Easy Polenta Croutons

5 from 1 vote

Polenta croutons are a fabulous addition to any salad or soup recipe! Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, these tasty polenta croutons can be air-fried or baked in minutes! And they are gluten-free!

Prep Time5

Cook Time13

Course: Salad, Soups

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 2kcal

Author: Kathy Carmichael

Ingredients

1 16 ounce tube of pre-made polenta
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning

Instructions

Polenta Croutons

Remove the wrapper from the tube of polenta.
Cut into 1 inch slices
Cut each slice into ½ inch cubes (croutons), or use a large blade of a vegetable chopper.
Place polenta cubes in a bowl.
Add seasonings and gently toss.
Set aside.

Air Fried Polenta Croutons

Pre-heat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
Place a single layer of seasoned polenta cubes on the air frier pan.
Cook for 10 minutes.
Flip the croutons over and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
Remove the pan from the air fryer and allow the croutons to cool completely.

Baked Polenta Croutons

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Place a single layer of seasoned croutons on the baking sheet.
Cook for 35-40 minutes; flip halfway through cooking.
Allow tthe polenta croutons to cool on the baking sheet completely.

Notes

Do not cover the cooked polenta croutons with plastic wrap or the croutons will get moist.
If you plan to eat the leftover polenta croutons in 2-3 days, the easiest way to store them is in the fridge. There are, however, some tricks that help avoid excess moisture. Let the polenta cool completely before refrigerating, then wrap the croutons in a clean cloth or set them on a plate covered with a couple of paper towels and seal with plastic wrap.
If they still get moist, you can reheat refrigerated polenta croutons in the oven for 10-15 minutes until they’re crispy again!
Polenta croutons can be frozen, but they will need to be reheated once they thaw completely.
The time needed to bake the polenta croutons may vary based on your oven, and how big you cut your cubes of polenta. Start checking the oven at about 30 minutes to ensure your polenta croutons do not burn. Keep baking until the croutons are lightly browned on each side.

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