This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These Baked Polenta Bites Are Crispy, Cozy, and Completely Irresistible: These Baked Polenta Bites are one of those recipes I make once and then find excuses to make again and again. They’re crispy around the edges, soft and creamy in the middle, and somehow disappear the second they hit the table. I love that they are easy to prep ahead, and perfect for dipping as a side or an appetizer… or just sneaking straight off the pan!
These Oven-Baked Polenta Bites Disappear Fast: If you have a tube of polenta in your pantry, this recipe is begging to be made!
Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.
At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
How to Make Polenta Bites
These baked polenta bites are crispy around the edges, soft and creamy in the center, and incredibly easy to make in the oven. They’re perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side dish and pair beautifully with marinara, pesto, or your favorite dipping sauce. Whether you’re entertaining or just craving something cozy and snackable, these golden polenta bites always disappear fast.
Polenta Bites Ingredients
To make this recipe, we will need the following ingredients:
- Tube polenta: The base of the recipe. Pre-cooked polenta makes this fast and foolproof, baking up creamy on the inside with crispy edges.
- Olive oil: Helps the polenta bites brown and crisp in the oven while adding richness and preventing sticking.
- Seasoning blend (Pizza, Greek, Italian herbs, etc.): Adds bold, savory flavor and lets you easily customize the bites to match your meal or dipping sauces.
- Garlic salt: Enhances the overall flavor, adding subtle garlic notes and balancing the seasoning so the polenta doesn’t taste bland.
Steps to Bake Polenta Bites
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:
Prep
Pat polenta completely dry. Slice tube into rounds, then into fourths.
If there is any other liquid, pat dry with paper towels.
Toss in Oil
Drizzle olive or avocado oil over polenta, toss to coat.
Season
Add seasonings – I prefer garlic salt and Trader Joe’s Pizza seasoning.
Bake
Add to baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper underneath. Spread out so polenta can get crispy.
Serve
Let cool, serve, and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Baked Polenta Bites
Use thick, fully set polenta before cutting. Polenta that hasn’t cooled completely won’t crisp properly in the oven.
Line your pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and help the bites release cleanly once baked.
Cut the polenta into evenly sized pieces so everything bakes and crisps at the same rate.
Space the bites apart on the baking sheet. Crowding traps steam and keeps the edges from turning golden.
Brush or spray generously with oil — fat is key for crisp edges when baking instead of frying.
Flip halfway through baking to get even browning on all sides.
Finish with a quick broil for extra color and crunch, keeping a close eye so they don’t burn.
Let them rest for a few minutes after baking so they firm up and hold their shape.
Serve immediately for the best texture, while the outsides are crispy and the centers are creamy.
Reheat leftovers on a sheet pan in the oven, not the microwave, to bring back the crispiness.
Air Fryer Polenta Bites
To adapt this recipe to the air fryer, use the tips below:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for the crispiest results.
- Lightly brush or spray the polenta bites with oil on all sides.
- Arrange in a single layer, leaving space for air to circulate.
- Air fry for 10–14 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through.
- For extra crisp edges, air fry an additional 2–3 minutes.
- Serve immediately with warm dipping sauces.
Game Day Serving Ideas
If you’re making these baked polenta bites for the Big Game, find some of our ideas below:
- Cut polenta into bite-sized squares or wedges for easy grabbing.
- Serve on a large platter with multiple dipping sauces so guests can mix and match.
- Keep them warm in a 200°F oven until kickoff.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan, chili flakes, or fresh herbs right before serving.
- Pair with other finger foods like sliders, wings, or veggie trays to round out the spread.
- Make a double batch — these go fast, especially during the fourth quarter.
Baked Polenta Bites Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can cook and chill the polenta up to a day in advance, then cut and bake just before serving. This makes them perfect for game day prep.
Polenta that’s too soft, overcrowded pans, or not enough oil are the most common reasons. Make sure the polenta is fully set and give the bites plenty of space to crisp.
Absolutely – we are using a tube of pre-cooked polenta. It works great and is a huge time-saver, especially when you’re feeding a crowd.
Marinara, pesto, whipped ricotta, garlic aioli, or even buffalo sauce are all great options for game day.
Yes, polenta is naturally gluten-free, but always double-check labels if serving guests with dietary restrictions.
What to Serve With Polenta Bites
If you love this easy recipe please click the stars below to give it a five star rating and leave a comment! Please also help me share on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Share on Facebook
SharePin this now to find it later
Pin ItFollow on Instagram
Baked Polenta Bites
Ingredients
- 1 tube polenta, sliced into bite-sized rounds or squares
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon seasoning blend, Trader Joe’s Pizza Seasoning, Greek seasoning, Italian herbs, or favorite blend
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pat polenta tube dry after removing from packaging. Cut tube into slices, then each slice into fourths.
- Add polenta bites into bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and season.
- Arrange polenta bites in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
- Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- For extra crispy edges, finish the polenta bites under the broiler for 1–2 minutes, watching closely.
- Use any seasoning blend you love to customize the flavor — pizza seasoning, Italian herbs, or Greek seasoning all work well.
- Serve immediately for the best texture, while the outsides are crisp and the centers are creamy.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven or air fryer to restore crispiness; avoid the microwave.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
