Watch out mashed potatoes, our creamy parmesan polenta recipe is here to elevate a traditional side dish.
Traditional polenta is a warm comfort food that is a terrific accompaniment for your main dish.
We bumped up the flavor by substituting the boiling water for chicken stock, adding in butter, and also shaved parmesan cheese into the pan to add a depth of flavor to creamy, soft polenta.
What is Polenta?
Polenta is a Porridge-like dish from Northern Italy, made from ground cornmeal.
It is very similar to grits, in that they are made from cornmeal, except that grits are a different coarseness of grain.
You can find buckwheat, yellow or white cornmeal varieties, but traditional polenta uses yellow cornmeal.
Where to Buy Polenta
You can find polenta at the grocery store, usually near the pasta aisle.
If you can not find polenta when searching specifically for the word, look for a similar grain by searching for the term “cornmeal” or “grits”.
Sometimes you can even find prepared polenta in a tube in the pasta section. In that case, you just need to warm it up in a heavy saucepan and add an additional tablespoon of butter and cheese for extra flavor.
Is Polenta Vegan or Vegetarian?
At its core, the cornmeal that is polenta is vegan and vegetarian.
We love to make parmesan polenta with chicken stock, but you can substitute a few items to create the polenta that is right for you.
- Vegetarian – Use vegetable broth or cups of water instead of chicken stock to make this a vegetarian-friendly recipe.
- Vegan – Use the vegetarian variation and swap out the butter and cheese for olive oil.
Entrees to Serve with Parmesan Polenta
This creamy side dish is a great substitute for anything you serve mashed potatoes with. Most notably, here are our favorite protein pairings with our perfect polenta recipe:
- Shrimp – Also known as shrimp and grits, this is a match made in heaven. Try some cajun rub on some grilled, sauteed or sous vide shrimp and serve them on top of the cheesy polenta.
- Short Ribs – We make both Sous Vide Short Ribs as well as Short Ribs in the Instant Pot as a way to create fall-apart roasted beef. Topping polenta with short ribs is a great side dish option, it’s one of our favorite ways to serve short ribs!
- Chicken – One of the best side dishes for your chicken dish! Try our Sous Vide Chicken Thighs or a whole roasted chicken (we love to make Smoked Spatchcock Chicken) with polenta.
- Beef Cheeks – A cross between brisket and a short rib, beef cheeks are an amazing (and affordable cut of meat to cook. Learn How to Cook Beef Cheeks (there are 3 options!) and whip up a side of this creamy polenta recipe to serve with it.
- Lamb – We like to make Herb Roasted Rack of Lamb and serve the lamb chops over our homemade polenta. Another rustic recipe that is a nod to Italian cuisine is our Braised Italian Lamb Shank Recipe.
- Duck – Whether you’re making our Sous Vide Duck Breast or our Air Fryer Duck Breast Recipe, this creamy parmesan polenta recipe is a perfect side dish to offset the rich flavor of the duck. It’s one of our top options when we’re thinking about What to Serve with Duck.
How to Store Leftover Polenta
Leftover polenta can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
When polenta cools, it firms up. To reheat polenta to a creamy consistency, add some milk, water, or broth and stir in a saucepan on medium heat.
Or use the firmer polenta to make polenta cakes in the oven or in a skillet.
Creamy Parmesan Polenta Recipe
Prep Time: 3 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 cup polenta (or grits or cornmeal)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 quart of chicken broth (or chicken stock)
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- To make the polenta, start by melting the butter in a medium saucepan on medium-high heat.
- Then add the minced garlic and cook for about one minute.
- Next, add the quart of chicken broth and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Once boiling, start to add the polenta, about ⅓ cup at a time. Use a wooden spoon to stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook for 15-25 minutes (stirring every few minutes) until the polenta has thickened to your desired creamy consistency.
- Stir in the cheese and finish the dish with salt and pepper.
Note: Serve immediately or the polenta will start to firm up into polenta cakes
Incredible, Creamy Parmesan Polenta Recipe
This incredible, creamy parmesan polenta recipe is a perfect side dish for all your favorite cozy entrees like short ribs, duck, and lamb.
Ingredients
- 1 cup polenta (or grits or cornmeal)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 quart of chicken broth (or chicken stock)
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- To make the polenta, start by melting the butter in a medium saucepan on medium-high heat.
- Then add the minced garlic and cook for about one minute.
- Next, add the quart of chicken broth and bring the liquid to a boil.
- Once boiling, start to add the polenta, about ⅓ cup at a time. Use a wooden spoon to stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook for 15-25 minutes (stirring every few minutes) until the polenta has thickened to your desired creamy consistency.
- Stir in the cheese and finish the dish with salt and pepper.
Notes
Serve immediately or the polenta will start to firm up into polenta cakes. Leftover polenta can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
When polenta cools, it firms up. To reheat polenta to a creamy consistency, add some milk, water, or broth and stir in a saucepan on medium heat.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check out These Other Amazing Side Dish Recipes:
- Smoked Mushroom Recipe: Use it as a topper for steaks and meat or add it to a perfect Mushroom Swiss Burger Recipe.
- Air Fryer Broccolini: One of our most popular side dish recipe. It’s easy and it’s perfectly cooked broccolini, thanks to the air fryer.
- Sourdough Stuffing Recipe with Sausage Apples and Sage: If you want everyone raving at your thanksgiving table, make this stuffing recipe. It’s so good that we make it year round to serve with roast chicken.
- Apple Cabbage Slaw Recipe: A light, bright, and flavorful slaw! Bring it to a picnic or serve it inside fish tacos!
Click this link to pin this recipe for Creamy Parmesan Polenta on Pinterest.
Also, don’t forget to follow us on instagram and facebook for more recipes and foodie recommendations.
If you’d like to automatically receive our posts in your email, register here.
Whip up this recipe? Be sure to tag us on social media as @coupleinthekitchen and we’ll share it with our foodie followers!
No Comments