If you are looking for a side dish with a difference, that takes minimal effort, then Baked Polenta Chips are for you. You just put them in the oven and wait for them to get all crispy and golden brown on the outside and creamy and delicious in the middle. A great alternative to potato chips and lot of different options for seasoning too.
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These Polenta Chips (or Polenta Fries if you like) can be eaten as a side dish, appetiser or just eaten as a snack.
We would happily eat chips every day of the week, and sometimes do. But when they start to get a bit boring, we change things up a bit and use something other than white potato to make them. Polenta makes incredible chips.
Sometimes we make Sweet Potato Fries, Baked Carrot Fries or our Baked Garlic Potato Wedges, but recently we have been making these polenta fries a lot.
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Why You Will Love Them
- A delicious alternative to potato chips - If you are looking for something a bit different, then this polenta chips recipe is it.
- Perfect texture - Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the centre.
- Versatile - Lots of seasoning options, so you never have to have them the same way twice.
- Low in calories - Just 108 calories a serving
What is Polenta?
Polenta is a fairly new ingredient to our house, but where has it been all our lives? It's amazing! Polenta is boiled cornmeal and then it can be set in blocks (which you can buy in supermarkets where the pasta is) and then cut that into chips.
It's a Northern Italian store cupboard staple that is made by grinding corn into flour. It has a rich yellow colour, and has a slightly sweet flavour.
Although you can eat it thick and creamy like a porridge, if you allow it to set then you can cut it up and fry or bake it. You serve it instead of potatoes, pasta or rice or use it in place of breadcrumbs to coat chicken or fish when frying - it has a really nice texture.
We buy the blocks ready made to make our chips, but you can cook the cornmeal up yourself to save money.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Polenta - We used a pre-cooked block of polenta to make these, as it saves so much time. However, you could make it yourself from scratch by boiling and simmering polenta in stock and them pouring it into a lined baking tray and cooling and then putting in the fridge to chill overnight. You can then cut it like you would a pre-cooked block.
- Olive oil - You can swap this for sunflower or vegetable oil.
- Garlic granules - Garlic is a simple flavour to add, but you can add any flavours you like. Add a Cajun or Mexican seasoning or even some curry powder for an Indian twist.
- Salt and pepper - These polenta fries need to be well seasoned.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Baked Polenta Fries - Step by Step
Prep: Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 6.
- Step 1: Cut the polenta into fries and put on a baking tray.
- Step 2: Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder and salt and pepper. Put into the oven for 45-50 minutes, or until crispy.
Seasoning
We try to make our recipes as adaptable as possible, and that usually comes down to the seasonings. We just added some garlic to this polenta chips recipe, to keep it simple, but there is so much more that you can do with them. Herbs are always a good addition and some dried oregano and thyme work well.
Fancy something spicy? A sprinkle of cayenne goes a long way here or even some fajita seasoning. Our Peri Peri Seasoning is amazing on polenta chips too.
If you like your fries cheesy, and who doesn't, then about 10 minutes before the polenta chips are cooked, sprinkle some finely grated Parmesan on them and put them back in the oven. Cheesy chip perfection!
Serving Suggestions
Chips need dip. It's some kind of law or something. We have got you covered with a wide selection of dips that would go perfectly with these. Why not try our Healthier Homemade Ketchup or Healthy BBQ Sauce if you want to keep it traditional. Want something a bit creamier? Try dipping these into our Homemade Healthy Ranch or Southwest Sauce.
Chips and burgers are a good combination too and we have got you covered there as well. Try our Air Fryer Burger, Cajun Chicken Burger or Hidden Vegetable Burgers.
We also think they make an amazing side dish to our Air Fryer Steak.
Dannii's Top Tips
- Keep the seasonings simple, or get really creative. Cayenne or fajita seasoning adds some spice or some oregano and thyme add some Italian flavour.
- Make these cheesy by adding a sprinkle or Parmesan 10 minutes before they are finished.
- If you are making your own polenta, you can add some cheese into it.
- Serve with our healthy ketchup and BBQ sauce or our healthy ranch dressing.
- If using store bought polenta, then pat it dry before slicing it up.
- Make sure that all the chips are cut to the same size, so they cook evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can chop the polenta into chips and add the oil and seasoning and then put on a tray and cover. They can stay like this for a few hours until you are ready to put them in the oven to cook them.
We used a pre-cooked block of polenta to make these, as it saves so much time. However, you could make it yourself from scratch by boiling and simmering polenta in stock and them pouring it into a lined baking tray and cooling and then putting in the fridge to chill overnight. You can then cut it like you would a pre-cooked block.
Yes, these get lovely and crispy in the air fryer and will take just 10-15 minutes.
We would recommend eating these straight away, as they can become rubbery when left and they don't reheat very well. So try to only make as many as you need.
More Side Dishes
If you've tried these polenta fries, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Baked Polenta Chips
Ingredients
- 500 g (10 oz) of Polenta
- 1 tablespoon of Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of Garlic powder
- 1 pinch of Sea salt
- 1 pinch of Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 6.
- Cut 500 g of Polenta into fries and put on a baking tray.
- Drizzle with 1 tbsp of Olive oil and sprinkle over 1 tsp of Garlic powder and 1 pinch of Sea salt.
- Put into the oven for 45-50 minutes, or until crispy.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips
- Keep the seasonings simple, or get really creative. Cayenne or fajita seasoning adds some spice or some oregano and thyme add some Italian flavour. Try our French Fry Seasoning or Peri Peri seasoning too.
- Make these cheesy by adding a sprinkle or parmesan 10 minutes before they are finished.
- If you are making your own polenta, you can add some cheese in to it.
- Serve with our healthy ketchup and BBQ sauce or our healthy ranch dressing.
- If using store bought polenta, then pat it dry before slicing it up.
- Make sure that all the chips are cut to the same size, so they cook evenly.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Scarlet says
These sounds amazing! I have never even heard of polenta fries before but I love polenta so I must try them!
Lauren says
These are fantastic. I've made them several times, especially as a side dish for grilled meat, and they are SO good. I too find that they take a solid hour (sometimes even more) to bake to a nice crispness. Worth the wait though!
Dannii says
So happy you enjoyed them. They are one of our favourite sides.
Leo Erwin says
FABU...LOV THE RECIPE.....YOU CAN GET LOST IN THE FLAVOR..DONE THEM SEVERAL TIMES...NEEDS NEAR AN HOUR IN THE OVEN...I KINDA DO SEVERAL THINGS AT A TIME IN OVEN...BAKE THE RIBS, AND CARROTS..EVEN A TART..AND PUT THE POLENTA FRIES IN THE REAR OF OVEN...TURN FROM TIME TO TIME...REAL ADDICTION GOING ON WITH ME AND THEM FRIES....HEHEHEHEHEEH
Lauren says
I've made these a few times now as a side dish with grilled chicken and they are fantastic. We've served them to guests and gotten great reviews! I do find that they take quite a while in the oven, about an hour or so, to get crisped up, but it's worth it. Thanks for the recipe!
Samantha says
These look amazing! I'm definitely making these tonight to accompany my turkey burgers. Just wondering--do these need to be flipped at all during the 40-minute bake time, or are they just fine lying flat?
Thanks!
Carol Rich says
I am gluten-free for the same reason you are. I figured it out by trial and error, briefly thought I might have celiac disease, but I don't. I just feel better and have fewer digestive issues if I don't eat gluten. I can always use new recipes and ideas. I don't have a website, but maybe I should. I have collected some really good gluten-free recipes, some even my gluten-eating family like. I invented brown rice goulash, that's a favorite.
Emily Leary says
I had polenta chips at a restaurant recently and they were thick, stodgy, flavourless affairs that I wouldn't order again. Cutting them into slim fries sounds far more appealing - will definitely try this.
Fran says
Me again! Just wondering if you think these would freeze ok?
Rach @ This Italian Family says
I've never had polenta fries before, but they sure look yummy! Also, sorry to hear about the food allergies, but at least you know now! That's definitely good information to have!
Jan @GlugofOil says
Great idea Dannii - I have to give these a go. As you say they're far healthier too :)
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
It does sound like a mixed weekend. Well done on your running though! Polenta is something I forget about a lot of the time, so I love this reminder to pull it out. The chips look delicious.
P says
It has been a while since I had polenta, and honestly when I had it, I wasn't a fan because I wasn't that creative with it. But making fries with it sounds like an awesome idea! And when paired with the right sauce, it must be delicious :D
Sarah @tamingtwins says
I've only ever eaten polenta fries at Pizza Express ;) Will definitely try them after reading this though Dani. Thank you! x