Name: Garlic & Herb Baked Polenta Fries
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 package Prepared Tube Polenta (about 500g, see notes for sub); Olive Oil Cooking Spray; Pinch of Salt and Pepper (Optional); ½ Tbsp Butter; ⅓ tsp Garlic Powder; ⅔ tsp Italian Seasoning (or Oregano and Basil)

Crispy Garlic & Herb Baked Polenta Fries made with precooked packaged polenta and tossed in a bit of herby garlicky melted butter. An easy, healthy and delicious party appetizer or side dish that’s gluten-free too!

So I may or may not have run through 4 whole packs of polenta in 2 weeks. I was just eating them every day for lunch – pan frying or using an air fryer.

But then I thought of actually using some of that last tube for a recipe instead of just “wasting” the opportunity.

Fries seemed like the most “eye-catching” option. Thought I was so creative until I Googled it and saw that Tieghan posted something like what I had planned. Ah well.

Ended up just adapting that recipe, but with a (fairly) lower butter quantity.

Ingredients for Garlic and Herb Baked Polenta Fries

I made these polenta fries with precooked polenta from the tube – the kind you buy from the store – and a few pantry staples.

Here’s everything you need:

Tubed Polenta
A bit of Unsalted Butter
Garlic Powder
Dried Italian Seasoning or even Oregano or Basil. Fresh herbs would go just as well
Salt and Pepper
Avocado Oil Spray. I haven’t tried any others, but they might work

If you want to make these baked polenta fries Vegan and dairy free, feel free to use a Vegan butter substitute.

Another great part about this recipe is that since it’s just polenta here, it’s gluten free too!

I made these polenta fries with precooked polenta from the tube - the kind you buy from the store - and a few pantry staples.

How to make Herbed Polenta Fries with Polenta from Tube

This recipe for baked polenta fries is super easy and perfect if you’ve got precooked tubed polenta and wondering how to use it.

Start off with preheating your oven to 425°F.

Slice your packaged polenta into the shape of fries:

Cut off the curved ends
Slice it into half along the long side
Then into quarters (along the long side again)
Now go for the ¼” thick fries shape

Place the fries on a parchment lined baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Flip them over and spray again.

If your polenta is un-seasoned, sprinkle on salt and pepper.

Bake the fries for about 15 minutes, then very gently flip them over, and bake again for another 20 minutes. They should now be crispy!

Can you use Cornmeal for Polenta Fries

Yes, If you don’t have any packed polenta lying around, you can make these polenta fries with fresh cooked cornmeal.

Cook the corn grits into polenta first, and then pour it into a parchment lined pan or baking dish and let it cool for about 2 hours in the fridge until its hardened. You can also leave it in overnight.

Then slice the cooked and cooled corn grits and follow the rest of the recipe to bake the fries.

Fries are also a great way to use up leftover polenta.

Can you store these Healthy Oven Baked Polenta Fries

Yes, just like regular cooked polenta, you can store these crispy baked polenta chips for about 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

When it’s time to serve, reheat them in an air fryer or oven at 350°F for about 5-10 minutes or until they’re crispy and heated through again.

What to serve with Baked Polenta Chips

Any good quality ketchup or tomato based sauce goes well with these.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try my Sugar-free Smoky Spicy Barbecue Sauce!

Or even a creamy yogurt based sauce or dip.

Some more easy and healthy appetizers to try