20 Polenta Recipes That Are Creamy and Comforting

Polenta has its roots in ancient times. When corn arrived in Italy from the Americas in the 16th century, it began to take the place of earlier grains, and the comfort food we know today started to take shape. From simple side dishes to decadent main courses that your entire family will gobble up, there are so many ways to make a filling meal with polenta. It can serve as a neutral base for things like short ribs or meatballs, and there are plenty of ways to cook it in your slow cooker or Instant Pot. For instance, polenta bramata (which refers to the coarseness of the grind on the cornmeal) should be cooked low and slow for a long period of time to let the grains absorb the liquid. This recipe from Scott Conant cooks the cornmeal in a mixture of cream and milk before letting it simmer over a low heat until it reaches the perfect texture. You can prepare it as a one-pot meal or transfer it to a slow cooker to make things even simpler.

This recipe crisps Parmesan cheese in the bottom of a heavy pot before adding the cooked polenta to create a golden brown crust. From there, add sauces or toppings of your choice, like sautéed sausage, bolognese sauce or roasted broccoli.

These crunchy butter cookies are made with many of the same ingredients as your standard pot of polenta, plus a few extras. Sweet, simple and totally irresistible, these will be sure to make it into your recipe book.

Soft and creamy polenta takes a lot of time and stirring to achieve, but it's worth it. After cooking in butter and chicken stock, this labor of love is finished with a blend of mascarpone and Parmesan to make a perfectly delightful dish.