Wondering What to Serve with Polenta? Here Are 27 Ideas, from Hearty to Healthy
Ah, polenta: The simple Italian porridge, made from cornmeal, is kind of our secret pantry darling. It’s creamy, filling, comforting and cheap—but tastes downright luxurious and will be oh so impressive to your dinner party guests. Not sure what to serve with polenta once you’ve made a pot? Here are 27 delicious ideas, from the hearty (like meatballs) to the healthy (like roasted Mediterranean vegetables or garlic shrimp) that will convince you it’s an unsung dinnertime hero.
40 Polenta Recipes That Are Creamy, Comforting and Downright Impressive
1. Polenta and Meatballs
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Trade the usual spaghetti for polenta and you’re left with a meal that’s elegant enough to serve to company, yet still kid-friendly (and simple) enough to make on a weeknight. Go ahead and use jarred marinara sauce; we won’t tell.
2. Pan-Fried Polenta with Blistered Tomatoes and Burrata
Eva Kolenko/The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
This recipe turns polenta into crispy pan-fried bites, but you could just as easily serve the jammy topping over the creamy kind too.
3. Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Bacon
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
Pop the mushrooms in the oven to roast while you’re cooking the polenta, and then they’ll be conveniently done at the same time. To make it a heartier main course, put an egg on it (if you so please).
4. Turkey Sausage and Veggie Polenta Bowls
Carina Skrobecki/Simply Real Eating
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein
This one is as easy to make as it is to eat and it comes together in all of 30 minutes, plus the turkey sausage adds protein without a ton of fat. New weeknight staple? You bet.
5. Soft Polenta and Mushroom Bowls
Plant Power Bowls
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, gluten free
For a plant-based spin on polenta, finish it with avocado oil a squeeze of lemon instead of the usual milk and cheese.
6. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
Karen Tedesco/Family Style
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, low carb, beginner-friendly
A vibrant jumble of roasted vegetables is practically begging to be served over a steaming bowl of polenta. Drizzle everything with pesto or balsamic vinegar (or both) before serving.
7. Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (Shrimp in Garlic Sauce)
Esteban Castillo/Chicano Eats
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
If you think of this traditional Mexican dish as the cousin to Italian shrimp scampi, it only makes sense to serve it atop polenta. It’s just the thing to soak up all that butter and garlic.
8. Pan-Seared Scallops with Citrusy Corn Succotash
Erin Kunkel/The Vibrant Life
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free
These scallops require just a few minutes of cooking per side, but they still manage to feel fancy. If that’s not a reason to host a dinner party, we don’t know what is.
9. Seared Scallops with Green Peas, Mint and Shallots
Amanda Frederickson/Simple Beautiful Food
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Our number one tip for success? Make sure the scallops are super dry before plopping them in the hot skillet. Otherwise, they’ll never get a gorgeous golden brown sear (and that’s kind of the best part).
10. Ginger Pork Chops
Jeni Afuso/Make It Japanese
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free
This take on the Japanese dish buta no shogayaki would normally be served with white rice, but you could also slice it and arrange it over a bowl of polenta for a twist.
11. Mustardy Pork Tenderloin with Grapes and Red Onions
Nicole Franzen/To the Last Bite
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion–worthy
As the grapes roast, they soften and become almost saucy—just the thing to combine with polenta for a cozy meal.
12. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 7 hours, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead, <10 ingredients
Sandwiches are delicious, but they’re kind of casual. If you want to fancy up pulled pork, serve it with polenta—barbecue sauce optional.
13. Lamb Loin Chops Over Minty Pistachio Butter
Suech and Beck/A Generous Meal
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Unlike lamb rib chops, which are small and come with the long rib bone attached, loin chops are slightly larger with more meat. These are seasoned with vinegar and garnished with a creamy, nutty sauce that would be lovely over a bed of polenta.
14. Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free
FYI, these glazed lamb chops are as easy to cook as chicken. Eight minutes on the grill and voilà, you’ve got the fanciest party-ready entrée you’ve ever seen.
15. Slow Cooker Bolognese
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 6 hours, 45 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
This ragù tastes like you spent all day cooking but is almost entirely hands-off, thanks to the slow cooker. The set-it-and-forget-it meat sauce is ideal for coating a bowl of pasta or gracing the top of a creamy pile of polenta.
16. Perfect Meatballs with Cherry Tomato Sauce
What’s Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
The key to perfection is tossing a combination of beef and pork with panko breadcrumbs, which gives these meatballs a tender texture and balanced flavor. They freeze well, so it’s easy to make a big batch and just reheat when you have people coming over for dinner.
17. Baked Chicken and Ricotta Meatballs
Patricia Niven/Keeping It Simple
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
It’s important to make the meatballs uniform, round and slightly smaller than golf balls—that way, they’ll cook evenly. The ricotta keeps them light, while parsley and garlic add flavor.
18. Cheater’s Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, slow cooker recipe, special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
It takes hours to get a melt-in-your-mouth version of this French fave…unless you make your trusty slow cooker do all the work. Throw it in the pot, go about your day and come back to magically tender results that would make any chef proud, oui oui!
19. French Onion Brisket
Michael Marquand
Time Commitment: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Typically, brisket is simmered in a tomato-based sauce for rich results. Here, tons of caramelized onions provide the same sweetness as tomatoes, while a glug of sherry wine adds the acidity you need to cut through the richness of the meat.
20. One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Carrots
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
If you’re cooking most of your dinner all at once on a sheet pan, what’s one pot of polenta on the stove going to add to the cleanup? It’s worth it, promise.
21. Pan-Roasted Chicken with Shallots and Dates
Cook Beautiful
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, high protein
Juicy chicken with crispy skin rests on a caramelized layer of Medjool dates and green olives. The dish is salty-sweet and bright (thanks to lemon juice and zest) all at once.
22. Balsamic-Thyme Roasted Mushrooms
Kristen Kilpatrick/The Comfortable Kitchen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients
These mushrooms practically create their own pan sauce while roasting in the oven; at the end of the cook time, you’ll thicken the liquid to create a gravy-like sauce. It’s impressive minimum effort—ideal for impromptu get-togethers with friends.
23. Braised Lemon Chicken
Ryland, Peters & Small/Cucina Siciliana
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
If we never get tired of eating chicken, it’s because there are a million and one ways to keep it interesting. This version is all at once hearty and bright, thanks to plenty of citrus zest and a white wine pan sauce.
24. Creamy White Beans
Matt Armendariz/What’s Gaby Cooking: Take It Easy
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Beans and polenta are an unlikely pairing, but these legumes are swimming in a creamy, herby sauce that begs for a starchy companion. (Don’t tell anyone, but it starts with a can.)
25. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian
For a lighter meal, pair polenta with these cheesy, peppery Brussels sprouts. They come together with about five ingredients, so dinner has never been simpler.
26. Julia Turshen’s Stewed Chickpeas with Peppers and Zucchini
Melina Hammer/Simply Julia
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
This is a healthy-and-hearty recipe that is simple to make and infinitely adaptable, too. Swap out the chickpeas for any type of bean, or add tomato and eggplant to switch up the vegetables.
27. Roasted Broccoli with Olive and Almond Pesto
Dominique Lafond/Salad Pizza Wine
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
The briny green olive pesto is packed with intense flavor, so it’s just the thing to brighten up a bowl of polenta. Pass the Parmesan, would you?
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