17 Best Tube Polenta Recipes (+ Easy Ideas)

These tube polenta recipes are the fuss-free meals you’ve been waiting for!

Tube polenta is a lifesaver. It is shelf-stable, versatile, and already cooked. So preparing it is a breeze.

17 Easy Recipes with Polenta Tubes

From breakfast to dinner, there’s an endless number of things you can do with polenta. 

You can use a tube to craft a brunch-worthy vegan benedict. Or maybe you’d rather snack on some polenta fries?

Luckily, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or an experienced chef. These tube polenta recipes open up a world of possibilities.

1. Polenta, Refried Beans & Egg Skillet Bake

Spice up your usual breakfast routine with this skillet bake! 

It sorta reminds me of Huevos Rancheros minus the tortillas.

You layer the bottom of the skillet with polenta, then smother it with toppings. Refried beans, fried eggs, salsa, and cheese make it deliciously hearty.

While optional, I highly recommend the extra toppings. Avocado, cilantro, and hot sauce make all the flavors pop!

2. Air Fryer Polenta Fries

Feel a snack attack coming on? These polenta fries are a quick fix. 

Unlike regular fries, you don’t have to fry them in a vat of grease. You only use a quick spritz of oil spray. 

They are not only healthier but also easier to make.

Just slice, season, and air-fry. The entire process takes about 30 minutes. 

In the meantime, you can prepare your favorite fries dipping sauce.

3. Creamy Vegan Spinach Polenta

How do you make tubed polenta creamy? Easy, add non-dairy milk. 

Do that, and it tastes like you made it with ground polenta.

To make it extra yummy, stir in spinach and vegan cream cheese. Or use any other mix-ins that you might like. 

4. Polenta Lasagna with Smoky Red Pepper Sauce

The first time I made this, the family devoured it. Now they ask for it all the time!

This genius dish trades lasagna noodles for polenta. That means you get the flavors you crave, minus the gluten. 

Speaking of flavors… wait until you try all the layers.

From the filling to the sauce, it tastes sensational. And the recipe features a quick pesto to top it off!

5. Pan-Fried Polenta With Lemony Asparagus, Hummus & Basil 

This is an easy spring meal you’ll want to memorize. 

It’s a super quick fix when you want something effortless and light. And it doesn’t entail a lot of cooking either. 

You pan-fry the polenta and saute the asparagus. Then combine the two with hummus, basil, and lemon.

Fresh, savory, and nutritious… it has so much to offer for such a simple dish.

6. Vegan Polenta “Eggs” Benedict 

Looking for a savory eggless breakfast? Try this inventive take on a classic.  

It revamps eggs benedict using only plant-based ingredients.

It starts with the traditional English muffin. That gets topped off with smoky tofu bacon, thick polenta, and vegan hollandaise sauce.

It has the makings for an epic brunch. So call up your pals and do the weekend right!

7. Vegan Polenta Pizza Bites

Here is a nifty life hack for you. You can turn cooked polenta logs into pizza bites!

These pizza bites are a simple solution for snacks, appetizers, or dinner. 

Coat polenta slices in breadcrumbs and bake. Top them with sauce and cheese, then stick them under the broiler. 

Once the cheese is melty, it is time to eat!

8. Seared Polenta with Kale and Smoked Salmon

This seared polenta dish is great for any meal. It makes a hearty and nutritious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

It’s healthy, fuss-free, and very beginner-friendly.

You saute the kale just until it softens. As for the polenta, it only needs a couple of minutes to brown on each side. 

Then plate them both with smoked salmon, red onion, avocado, and a hard-boiled egg. 

9. Whipped Basil Ricotta and Roasted Tomato Polenta Crostini

This gluten-free amuse-bouche will be the talk of the party!

Unlike traditional crostini- there’s no bread in sight. Rather, it is all about the polenta. 

Each slice gets topped with roasted tomatoes, prosciutto, and parmesan. 

Combined with the whipped basil ricotta, this is one impressive appetizer. 

10. Sweet Vegetable Ragout + Spicy Polenta Rounds

All the flavors in this dish come together for an immaculate bite. It’s savory, sweet, robust, earthy, fresh, and aromatic. 

The polenta gives the dish more oomph to make it substantial. And it adds more delicious texture.

You’d pay big bucks for this dish at a restaurant. Make it at home, and it’s half the price. 

Not only that, but it’s doubly impressive. That makes it a fine choice for a date night recipe. 

11. Baked Polenta Cakes with Creamy Mushrooms

This is how you do comfort food the vegan way. 

The umami creamy mushroom sauce is so gratifying. While the crispy baked polenta is the perfect serving vessel. 

Most people would serve this sauce with meat or pasta. 

Polenta, however, makes it vegan-friendly. It’s also a nice alternative to a gluten-heavy pasta dinner.

12. Polenta with Roasted Cauliflower, Sautéed Mushrooms & Thyme

Here’s another comforting, vegetarian-friendly meal. It merges fall and winter flavors for a simple, wholesome dish. 

Thyme and white wine elevate the mushrooms. Whereas roasting the cauliflower causes it to caramelize, adding more depth.

Pair it with pan-seared polenta, then garnish with parmesan and lemon. 

13. Crispy Grilled Polenta Bites

These nosh-worthy bites are the ultimate in cookout foods. 

They’re no trouble at all to make. Plus, they are a super affordable addition to the menu. 

All you need is polenta, olive oil, salt, and pepper. That’s it!

Oh, and perhaps a dipping sauce. I think pesto, aioli, or even barbecue sauce will taste great.

14. Meatball Parmesan Polenta Bake

You can never have too many family-friendly meals. Especially when you can make them easy and affordable. 

And this one is guaranteed to be a hit.

It puts a whole new spin on spaghetti and meatballs. You ditch the pasta for polenta and turn it into a comforting bake. 

But wait, it gets even better. It just takes five ingredients!

15. Baked Polenta with Sausage

Another easy dinner recipe is this budget-friendly baked polenta with sausage. 

It uses less than 10 ingredients and entails little effort.

All you have to do is brown the sausage with onions and garlic. Then top the polenta with it, add a glug of chicken stock, and bake.

It’s flexible enough that you can add more veggies. Or, make it vegan-friendly with plant-based sausage and stock. 

16. Roasted Shrimp + Polenta With Pancetta Crisps

Take your sheet pan dinner to new heights with this remarkable meal.

It’s brimming with marinated shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and polenta. 

What might not be so obvious is the savory surprise. Crispy pancetta and the pan drippings get added to the mix. 

Together, all the flavors create a surf and turf that is total dynamite!

17. Chicken Polenta Skillet

You can even use polenta to create this mouthwatering chicken dinner!

The presentation is wow, the work is easy, and the taste is impeccable.

This skillet is a big comforting skillet of Italian flavors. It is heavy on the tomato and just right on the cheese. 

Coupled with the chicken and polenta, it’s the right amount of filling.

If you have 35 minutes, you can throw it together tonight.