Slow Cooker Cheddar Polenta Recipes

SLOW-COOKER POLENTA

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. slow cooker, combine 12 cups broth, cornmeal, onion, garlic, bay leaves and salt. Cook, covered, on low , 6-8 hours, until liquid is absorbed and polenta is creamy. Remove bay leaves. Stir in cream, cheese, butter, pepper and remaining broth. If desired, serve with additional cheese.

INSTANT POT POLENTA

Steps:

• Whisk the polenta, 6 cups water and 2 1/2 teaspoons salt together in the insert of a 6-quart Instant Pot® until combined. Turn the pot to the saute setting (see Cook's Note) and bring to a boil. Whisk well, then follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high setting for 10 minutes.
• After the pressure cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for quick release and wait until the quick release cycle is complete. Be careful of any remaining steam and unlock and remove the lid. Whisk the polenta until smooth.
• Whisk in the Parmesan, then the butter. Cover with the lid and set on warm setting until ready to serve.

CHEESY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring milk, water, and salt to a boil. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to low, and cover. Cook 20 minutes, until creamy, lifting the lid and stirring every 3 or 4 minutes to prevent sticking. Remove pot from stove, stir in pepper and butter. Gradually stir in cheese. Serve.

SLOW COOKER CHEDDAR POLENTA

Steps:

• Mix water, polenta, olive oil, salt and pepper in slow cooker; whisk until well blended. Add cheddar cheese and whisk again.
• Cover and cook on high setting for about 2 hours, or until liquid is mostly absorbed. Stir together well (polenta should have consistency of thick cooked cereal).
• If not serving right away, pour onto buttered baking sheet with sides, spreading into an even layer; cover with plastic wrap and let cool. When ready to serve, cut into rectangles and sauté in nonstick skillet with olive oil until golden on both sides.

CREAMY CHEDDAR POLENTA WITH FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups of water, the milk and a very large pinch of salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce the heat so the liquid is at a low simmer, and add the cornmeal in a slow and steady stream, constantly whisking to prevent lumps. Cook the polenta at a low simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes; if the mixture gets too thick, add water 1/2 cup at a time.
• Remove from the heat, stir in the butter and olive oil and then stir in the Cheddar. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Serve immediately in mini cups, topped with chopped herbs

SLOW-COOKER BEEF AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Toss the beef with the Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Scatter the mushrooms and garlic in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker; top with the beef. Add the pepperoncini, brine, tomatoes and beef broth. Cover and cook on low until the beef is tender, 8 hours.
• Uncover the slow cooker and let stand 5 minutes. Spoon off any fat from the top and discard. Shred the beef with 2 forks.
• Meanwhile, cook the polenta as the label directs. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan and butter until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls and top with the beef mixture.

BASIC POLENTA (SLOW COOKER)

Steps:

• Stir together the cornmeal, salt, and water in a slow cooker. Cove and cook on high for 2 hours. Stir the polenta. If it seems too thick, add in a little water, milk, broth, or cream. Cook for 30 to 60 minutes more, until thick and creamy.

CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Spray the insert of a slow cooker with cooking spray (for easier clean up) and preheat on high.
• In a medium saucepan, add the milk, 1 cup half-and-half, 1 tablespoon butter, and polenta. Season with salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly to keep the mixture lump-free. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours, stirring once or twice per hour. Once you are ready to serve, open the slow cooker and whisk in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, remaining 1/3 cup half-and-half, and Parmesan.

CREAMY SLOW-COOKER POLENTA WITH SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Whisk together the polenta, roasted red peppers, marinara, garlic, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon salt in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Whisk in 5 1/2 cups of water. Cook on low for 6 hours. (The polenta will keep very well on warm.)
• About 10 or 15 minutes before you want to eat, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat an oven-safe skillet with olive oil, and roast the sausages in the skillet in the oven until sizzling and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the skillet and put it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add a little more oil if the pan is relatively dry. Add the capers and pepperoncini to the hot skillet with the sausages, and let the capers pop, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Stir the Parmesan into the polenta. The polenta will continue to firm up as it cools; stir in a few tablespoons of water if you would like it to be looser. Serve the polenta in shallow bowls topped with sausages, capers and pepperoncini. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

SLOW COOKER PUMPKIN-PARMESAN POLENTA

Steps:

• In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, whisk together the polenta with 10 cups of water, then whisk in the pumpkin. Scatter in 4 tablespoons butter, cut into bits; the salt; a generous amount of pepper; the thyme sprig; 1 sprig of the sage; and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Cook on low for 6 hours, whisking once or twice if possible. (This can hold very well on warm for several hours.)
• Break the cream cheese into pieces and drop them into the polenta; whisk to melt the cream cheese and combine. Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg, then stir in the grated Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
• In a medium skillet, melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Pick the leaves from the remaining sage sprigs, and when the butter is melted, drop them in. Cook the butter and the sage, swirling the pan often, until the butter solids start to turn medium-brown and smell toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. (Don't walk away; butter goes from browned to burned in seconds.) Remove the pan from the heat immediately and swirl the browned butter-sage mixture into the polenta. Serve the polenta in a large platter or shallow bowl, topped with a bit more Parmesan and more nutmeg if desired.
• In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to boil over high heat. Add the polenta in a steady steam while whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low or medium-low. (You want the polenta-water mixture to be steaming hot, but not boiling.) Continue to whisk constantly for about 3 minutes, until the polenta and water have formed a smooth mixture. Whisk in the pumpkin, 4 tablespoons butter, the salt, a generous amount of pepper, the thyme sprig, 1 sage sprig and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Once all the ingredients are combined, cover and cook for 40 minutes, whisking well every 10 minutes.
• Uncover the pot and cook for about 1 hour more, whisking every 10 minutes, until the polenta is smooth and tender, and the mixture has thickened and is creamy but not runny.
• Break the cream cheese into small pieces and drop them into the polenta; whisk to melt the cream cheese and combine. Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg and the grated Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
• Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a medium skillet. Pick the leaves from the remaining sage sprigs and when the butter is melted, drop them in. Cook the butter and the sage, swirling the pan often, until the butter solids start to turn medium brown and smell toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. (Don't walk away; butter goes from browned to burned in seconds.) Remove the pan from the heat immediately and swirl the browned butter-sage mixture into the polenta. Serve the polenta in a large platter or shallow bowl, topped with a bit more Parmesan and more nutmeg if desired.

ROSEMARY BEEF ROAST OVER CHEESY POLENTA

Steps:

• Mix rosemary, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt and pepper; rub over meat. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown meat. Transfer meat a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. Add broth to skillet; cook 1 minute, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Pour over meat. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 7-9 hours., For polenta, in a large heavy saucepan, bring water, milk and remaining 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from sides of pan, 15-20 minutes. (Mixture will be very thick.) Remove from heat; stir in Parmesan cheese and butter. Serve with roast. If desired, serve with additional rosemary and Parmesan cheese.