Polenta crostini topped with a savory porcini and cremini mushroom sauce. Crisp broiled polenta rounds stand in for bread, making this Italian appetizer naturally gluten-free.

Roasted cherry tomato compote over milky Parmesan polenta. Caramelized shallots and white wine turn simple tomatoes into something extraordinary. Low-fat, vegetarian, and full of flavor.

Broiled polenta squares topped with a quick fresh tomato and garlic sauce with parsley. A simple Italian vegetarian appetizer or snack with crisp edges and a soft, creamy center.

Carolina-style polenta made from corn grits cooked creamy and slow, enriched with butter and bouillon, then sliced, coated in cracker crumbs, and pan-fried until golden and crispy.

Polenta pizza with a crispy cornmeal crust topped with spaghetti sauce, fresh vegetables, and optional mozzarella. A gluten-free, vegetarian pizza alternative ready in 25 minutes.

Onion polenta and gorgonzola pizza uses firm polenta as a gluten-free pizza crust topped with soft-cooked onions, thyme, and crumbled gorgonzola. Simple vegetarian comfort food.

Pan-fried polenta wedges with briny olives and a slow-simmered garlic tomato sauce. A rustic Italian dish that turns simple cornmeal into a crisp golden base for a fragrant herbed sauce.

Everything in this recipe combined perfectly, looks beautiful, tastes so good.

Traditional slow-cooked polenta finished with butter and Parmesan cheese. Stirred low and slow for up to 45 minutes until thick, creamy, and impossibly smooth.

Silky double-boiler polenta topped with a melting slice of tangy Gorgonzola and a swirl of butter. This elegant Italian side dish is simple enough for weeknights yet impressive enough for dinner parties.

Spiced shrimp with broiled polenta stacks lemon-sage shrimp onto crisp-broiled polenta rounds, finished with crumbled prosciutto. An elegant, quick New Year's Eve appetizer or small-plate main.