Best 9 Slow Cooker Italian Soft Polenta Recipes

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Slow cooker Italian soft polenta is a creamy and flavorful dish that is perfect for a hearty meal. It is made with just a few simple ingredients, and the slow cooker does all the work. This dish is perfect for a busy weeknight meal, or for a casual gathering with friends and family. The polenta can be served on its own, or with a variety of toppings, such as tomato sauce, roasted vegetables, or grilled chicken.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

SLOW-COOKER ITALIAN SOFT POLENTA



Slow-Cooker Italian Soft Polenta image

Enjoy this tasty polenta made with cheese, Progresso® artichoke hearts and chicken broth. A perfect Italian side dish.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Side Dish

Time 4h40m

Yield 11

Number Of Ingredients 12

Heavy-duty plastic slow cooker liner
5 1/4 cups Progresso™ chicken broth (from two 32-oz cartons)
2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (8 oz)
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crushed
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 jars (6 oz each) Progresso™ marinated artichoke hearts, drained, coarsely chopped
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup roasted red bell peppers (from 7-oz jar), drained, chopped
Small fresh basil leaves, if desired
Shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired

Steps:

  • Line 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with slow cooker liner; spray liner with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix broth, cheese blend, cornmeal, dried basil, salt, artichokes, milk and garlic until well blended. Pour mixture into slow cooker.
  • Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 5 hours, stirring once halfway through cooking. Turn off slow cooker. Stir in roasted peppers; let stand covered 30 minutes. Stir before serving. Sprinkle individual servings with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 250, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fat 1, Fiber 1 g, Protein 10 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 910 mg

SLOW-COOKER POLENTA



Slow-Cooker Polenta image

This Italian classic is so simple to make, you can now make it any night of the week. -Elisabeth Matelski, Boston, Massachusetts

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 6h10m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

13 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
3 cups cornmeal
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup half-and-half cream
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 teaspoon pepper
Additional shredded Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • In a 6-qt. slow cooker, combine 12 cups broth, cornmeal, onion, garlic, bay leaves and salt. Cook, covered, on low , 6-8 hours, until liquid is absorbed and polenta is creamy. Remove bay leaves. Stir in cream, cheese, butter, pepper and remaining broth. If desired, serve with additional cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 255 calories, Fat 8g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 1168mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 9g protein.

SLOW-COOKER ITALIAN SOFT POLENTA



Slow-Cooker Italian Soft Polenta image

Slow-Cooker Italian Soft Polenta might be just the side dish you are searching for. One serving contains 286 calories, 11g of protein, and 17g of fat. This gluten free and vegetarian recipe serves 11. This recipe is typical of Mediterranean cuisine. If you have garlic, cornmeal, salt, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes around 4 hours and 40 minutes.

Provided by Foodiez

Categories     Gluten Free, Lacto Ovo Vegetarian, Side Dish

Time 4h40m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 liters Progresso® chicken broth (from two 32-oz cartons)
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves, crushed
340 grams can evaporated milk
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
11 servings Heavy-duty plastic slow cooker liner
227 grams cups shredded Italian cheese blend
340 grams jars each) Progresso® marinated artichoke hearts, drained, coarsely chopped
237 milliliters roasted red bell peppers (from 7-oz jar), drained, chopped
1 teaspoons salt
355 milliliters yellow cornmeal

Steps:

  • Line 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with slow cooker liner; spray liner with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix broth, cheese blend, cornmeal, dried basil, salt, artichokes, milk and garlic until well blended.
  • Pour mixture into slow cooker.
  • Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 5 hours, stirring once halfway through cooking. Turn off slow cooker. Stir in roasted peppers; let stand covered 30 minutes. Stir before serving.
  • Sprinkle individual servings with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

SLOW-COOKER BEEF AND POLENTA



Slow-Cooker Beef and Polenta image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 8h25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 pounds beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 8 pieces
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
5 cloves garlic
1 12-ounce jar pepperoncini, drained and sliced, plus 1/3 cup brine
1 14-ounce can cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup low-sodium beef broth
1 cup quick-cooking polenta
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Steps:

  • Toss the beef with the Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Scatter the mushrooms and garlic in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker; top with the beef. Add the pepperoncini, brine, tomatoes and beef broth. Cover and cook on low until the beef is tender, 8 hours.
  • Uncover the slow cooker and let stand 5 minutes. Spoon off any fat from the top and discard. Shred the beef with 2 forks.
  • Meanwhile, cook the polenta as the label directs. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan and butter until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls and top with the beef mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 580, Fat 18 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Cholesterol 157 milligrams, Sodium 1384 milligrams, Carbohydrate 46 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 52 grams, Sugar 5 grams

SOFT POLENTA



Soft Polenta image

Provided by Michael Chiarello : Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 38m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch ground white pepper
5 tablespoons polenta
5 tablespoons semolina
1/4 cup freshly grated Fontina or Telme
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for dusting

Steps:

  • In a heavy saucepan, combine the stock and cream, and bring to a boil. Add the nutmeg and salt. Whisk in the polenta and semolina and cook over low heat for about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until the grains are soft. Fold in the cheeses. Serve immediately or reserve.
  • To encourage polenta to come cleanly out of the pan, cook over medium heat. Run a spatula or wooden spoon around the sides of the pan to clean off the polenta. Do not stir, but wait and watch for a few seconds until a large bubble begins to form and pushes the polenta upward. Pour immediately into a warm dish.
  • The polenta can be made ahead and reheated: add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water or stock, cover the dish, and reheat in the microwave or over low heat. Whisk well before serving. Grate a dusting of Parmesan over the top just before serving.

SOFT POLENTA



Soft Polenta image

This is the "traditional method" based on a recipe by Michele Anna Jordan from her book, Polenta. She says, "This is the classic and most common technique for cooking polenta, and the one that should be used for larger quantities. The amounts can easily be increased to make larger quantities for a crowd." This recipe can also be used as the first step in making firm polenta.

Provided by mersaydees

Categories     European

Time 1h15m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 6

6 cups water
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 cup polenta (coarse- or medium-ground)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (more to taste, if desired)
3 tablespoons butter
2 ounces parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Bring 3 cups water to a full boil in a heavy pot. Simmer the remaining water close by.
  • Add the salt and rapidly stir the water with a whisk, creating a vortex. Continuing to stir constantly, add the polenta in a thin stream into the vortex.
  • Continue to stir after all the polenta has been added, then lower the heat to a simmer rather than a boil.
  • As the polenta thickens, replace the whisk with a long-handled wooden spoon.
  • Add the 1 cup of remaining water and continue to stir. Break up any lumps with the back of the spoon pressed against the pot.
  • Continue stirring the polenta, reaching to the bottom of the pot as necessary, until it gets thick and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
  • Taste the polenta to test tenderness; add additional water if necessary. The polenta can take 15 to 60 minutes to cook properly, depending on its type.
  • During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the pepper and butter, then add the cheese.
  • Remove from heat.
  • If serving immediately, pour onto a large platter or into a bowl or individual dishes.

QUICK-COOKING SOFT POLENTA



Quick-Cooking Soft Polenta image

Serve this quick-cooking dish with our Osso Buco.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Quick & Easy Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 cup quick-cooking polenta
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • In medium saucepan over medium heat, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add polenta in a slow steady stream, whisking continuously. Whisk until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, add butter and cheese, and stir. Season with salt and pepper; serve warm.

CREAMY SLOW-COOKER POLENTA WITH SAUSAGES



Creamy Slow-Cooker Polenta With Sausages image

The key to creamy polenta is a relatively high ratio of liquid to dried polenta: about five to one, instead of the more standard four to one. But the more liquid you use, the longer it will take the polenta to absorb it. That's why the best polenta is made in a slow cooker, where the dried corn can gently hydrate all day, with no stirring or worrying about clumps or molten splatters. In this recipe, the polenta is cooked with marinara (which is part of the liquid) and roasted red peppers. Then it's topped with quick-roasted sausages and sizzled capers and pepperoncini. If you are feeding spice-adverse kids, leave off the pepperoncini.

Provided by Sarah DiGregorio

Categories     sausages, vegetables, main course

Time 6h5m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups dried polenta (not quick-cooking)
1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
1 (32-ounce) jar good-quality marinara sauce
5 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the sausages
Leaves from 2 sprigs fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt
6 raw hot or sweet Italian sausages (pork, turkey, chicken or vegan)
1 (3.5-ounce) jar capers, drained
1/3 cup drained, pickled sliced pepperoncini, banana peppers or cherry peppers
3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Steps:

  • Whisk together the polenta, roasted red peppers, marinara, garlic, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon salt in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Whisk in 5 1/2 cups of water. Cook on low for 6 hours. (The polenta will keep very well on warm.)
  • About 10 or 15 minutes before you want to eat, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat an oven-safe skillet with olive oil, and roast the sausages in the skillet in the oven until sizzling and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the skillet and put it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add a little more oil if the pan is relatively dry. Add the capers and pepperoncini to the hot skillet with the sausages, and let the capers pop, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  • Stir the Parmesan into the polenta. The polenta will continue to firm up as it cools; stir in a few tablespoons of water if you would like it to be looser. Serve the polenta in shallow bowls topped with sausages, capers and pepperoncini. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

BASIC POLENTA (SLOW COOKER)



Basic Polenta (Slow Cooker) image

From The Italian Slow Cooker. You could add in grated cheese or herbs to the finished polenta for more flavor if desired. You could also use half broth and half water when cooking.

Provided by Brookelynne26

Categories     Grains

Time 2h

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 3

1 cup coarse ground yellow cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 cups water

Steps:

  • Stir together the cornmeal, salt, and water in a slow cooker. Cove and cook on high for 2 hours. Stir the polenta. If it seems too thick, add in a little water, milk, broth, or cream. Cook for 30 to 60 minutes more, until thick and creamy.

Tips:

  • For a creamier polenta, use milk instead of water. You can also add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil to the pot before adding the polenta.
  • If you want a firmer polenta, use less liquid. You can also cook the polenta for a longer period of time.
  • To make polenta in a slow cooker, simply combine the polenta, liquid, and salt in the pot. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the polenta is tender and creamy.
  • You can add a variety of ingredients to polenta to make it more flavorful. Some popular additions include cheese, vegetables, herbs, and meat.
  • Polenta can be served as a main course, a side dish, or even a dessert. It is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways.

Conclusion:

Polenta is a delicious and versatile dish that is easy to make. It can be made with a variety of ingredients and can be served in many different ways. Whether you are looking for a hearty main course, a savory side dish, or a sweet dessert, polenta is a great option. So next time you are looking for a new recipe to try, give polenta a try. You won't be disappointed!

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