Recipe Roundup

39 Polenta Recipes for Creamy (or Crispy!) and Delicious Comfort Food

Polenta can go savory or sweet.
This image may contain Plant Food Pizza Meal Dish and Bread
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini

Polenta recipes fit right in with our current comfort food needs. A big pot of creamy cornmeal makes a wonderful base for whatever you're braising or roasting, but that's not all. You can bake with this pantry staple, too, and even use it as a stand-in for pizza crust. Here are 39 of our favorite polenta recipes to get you started.

  • A bowl of polenta topped with butter shaved cheese and black pepper.
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley
    1/39

    Creamy Polenta

    No need for constant stirring. Put the lid on this pot of creamy polenta, and the condensation will do most of the work for you.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini
    2/39

    Cheesy Baked Butternut Squash Polenta

    Butternut squash melts into the polenta as this creamy, make-ahead dish cooks, while chunks of Fontina create melting pockets of cheese throughout. Feel free to substitute another creamy cheese if you don't have Fontina on hand.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Alex Lau
    9/39

    Polenta Cacio e Pepe

    This polenta recipe uses the pressure cooker for a dish that's simple and so delicious. If you don't have Pecorino, Parmesan also works well. Don't skimp on the freshly ground black pepper.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    10/39

    Italian Fish and Vegetable Stew

    Polenta doesn't need a heavy meat topping. Here, it gets firm white fish (such as mahi-mahi, cod, or halibut) and a bright sauce made with fresh vegetables, plus a bit of red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and mustard.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Billingskog
    11/39

    Polenta Bites With Wild Mushrooms and Fontina

    Store-bought tubes of polenta are the ultimate appetizer shortcut: just slice and toast in the oven, top with sautéed wild mushrooms and a sprinkling of grated Fontina, then bake again until melty and irresistible.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    12/39

    Lamb Chops with Polenta and Grilled Scallion Sauce

    Yes, you can grill sliced polenta. Here, it's paired with grilled lamb chops and a smoky sauce made from grilled scallions and jalapeño.

    Get This Recipe
  • David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl
    17/39

    Torta di Ricotta e Polenta

    This Italian lemon and almond cake is a great way to end a meal. It is technically a cheesecake, but it's lighter and more bright in flavor thanks to that lemon and plenty of rich polenta.

    Get This Recipe
  • Stephanie Foley
    18/39

    Herbed Polenta "Fries"

    We love a comforting bowl of polenta, but it's also fun to have some different textures among your polenta recipes. Here, the polenta is cooled, cut into sticks, and broiled until the outer edges of the "fries" are golden and crisp, a fine contrast to the creamy interior.

    Get This Recipe
  • Con Poulos
    23/39

    Polenta Caprese Pizza

    Can't find yeast to make pizza dough? You can still make this polenta-based pizza crust. The polenta crust needs to chill at least 2 hours before baking, so prep it the night before (or in the morning before you start working—it's that easy).

    Get This Recipe
  • donna hay magazine, photography by Chris Court
    24/39

    Duck Ragù with Creamy Polenta

    Tangy, creamy, and rich—this is a dish worthy of a special occasion at home.

    Get This Recipe
  • Nigel Cox
    37/39

    Grilled Mustard Chicken with Fresh Corn Polenta

    Cornmeal and fresh corn are used in the creamy polenta. A green onion Dijon mixture is spread under the skin of the chicken before it's grilled.

    Get This Recipe
  • Francesco Tonelli
    38/39

    Plum and Polenta Cake

    File this polenta recipe for when summer fruit is abundant. It is delicious with the plums called for in this recipe, but you may also want to consider using figs, or pitted sweet cherries.

    Get This Recipe
The Epicurious editorial team develops original recipes, and publishes stories about cooking better, faster, and more creatively, sustainably, and affordably. See our full masthead, here. ... Read More
Read More
What's the Best Way to Bring Frozen Bread Back to Life?
What's the Best Way to Bring Frozen Bread Back to Life?
Having bread stashed in your freezer at all times is the ultimate lunch hack—here's how to defrost to achieve chewy, crunchy bread.

Emily Johnson

How to Make Actually Great Pasta With Only Pantry Ingredients
How to Make Actually Great Pasta With Only Pantry Ingredients
A couple of cans and a box of noodles is all you need for a quick, affordable dinner.

Joe Sevier

An Upcoming Cookbook Has Re-Acquainted Me With My Instant Pot—Just in Time for Pantry Meals
An Upcoming Cookbook Has Re-Acquainted Me With My Instant Pot—Just in Time for Pantry Meals
Lusciously spiced and layered Instant Pot meals give pantry staples new shine.

Lauren Joseph

How to Cobble Together a Cocktail in the Coronavirus Era
How to Cobble Together a Cocktail in the Coronavirus Era
If you’ve got even a small selection of spirits in your home bar, you probably have the makings of a cocktail good enough to take to that (Zoom) party.

Maggie Hoffman

The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App This Week
Like grilled chicken wings and a citrus bitters cocktail.
The Most-Saved Recipes in the Epicurious App in May
Like green falafel smash burgers and a crispy rice salad.
23 Fresh Basil Recipes for Pesto and Beyond
Grilled corn with basil butter, pineapple shrimp noodles, slow-cooker pork with zesty basil sauce, and more.
19 Low-Alcohol Cocktails That Still Bring the Party
Like a strawberry-rhubarb spritz, a watermelon-sherry-kombucha cooler, and more low-ABV drinks for day drinking and keeping your witz.
41 Father’s Day Breakfasts to Say, “Thanks, Dad”
Extra-tender cinnamon rolls, everything-bagel quiche, a chorizo and egg crunchwrap, and more ways to show your gratitude.
31 Fourth of July Desserts for Star-Spangled Summer Fun
Like butter-pecan icebox cake, sour cherry pot pie, sheet pan shortcake, and more.
The Best Mac and Cheese You'll Ever Make (Restaurant-Quality)
In this edition of Epicurious 101, professional chef and culinary instructor Frank Proto demonstrates how to make the best mac and cheese at home. From the perfect melty sauce to a delicious toasted crust, follow Frank’s guide and never make a dry mac and cheese again.
Cheese Expert Tries Every Trader Joe’s Cheese
Trader Joe’s is famous for its cheese selection, but which ones are actually worth buying? Cheese expert Liz Thorpe joins Epicurious to taste test everything from classic Brie and sharp cheddar to more adventurous flavors like chocolate stilton and spicy scotch bonnet. Join Liz as she breaks down the best buys, hidden gems, and which cheeses to skip on your next Trader Joe’s run.