Easy Crispy Grilled Polenta Bites are a great way to use up precooked or tubed polenta; Tender insides and crunchy outsides, these cakes are a perfect party appetizer!

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These easy Crispy Grilled Polenta Bites are what you need if you’re looking for a recipe on how to use precooked tubed polenta. Tender insides and crunchy outsides, these cakes are a perfect party appetizer!

I’ve had a tube of packed polenta from Ancient Harvest lying in my fridge for months now, and just refused to eat it as traditional polenta because I wanted to create a recipe with it.

I considered options like polenta waffles or bruschetta, but let’s just say those would take a bit too long to photograph on a workday afternoon.

Solution, super easy to prep and easy to capture grilled polenta bites!

How to make grilled polenta ?

There’s 2 options here:

Used packaged or tubed polenta from the store, slice it into ½” thick coins first, chop it up into bite sized pieces and then grill them on a stove top pan or grill.

This easy polenta recipe is great if you’ve got precooked tubed polenta and wondering how to use it.

An easy vegan polenta recipe using precooked packaged or tubed polenta from the store, and is the perfect option if you’re struggling with how to cook it.

Use freshly cooked homemade polenta
For this option you would have to first pour the polenta into a parchment lined pan or baking dish (the same ½” thick) and let it cool completely in the fridge until its completely hardened, then cut it up into bites and grill it.

If you decide to go this route, it would take about 2 hours for the cooked polenta to set in the fridge. You could also leave it in overnight.

Turning them into grilled cakes is also a great way to use up leftover polenta.

What does grilled polenta taste like?

Like? Well the grilled cakes version of real polenta cornmeal – crispy and crunchy on the outside, but soft and tender on the inside.

Quire a good contrast I would say.

Make crispy grilled polenta cakes from the tube version of this cornmeal as an easy recipe to use packed polenta.

Does this keep?

Yes, just like regular cooked polenta, you can store these grilled cakes or rounds for about 5 days in the fridge, but they just won’t be as crispy anymore.

Maybe toss them in an air-fryer for a bit or re-grill them just so the outiside crunches up. Don’t let them burn though.

Is this diet-friendly?

Since they’re made with just plain old seasoned polenta cornmeal (from the tube or leftover), these crispy grilled squares are vegan, gluten-free and dairy free too!

A recipe for crispy grilled polenta rounds, squares or cakes made from leftover polenta cornmeal or tubed polenta that makes a great vegan appetizer when served with some delicious tomato sauce.

What to serve these crispy grilled polenta bites with?

Crispy polenta cakes go really well with a good tomato sauce.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try my Sugar-free Smoky Spicy Barbecue Sauce!