Name: Easy Polenta Croutons
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 18 oz (510g) ready-made polenta, cubed; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese; 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast; 2-3 tablespoons oil (olive or avocado)

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These Easy Polenta Croutons are made with ready-made polenta cut into cubes, then tossed with Italian spices, garlic powder, and vegan cheese and cooked to crispy perfection! They have a crunchy outside with a softer center for a delicious final touch to any salad or enjoyed as a snack!

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Table of Contents

There is a local restaurant here in Columbus, Ohio that serves a kale salad and they top it with this genius topping… polenta croutons. I was so impressed by it that I decided to make my own version at home and they did not disappoint! These Easy Polenta Croutons might be my new favorite salad topping and go-to snack! They are made in just 30 minutes and add just the right touch to your salads, like you see in my Kale Salad with Polenta Croutons!

These croutons are perfectly spiced and definitely taste like traditional croutons in a fun, new way!

polenta croutons in a wooden bowl lined with parchment paper

How to Make These Polenta Croutons

These croutons could not be easier to make. The only thing is you have to find the polenta in stores in a log like the one I used from Ancient Harvest (not sponsored). Hopefully you can find ready-made polenta in your area or online.

First, you’ll cut the ready-made polenta into cubes. Place the cubes in a glass bowl.

Next, combine Italian seasoning, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan cheese, and salt in a small bowl and mix together.

Italian seasoning, vegan parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast and salt mixed together in a bowl

Add the bowl with the cubed polenta and add 2 tablespoons of oil, preferably olive or avocado oil. Stir to mix well.

the seasonings mixed in with the polenta in a glass bowl before baking

Methods of Cooking

Now there are a few ways to cook these. Because they aren’t made with bread like traditional croutons, these polenta croutons won’t get to quite the crunch level you might be used to. However, I really love how they have a crispy outside and a bit of a softer inside.

When I first made these Polenta Croutons I baked them in the oven for 25 minutes at 450 degrees F and then broiled them for 7 minutes to get that extra crispy outside.

polenta croutons cooked on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper

I then made them again and tried them in the air fryer, and they were good, but I may have actually overcooked them and they dried out. If you prefer extra crispy then maybe you’d like them better this way. I found them a bit tough to be honest. I’m going to have to try this method of cooking again.

Then I made them a third way (because they are so easy to make!!) and just sauted them in a skillet, and actually may prefer this method. I found the outsides to get extra crispy while the inside still cooking enough but not drying out too much. You can choose which cooking method you prefer as I included them all in the recipe card 😉

3/4 close up of polenta croutons in a wooden bowl lined with parchment paper

I’d love to hear what you think about these Polenta Croutons and I would also love to know what method of cooking you chose! Leave a comment below down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others can discover this fun salad topping crouton alternative recipe! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!