Easy Air Fryer Parmesan Polenta Cakes

Polenta is a cornmeal-based dough thatโ€™s basically a blank canvas for all sorts of creations! These air fryer parmesan polenta cakes are an absolutely delicious way to prepare them and make for a great appetizer or snack.

easy air fryer polenta cakes recipe dinners done quick

Why Youโ€™ll Love Them

Using slices of precooked polenta gives you an easy head start on this recipe. Simply slice, season, and air fry!ย Youโ€™ll get a golden crust on the outside thanks to your air fryer, while a soft and warm interior melts in your mouth.

Enjoy a quick look at my recipe with this tasty Air Fryer Parmesan Polenta web story.

While I love the salty parmesan with these polenta slices, they lend themselves well to a variety of different flavors. You can always change things up and create a new favorite!

You can top your polenta cakes with pizza sauce and cheese to make mini air fryer polenta pizzas!

Alternatively, pair your polenta slices with a protein to make a full meal.ย The possibilities are endless!

If you love cheesy appetizers, make sure to check out these air fryer cranberry brie bites too.

Or keep it Italian with some air fryer mozzarella arancini rice balls!

What You Need For This Recipe

  • 18 oz Tube precooked polenta (such as San Gennaro)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • ยฝ tsp garlic salt (or more to taste)
  • ยผ tsp black pepper (or more to taste)
  • Nonstick spray
  • 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
  • Marinara for dippingย 

Ingredient Tipsย 

  • An 18-ounce roll of polenta should give you about 12 slices
  • The amounts of cheese and seasonings may be adjusted to taste (but this is a good starting point)!
  • You may substitute dairy free or vegan cheese for the parmesan if needed to meet dietary restrictions

How to Make Air Fryer Parmesan Polenta Cakes

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400ยฐF
polenta tube in casing on a cutting board
  1. Remove the wrapping from around your tube of polenta and remove excess moisture by dabbing with a paper towel
  2. Using a sharp knife, cut the polenta into roughly ยฝโ€ thick slices
slice polenta tube into half inch cakes
  1. Spray or brush each side of the polenta cake with olive oil
brush polenta slices with olive oil
  1. Season both sides with garlic salt and pepper to taste (approximately ยฝ tsp of garlic salt and ยผ tsp of pepper in total is a good starting point)
season polenta slices with garlic salt and pepper before placing in air fryer
  1. Once the air fryer is preheated, spray the basket or tray with nonstick spray
  2. Add seasoned polenta slices to the preheated air fryer, allowing air space between each round
place seasoned polenta in air fryer basket
  1. Cook polenta cakes on the air fry setting for 25-30 minutes at 400ยฐF, flipping halfway through until edges are browned
  2. Sprinkle about 2 Tbsp of grated parmesan cheese over the polenta cakes
in the middle of air frying add parmesan cheese on top of polenta
  1. Return to the air fryer for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is browned
  2. Top with additional cheese or fresh parsley if desired, and serve with a side of marinara for dipping!
serve air fried polenta with marinara

What Goes Best With Polenta

  • Cheese
  • Tomato-based sauces
  • Chorizo
  • Root vegetables
  • Legumes
  • Stew
  • Sausage
  • Chicken
  • Squash
  • Ribs
  • Shrimp

As you can see, there are a variety of different foods that go well with polenta.

Try this savory air fryer kielbasa for a melt-in-your-mouth sausage or keep it veggie forward with air fryer roasted butternut squash slices or air fryer ratatouille. Alternatively, serve alongside some air fryer roasted tomato soup in place of a grilled cheese.

Recipe FAQs

Does Polenta Get Crispy in the Air Fryer?

Yes, polenta does get crispy in the air fryer, at least on the exterior.ย 

Add a little oil or butter to help the process, but youโ€™ll get a crisp, golden browned crust on the outside. The inside stays soft and granular, so itโ€™s rather like eating soft cooked cornmeal.

In fact, if you cook them long enough you can actually crisp up the interior and turn it into a polenta chip.

What Does Tubed Polenta Taste Like?

Tubed polenta tastes like cooked, ground corn. Itโ€™s very mild in flavor which makes it a great base for building other flavors onto.

If you like cornbread or masa in tamales, then youโ€™ll likely enjoy the flavor and texture of tubed polenta.

Recipe Variations

  • Skip the parmesan and marinara and instead top the polenta cakes with pizza sauce and mozzarella for mini air fryer polenta pizzas
  • Cook this recipe for 40-45 minutes instead to create polenta chips that are crispy all the way throughย 
  • Alternatively, make polenta fries by cutting the slices into ยฝโ€ thick sticks instead. Dippable and delicious!

Other Delicious Recipes for Corn Lovers

Final Thoughts

These air fryer parmesan polenta cakes are so easy to make. Theyโ€™re a perfect appetizer on their own, or tasty as a side or base for another dish as well.

The golden brown exterior gives way to a soft interior that simply melts in your mouth.

Check out some of our best air fryer butternut squash recipes for additional pairing ideas!

easy air fryer polenta cakes recipe dinners done quick featured image

Easy Air Fryer Parmesan Polenta Cakes

Air fryer polenta cakes are so easy to make. The parmesan cheese offers a savory, salty addition to the warm corn rounds.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 27 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Vegetarian
Servings 4
Calories 222 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
ย ย 

  • 18 ounce Tube precooked polenta (such as San Gennaro)
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • ยฝ tsp Garlic salt (or more to taste)
  • ยผ tsp Black pepper (or more to taste)
  • Nonstick spray
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • Marinara for dipping (optional)

Instructions
ย 

  • Preheat air fryer to 400ยฐF according to manufacturer guidelines
  • Remove the wrapping from around your tube of polenta by carefully slicing off one end and squeezing it out from the other, then pat it dry
    18 ounce Tube precooked polenta
  • Using a sharp knife, cut the polenta on a cutting board into roughly ยฝโ€ thick slices
  • Spray or brush each side of the polenta cakes with the 1 Tbsp olive oil
    1 tbsp Olive oil
  • Season both sides of the polenta slices with garlic salt and pepper to taste (approximately ยฝ tsp of salt and ยผ tsp of pepper in total is a good starting point, but add more if you like)
    ยฝ tsp Garlic salt, ยผ tsp Black pepper
  • Once the air fryer is preheated, spray the basket or tray with nonstick spray
    Nonstick spray
  • Add seasoned polenta slices to the preheated air fryer, allowing air space between each round
  • Cook polenta cakes on the air fry setting for 25-30 minutes at 400ยฐF, flipping halfway through, until edges are browned
  • Sprinkle 2 Tbsp of grated parmesan cheese over the polenta slices
    2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • Return basket to the air fryer for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted and browned
  • Top with additional parmesan cheese or fresh parsley if desired, and serve with a side of marinara for dipping!
    Marinara for dipping

Notes

  • An 18-ounce roll of precooked polenta should give you about 12 slices
  • If preferred, you can make this recipe into air fryer parmesan polenta fries instead. Simply cut the slices of polenta again, into fry-shaped sticks about ยฝโ€ in thickness.
  • Top your polenta cakes with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese cheese to make mini air fryer polenta pizzas
  • You may add more of any seasoning or cheese to suit your tastes
  • Dairy-free or plant based cheeses may be substituted in place of regular parmesan if desired
  • The outside will be crispy but the inside of these polenta cakes should still be soft. If you wanted to make polenta chips (entirely crispy throughout) cooking for around 40-45 minutes should get you there
  • Exact nutritional values will vary depending on specific brand used, quantities of seasonings, and total amount consumed, so please consider this as only a guideline or estimate

Nutrition

Serving: 307gCalories: 222kcalCarbohydrates: 45.4gProtein: 7.3gFat: 0.8gSaturated Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 963mgPotassium: 4mgFiber: 3.1gSugar: 3.2gCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
Keyword air fried polenta, air fryer polenta cakes, air fryer polenta rounds, air fryer polenta slices, ninja air fryer polenta, parmesan polenta air fryer, polenta, polenta cakes recipe, polenta in air fryer
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Katie Vine