Crispy Polenta

5 from 6 votes

I love these crispy polenta cakes in the air fryer. Try this crispy polenta recipe in the oven or the air fryer for a quick and easy recipe that takes minutes to prepare.

Prep Time5 mins

15 mins

Course: Entrees, Small Bites

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 264kcal

Author: Kathy Carmichael

Ingredients

1 18 ounce Tube of prepared polenta cut into ½ inch slices
1 cup unsweetened, unflavored plant milk I used oat milk
1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
2 cups breadcrumbs
¼ cup nutritional yeast
2 teaspoons garlic power
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
2 Tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped Optional garnish
1 ½ cups Marinara sauce

Instructions

Unwrap the polenta tube.
Cut the polenta into ½-inch slices.
Prepare two wide shallow bowls.
In one bowl, whisk together the plant milk and dijon mustard.
Combine the bread crumbs, nutritional yeast, and spices in the second bowl.
Dip each slice of polenta into the milk mixture bowl and then directly into the breadcrumb mixture, covering each slice of polenta with teh bread crumb mixture.
Transfer each breaded slice of polenta to a prepared baking sheet or an air fryer pan.

Baking

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Place the breaded slices on the baking sheet in a single layer, leaving a small space between each slice.
Bake for 30 minutes until crispy.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parsley.

Air Frying

Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees.
Place breaded polenta slices in the air fryer basket or an air frying pan.
Cook for 15 minutes until fries are crispy.
Remove from the air fryer and sprinkle with parsley.

Marinara Sauce

Heat the marinara sauce in a small sauce pan or heat in the microwave while the crispy polenta cooks.

Notes

Most people suggest drying the polenta before cutting and seasoning. However, because I cook without oil, its natural stickiness and the plant milk mixture make the breading stick to the slices.

If you have a basket air fryer, remember that the first batch takes longer to cook than the subsequent batches.

Preheat the oven to 325 if batch cooking the crispy polenta in an air fryer to keep the cooked ones warm.

Other sauce suggestions are lemon basil dressing, mustard sauce, and vegan ranch.

Make it fun for the family and kids and cut animal shapes with cooking cutters for a great snack for the kids.

Try using cookie cutters to make bite-sized polenta bites for an appetizer or for a charcuterie board.

Nutrition