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This slow cooker polenta makes a great side dish. It’s tasty and creamy, and even the kids will love the flavor. You don’t need many different ingredients to make it either – just the polenta, some broth, garlic powder, butter, and parmesan cheese. You can also tweak this creamy polenta and include other herbs, spices, seasonings, or add-ins to customize it or even make a different version every time!

A bowl of creamy polenta topped with grated parmesan cheese and herbs, served next to sausages and a slow cooker in the background.

Polenta is so easy to make, especially with this slow cooker polenta version which has only 5 minutes of prep time and cooks slowly to creamy perfection.

If you love polenta as a side dish, you might be wondering what to pair it with. Anything from a reverse sear steak to chicken kebabs or shrimp scampi would be good.

A bowl of creamy polenta topped with grated cheese and garnished with herbs, alongside sausages and more cheese on a kitchen counter.

Why You’ll Love It

Extremely easy: This slow cooker version of polenta is really simple and you don’t need to do much at all apart from adding the ingredients to a crockpot and giving it a stir from time to time.
Definition of tasty: Polenta is delicious and boasts a creamy texture and subtle corn flavor. There are lots of possible add-ins to customize it too.
Makes a change: If you’re tired of the usual mashed potatoes, pasta, and rice side dishes, why not give this creamy polenta a whirl? Everyone is going to love it and it goes with just about anything.

A spoon lifting creamy polenta out of a black slow cooker.

Crockpot Polenta Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below

Polenta: Dried polenta is widely available. It’s medium or coarse ground cornmeal that you mix with broth and some other ingredients to make a really tasty side dish. You should find it in just about any grocery store.
Chicken broth: Chicken offers a subtle meaty flavor to the polenta and is a more exciting addition than plain water. Use another flavor of broth if you prefer.
Salted butter: For creaminess. Use unsalted with a pinch of salt instead if you want.
Shredded parmesan cheese: To add creaminess and flavor. You can use another kind of cheese.
Garlic powder: For flavor. Onion powder can be used instead (or as well).

Ingredients for cooking displayed on a kitchen counter, including a bowl of cornmeal, jugs of water and broth, a bowl of grated cheese, and a dish of butter.

How to Make Slow Cooker Polenta

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card

Add some ingredients to the crockpot: Put the broth, polenta, salt, garlic powder, and water in your slow cooker, and stir.
Cook: Set the crockpot to high and cook for 2 hours and 45 minutes, stirring every hour.
Add the remaining ingredients: Once the polenta is sufficiently creamy, mix in the butter and cheese.
The finishing touches: Cook the polenta for another 15 minutes and then serve hot as a side dish or switch the crockpot to the keep warm setting until you’re ready.

A plate of crock pot polenta with a grilled sausage, accompanied by a bowl of polenta and a salt shaker in the background.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free version: Polenta is naturally gluten-free. Just make sure the chicken broth is too.
Optional add-ins: These include onion powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, dried mixed Italian herbs, smoked salt, or anything else in your spice rack you are in the mood for.
Another kind of cheese: Parmesan cheese works well in this dish or you can use any other kind you prefer.

A bowl of crock pot polenta topped with butter, next to a slow cooker and blurred kitchen items in the background.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Kickstart the Italian theme by serving burrata caprese salad or antipasto skewers on the side.
Main dishes:
Slow cooker polenta would pair nicely with honey garlic pork chops or beef medallions with tomato relish.
Dessert: Finish your tasty meal with something special, perhaps these Fireball apple shortcakes.

A person serving cheesy polenta from a slow cooker beside sausages on a dining table.

How to Store Crockpot Polenta

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and use within a week.
Freeze: You can freeze polenta for up to 3 months, either in individual slices or as a block.
Thaw: Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: You can air fry leftover polenta slices for breakfast or as a side dish.

A spoon lifts a serving of polenta over a slow cooker.

Top Tips

Storage: When transferring leftover polenta into an airtight container, press it down with a fork or spoon so it’s easier to cut into slices later.
Easy reheating: Put leftovers in a ramekin and air fry for a few minutes at 370 degrees F.
Change it up: You can make this crock pot polenta different every time you make it, perhaps adding sun-dried tomatoes, onion and mushrooms, throwing in some hot sauce or chili powder, or using colby jack or mozzarella in place of parmesan (the kids love this version!)

A plate with polenta and a sausage on a light gray surface, accompanied by a fork and a white cup in the background.

Slow Cooker Polenta FAQs

What exactly is polenta?

It’s a tasty Italian dish made with boiled cornmeal. When cooled, it solidifies into a loaf that you can fry, grill or bake. Yellow maize is the most common cereal used, and sometimes it’s made from white maize or buckwheat or a blend of cereals.

Why is making polenta in a slow cooker a good idea?

If you make polenta in a pan on the stove, you have to stand over it and watch it. There’s no reason to do this if you’re cooking it low and slow in the crockpot, so long as you set a timer so you can give it a stir every hour.

Can you make a vegetarian or even vegan version of this?

Yes you can, if you swap the chicken broth for vegetable stock and, for a vegan version, sub your favorite butter and cheese alternatives into the dish.

Should you use fine, medium or coarse cornmeal (dried polenta)?

Use medium or coarse for the best result. Fine ground cornmeal or corn flour will come out too pasty if you’re making polenta with it. I like to use this one whenever I make polenta.

Are grits the same thing as polenta?

Grits tend to be coarser and are often made using hominy (hulled cornmeal) but they’re very similar.

A plate of polenta with grated cheese alongside sausages, with a focus on a crockpot in the background.

Crockpot Polenta Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Polenta

Polenta is so easy to make, especially with this slow cooker polenta version which has only 5 minutes of prep time and cooks slowly to creamy perfection.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 3 Cups chicken broth
  • Cups polenta, dried
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
  • Cups water
  • 3 Tablespoons salted butter
  • ½ Cup parmesan, shredded

Instructions 

  • Put the chicken broth, dry polenta, salt, garlic powder, and water in the slow cooker. Mix well
  • Set the crockpot to high.
  • Cook for 2 hours and 45 minutes, mixing once or twice during the time.
  • Taste the polenta. If you’re satisfied with the creaminess proceed to the next step, but if not add an additional 15 minutes and check again.
  • Mix the butter and parmesan cheese into the polenta mixture.
  • Cook for another15 minutes or until soft and smooth, then serve hot.

Notes

Storage: When transferring leftover polenta into an airtight container, press it down with a fork or spoon so it’s easier to cut into slices later.
Easy reheating: Put leftovers in a ramekin and air fry for a few minutes at 370 degrees F.
Change it up: You can make this crock pot polenta different every time you make it, perhaps adding sun-dried tomatoes, onion and mushrooms, throwing in some hot sauce or chili powder, or using colby jack or mozzarella in place of parmesan (the kids love this version!)

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 755mg | Potassium: 37mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 196IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

Everyone is going to love this creamy polenta recipe. It’s smooth and creamy and pairs will all kinds of meat and poultry as a sided dish. Leftovers can be sliced and fried, grilled or baked. You can tweak this easy cornmeal recipe to your heart’s content, using your own preferred spices and seasonings, trying different cheeses and experimenting with different kinds of broths if you wish.

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Bella Bucchiotti

Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.

 

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5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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