20 Best Vegan Polenta Recipes You’ll Love

Let these vegan polenta recipes add excitement to your weekly menu.

The mildly sweet taste pairs well with everything, and it absorbs flavor like a dream.

Creamy Vegan Polenta Recipes with Mushrooms and More!

Polenta is a cornmeal-based porridge from Italy that’s way more versatile than you think. 

And it doesn’t need a ton of cream, butter, and cheese to shine!

So check out these vegan polenta recipes if you’re sick of the usual rice or potato dishes.

I guarantee you’ll love them – and so will your family!

1.​ Easy Vegan Polenta

Let’s start things off with an easy recipe that makes a simple yet delectable vegan polenta side dish. 

All you’ll need here are corn grits, vegan butter (I like Earth Balance), salt, and water. 

Garnish the dish with roasted garlic and fresh basil or parsley to make it extra flavorful.

2. Creamy Vegan Polenta with Mushrooms and Spinach

This polenta is made extra creamy with coconut milk!

And apart from the richness, you’ll also love the subtle nuttiness the coconut lends to the dish.

Served with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, and pine nuts, it’s earthy, herby, and loaded with texture.

If you’re missing the savoriness of meat, this recipe is perfect for you.

3. Vegan Polenta with Mushrooms and Beans

This next polenta dish is also topped with a mixture of mushrooms and spinach. But you’ll also add tomatoes and beans sautéed in balsamic vinegar.

What a delicious combination of flavors! 

Tasty and full of protein, fiber, and vitamins, you’ll love the mix of creamy, earthy, and acidic flavors. 

4. Creamy Vegan Polenta and Greens

Need a tasty and filling dish for breakfast? Try this polenta bowl with veggies!

Featuring mushrooms, spinach, and beans cooked in an umami-rich sauce, it’s the best way to start your day.

This combo has a healthy balance of carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables. So one serving will provide plenty of fuel for a productive morning. 

5. Vegan Polenta with Balsamic Roasted Vegetables

A bowl of vegan polenta finished off with roasted carrots, chickpeas, and broccoli.

Need I say more?

Okay, the veggies aren’t just roasted to perfection. They’re also coated in a dreamy blend of balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.

When cooked, it turns into a thick, sweet, and tangy glaze. Yum!

6. Vegan Polenta with Tofu Ragout

If you’re craving a meaty bolognese without the meat, this recipe won’t let you down.  

It’s got two tiers of polenta cakes with a layer of tofu bolognese in the middle.

You’ll make the filling with firm tofu, walnuts, and tomatoes, plus plenty of herbs and spices.

And when it’s cooked, you’d hardly even know it’s vegan!

7. Comforting Vegan Stew with Creamy Polenta

For a comforting autumn dinner, try this vegan stew with creamy polenta. 

I mean, it’s polenta at the bottom and stew on top. How awesome is that?!

The polenta is as creamy as can be, and the stew is brimming with potatoes, carrots, spinach, and soy curls.

What more could you want on a chilly winter night?

8. Mediterranean Vegetable Polenta

Who says vegan dishes are one-dimensional?

This Mediterranean feast of turmeric polenta with vegetable ragout proves they’re just as complex and hearty as any meaty meal! 

From the vibrant spices to the chickpeas, mushrooms, and squash, you’ll want more than one bowl of this stuff!

9. Vegan Baked Truffle Polenta Fries

Baked truffle polenta fries are a phenomenal twist on the classic comfort food. 

You’ll flavor the faux fries with (vegan) Parmesan butter and truffle salt, making them even more decadent.

While still savory, the flavor from the corn adds a bit of sweetness. It is well-complemented by the umami-rich coating.

In short, these fries are even more addictive than the real thing!

10. Vegan Lemon Polenta Cake

This gluten-free vegan lemon polenta cake is a healthy way to indulge in a sweet treat. 

Spongy and dense, polenta ensures the cake is tasty, wonderfully moist, and crumbly.

The lemon zest gives the sweet cake just the right amount of zing, as well.

It’s a fantastic dessert to round out a nutritious meal.

11. Lemon Blueberry Polenta Cake

This lemon and blueberry polenta cake is not just a pleasure for the eyes – it’s a treat for your taste buds, too! 

From the lemony, crumbly sponge to the sweet blueberries, this skillet cake is simply irresistible. 

It also gets bonus points for its charming, rustic appeal. It’s almost too pretty to eat but too good not to.

12. Vegan Peach Polenta Cake

Here’s another fabulous vegan cake, only this one is fully loaded with sweet, juicy peaches!

Made with cornmeal and almond flour, this one has a wonderfully rich and lightly nutty flavor.

And the fruit boosts the sweetness to eleven!

Plus, since it’s vegan, it’s a tantalizing treat everyone can enjoy.

13. Vegan and Gluten-Free Orange Polenta Cake

Fans of gluten-free baking will fall in love with this almond and orange polenta cake at first bite. 

Combining cornmeal and almond flour gives this cake a moist and tender crumb.

Meanwhile, fresh orange juice offers an enhancing its sweetness with citrus. 

It’s perfect for celebrating special occasions but easy enough to make any day of the week.

14. Best Polenta Breakfast Muffins

If you’re used to sweet muffins for breakfast, this savory recipe may throw you for a loop.

But just trust me and try them.

Garlic, oregano, and chives are a delightfully savory way to break up the morning monotony. 

Topped with sunflower, pumpkin, and flax seeds, they offer a delightful kaleidoscope of flavors and textures to brighten your day. 

15. Vegan Praline Polenta Pancakes

Meet your new brunch favorite: vegan praline polenta pancakes! 

These will beauties will tickle your tastebuds with a mix of sweet, nutty, and warming flavors. 

They’re 100% plant-based and dairy-free and super fluffy to boot.

Top them with banana slices or fresh berries.

16. Grilled Polenta with Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes

Grilled polenta squares are a fun side dish to serve at your next backyard bash.

Grilling gives the polenta an unbeatable texture, with a crisp exterior and a soft middle.

Plus, the smoky flavor takes this usually mild ingredient to another level.

Top them off with balsamic roasted tomatoes, and you’ve got yourself an irresistible dish!

17. Creamy Polenta with Zucchini and Tomatoes

Delight your taste buds with this delicious combination of creamy polenta, roasted zucchini, and tomatoes. 

The nutritional yeast adds a pleasant cheesy taste. Though you can use vegan Parmesan cheese too!

Sprinkle fresh basil leaves on top for a pop of color and an aromatic touch. Delish! 

18. Vegan Potato Stew with Rosemary Garlic Polenta

This comforting vegan stew with polenta is the perfect dish for a chilly winter night. 

Rosemary and garlic bring so much depth, while the paprika, cumin, and cayenne pack the stew with heat.

If you need heart-warming comfort food, this one won’t disappoint.

19. Vegan Breakfast Potato Polenta Bowl

Creamy polenta topped with fried potato cubes, green peppers, zucchini, and blistered cherry tomatoes is just as incredible as it sounds.

It’s a vegan-friendly dish that’s full of texture. 

Be sure to fry the potatoes until they’re golden. And cut them small enough so you get some in every mouthful.

The only missing is a few pieces of vegan bacon!

20. Sweet Potato Polenta with Chimichurri Brussels Sprouts

Polenta and sweet potatoes are a match made in heaven.

But sweet potato-infused polenta with chimichurri sprouts? Oh man, that’s impossible to resist!

Chimi is a steak sauce, but it brings such a fresh, herby finish. It’s also a little spicy, making this the perfect weeknight dinner.