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.

Thanks to a little help from the Instant Pot, polenta can be ready in just 30 minutes, no stirring needed. Finish it with butter and Parmesan cheese, or whichever ingredients strike your fancy.

Creamy polenta takes the place of pasta in this polenta lasagna recipe from Ree Drummond. Make the bolognese sauce in the slow cooker ahead of time or bust out a batch from the freezer if you've stashed one away.

A bit of minced onion cooked in butter and chicken stock form the building blocks for this tasty polenta dish. Stir in creamy mascarpone and grated Parmesan for a one-two punch of cheesy goodness.

Simple fried polenta can make a great snack, appetizer or side dish. Make sure to coat the polenta in flour before adding it to the hot oil to achieve the best crispy texture.

This umami-rich polenta recipe uses mushroom broth and a sautéed mushroom topping. Finished with grated Parmesan cheese, this is the perfect side dish for roast chicken or steamed fish.

While many polenta recipes offer a simple backdrop for other, bolder flavors on the plate, this recipe brings the side dish to the center stage. Infused with a vibrant green kale puree, it’s finished with a blend of mascarpone cheese and Parmesan for maximum creaminess.

Fans of twice-cooked polenta will love this herb-infused recipe from Guy Fieri. This recipe features a hefty portion of Parmesan and a beautiful golden brown sear on the grill, which adds a nice smoky char.

Simple and satisfying, this polenta recipe cooks in the slow cooker so you can go hands-free while the coarse grain softens and absorbs the liquid. Spraying the slow cooker with cooking spray is an excellent (but often overlooked) tip that can save tons of time when it comes to clean up.

Next time you serve sliders, skip the bun! You can turn slices of precooked polenta into tasty "buns" for your burger instead. The polenta crisps in the oven along with tomatoes and onions to save time and maximize flavor.

Crispy rounds of polenta can be a great afternoon snack, especially when complemented by marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. These mini pizzas can be finished with whatever toppings you desire, from chopped veggies to cubes of ham.

After setting polenta in a dish in the refrigerator overnight, it can be cut into "fries" and crisped in the oven. They make a great side for barbecue or grilled fish.

Gorgonzola is a classic, and albeit controversial, cheese choice for polenta. This recipe cooks in just 10 minutes and is great when you need a quick, easy side.

Anne Burrell uses a bay leaf and mascarpone in her polenta to give it a flavor boost. This creamy and straightforward recipe is a great one for those new to cooking polenta.

For a luxurious polenta, this recipe is topped with a hearty chicken sauce that’s studded with black truffles and chopped fresh chives. The polenta itself is cooked in a mixture of cream and milk and finished with Parmigiano Reggiano to pair with the sautéed mushrooms.

Rachel Ray uses a mix of cheeses in her decadent soft polenta recipe. After cooking the polenta in chicken stock, she folds in goat cheese, Camembert, cheddar and Parmigiano Reggiano to make a dish that’s over-the-top cheesy.