40 Polenta Recipes That Are Creamy, Comforting and Downright Impressive
Enable us to introduce our solution pantry darling and unsung supper hero: polenta. A easy dish designed from cornmeal, it’s creamy, filling, comforting and cheap—but tastes downright luxurious and will be oh so amazing to your meal get together company. Right here are 40 shocking polenta recipes to integrate into your weekly rotation.
Relevant: Here’s How to Make Polenta at House (Simply because It’s Less complicated Than You Feel)
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Like It: particular occasion-worthy, substantial protein, one pan
Seems fancy, but it’s essentially so quick. (Like, cooked in a solitary skillet straightforward.)
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Time Determination: 1 hour and 50 minutes
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Why We Appreciate It: kid-welcoming, superior protein, rookie-pleasant
All the perks of lasagna, minus the fuss. Your picky eaters will go gaga for the beefy tomato sauce.
It does not get cozier than this tumble appetizer. You can use possibly contemporary or canned pumpkin, dependent on how fancy you want to get (or how lazy you really feel).
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Time Motivation: 45 minutes
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Why We Really like It: kid-helpful, group-pleaser, specific celebration-worthy
Proof that polenta can be as crispy as it is creamy. These very small bites are a whole lot like corner pieces of cornbread.
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Time Dedication: 1 hour and 5 minutes
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Why We Enjoy It: kid-welcoming, novice-pleasant, high protein
Spaghetti can sit this one particular out. Opposite to popular perception, you you should not will need to stir polenta for hours on end—just whisk it from time to time to keep it from sticking to the pan.
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Time Motivation: 55 minutes
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Why We Really like it: <10 ingredients, one pot
It doesn’t get more hands-off than this baked approach. Instead of diligently manning the stovetop, let your oven do all the heavy lifting.
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Time Commitment: 50 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
This bacon-topped stunner is satiating as is, but it’ll be even more satisfying topped with a runny egg.
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein
This half-hour wonder just might be the coziest weeknight meal of all time.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, one bowl
Bright, zingy and impeccably textured, your guests will ooh and ahh over this cake. They’ll have no idea it took you practically zero effort to prepare.
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Time Commitment: 55 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan
The key to an indulgent, dairy-free polenta? Avocado oil (and a generous dollop of basil pesto).
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, high protein
Show off your spring farmers market haul with this dish that stars sugar snap peas and asparagus.
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Time Commitment: 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Almond milk is used in place of traditional dairy. Substitute nutritional yeast for Parmesan cheese to make the dish totally vegan.
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
Monique Volz knows that good things come in skillets. Finish your plate with fresh cilantro, diced avocado and hot sauce.
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, kid-friendly
The chops are cooked in apple cider and fresh apples for tenderness and autumn flavor. Need we say more?
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian
Creamy, tangy and delicious. Make the dish even easier on the eyes by using tricolor or heirloom tomatoes.
Leave it to Gena Hamshaw to create something healthy, easy and appetizing. Save time by marinating the tofu overnight and preparing the salsa a day in advance.
Complete with rainbow chard and caramelized onions. They’re plant-based, wheat-free and entirely adorable.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Introducing Gaby Dalkin’s genius solution for feeding a crowd. Serve the cheesy side with chicken Bolognese, basil vinaigrette, sausage and cooked veggies.
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Time Commitment: 50 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, gluten free
It’s true: Polenta can be savory or sweet. (Just ask Phoebe Lapine, who pairs it with juicy berries and tart rhubarb.)
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, pescatarian, high protein
Don’t let the shellfish intimidate you—scallops are so much easier to cook at home than you think. They only require a few minutes of searing per side.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
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Why We Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser
Oh hey, two cups of red wine. (Thanks, Jodi Moreno!) Serve it all over kale or spinach with a dollop of dairy-free yogurt.
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Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
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Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
We love potatoes, but aren’t these way more exciting? Don’t even get us started on the tarragon-lemon aioli.
This twist on crostini won’t last long on the appetizer table.
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Time Commitment: 10 hours
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Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser
The polenta boasts pecorino Romano *and* fontina cheeses, both freshly grated for maximum silkiness.
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Time Commitment: 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian
Not only is the polenta packed with butter, cream and gouda, but it’s also crowned with fresh chimichurri sauce for good measure.
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
The briny relish, teeming with kalamata olives and sherry vinegar, would also pair well with chicken, gyros, salad or yogurt.
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Time Commitment: 4 hours and 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
This recipe is beyond elegant, down to the green onion gremolata.
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Time Commitment: 10 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
Butter, syrup and powdered sugar will quell the kids’ doubts about these unconventional pancakes.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes (plus cooling time)
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Why We Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
This olive oil-laced masterpiece is inspired by amor polenta, a cake from the town of Varese, Italy, that’s made with almonds and polenta.
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Time Commitment: 8 hours and 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Prep the shredded beef in advance (the Crockpot will do most of the work for you), then prepare the buttery cornbread topping before baking and serving.
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Time Commitment: 45 minutes
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Why We Love It: pescatarian, high protein
If you don’t eat this summery dish in the backyard alongside a glass of vino, you’re doing it wrong.
Roasted garlic + buttery lobster tail + mascarpone *and* fontina cheeses = your new favorite dinner. Substitute shrimp if you don’t want to spring for lobster.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
In case you need yet another reason to buy a set of cute, single-serve baking dishes.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, gluten free
The cake gets fruity flavor and undeniable moisture from a surprise ingredient: pear baby food.
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Time Commitment: 40 minutes
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Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Trust us: You’ll want to make double of the basil vinaigrette to use on steak, pasta, salads, grilled fish and beyond.
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Time Commitment: 25 minutes
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Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
If the weather’s warm, feel free to grill the halloumi instead of frying it. The char marks will offer nice smokiness to the plate.
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Time Commitment: 10 hours
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Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Cabernet and fresh herbs take the fork-tender meat over the top, while mascarpone cheese makes the polenta extra creamy.
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Time Commitment: 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, beginner-friendly
Chorizo turns this brunch gem extra savory and spicy, but you could easily swap in crumbled breakfast sausage or bacon instead.
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Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
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Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, vegetarian
It’s just the starter for Easter dinner, if you ask us. (Just look at all that in-season asparagus.)
The texture is just as drool-worthy as the flavor. Dust each slice with confectioners’ sugar before serving.
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