Basic Polenta Slow Cooker 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.

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.

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

Steps:

• Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. Add 2 teaspoons of salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted.

BEST SLOW-COOKER BEEF ROAST

Steps:

• Wash and rinse your meat (then towel dry) stab it all over with a very sharp knife & rub or sprinkle all of the seasonings onto the roast .
• Sauté minced garlic in the oil .
• Add the onions & sauté until light golden brown & then remove them with a slotted spoon or tongs and set to the side.
• Brown the seasoned roast on all sides (may need to add a little more olive oil).
• If using a roasting pan line it with foil and also generously spray the foil.
• Place the fried roast in the baking pan with the remaining grease (add a cup of water around it .
• Bake Roast at 400 for 45 minutes (covered).
• Add potatoes & carrots on the sides of the roast .
• Pour the can of beef broth & French soup over everything .
• Now add the sautéed onions & garlic on top of the roast.
• Sprinkle a little bit of the seasonings you rubbed into the roast over the entire dish .
• Bake at 400 for 45 minutes.
• Mix 2 Tablespoons of flour with 1/4th cup of water & pour it over everything in the dish . This is going to be the yummy gravy .
• Bake covered for another 45-55 minutes or until the veggies are tender .

CREAMY POLENTA (SLOW COOKER)

Steps:

• Spray insert of slow cooker with cooking spray and preheat on high.
• In a medium saucepan, add milk, one cup half and half, 1 Tbsp butter, and polenta. Season and bring to a boil over medium high heat, whisking constantly. Boil for 2-3 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into the slow cooker and cook for two hours, stirring once or twice per hour.
• When ready to serve, whisk in the remaining half and half, butter, and Parmesan cheese.

DREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• Generously grease a 5-qt. slow cooker with 1 tablespoon butter. Add milk, cream, 6 tablespoons butter, cornmeal, salt, rosemary and pepper; stir to combine., Cook, covered, on low 5-6 hours or until polenta is thickened, whisking every hour. Just before serving, whisk again; stir in cheese and remaining butter. Garnish with additional rosemary if desired.

HOW TO MAKE PERFECT POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan; pour polenta slowly into boiling water, whisking constantly until all polenta is stirred in and there are no lumps.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until polenta starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Polenta mixture should still be slightly loose. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 to 6 minutes. When polenta is too thick to whisk, stir with a wooden spoon. Polenta is done when texture is creamy and the individual grains are tender.
• Turn off heat and gently stir 2 tablespoons butter into polenta until butter partially melts; mix 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese into polenta until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand 5 minutes to thicken; stir and taste for salt before transferring to a serving bowl. Top polenta with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and about 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for garnish.

QUICK-COOKING SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• In medium saucepan over medium heat, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add polenta in a slow steady stream, whisking continuously. Whisk until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, add butter and cheese, and stir. Season with salt and pepper; serve warm.

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.

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 ITALIAN SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Line 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with slow cooker liner; spray liner with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix broth, cheese blend, cornmeal, dried basil, salt, artichokes, milk and garlic until well blended. Pour mixture into slow cooker.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 5 hours, stirring once halfway through cooking. Turn off slow cooker. Stir in roasted peppers; let stand covered 30 minutes. Stir before serving. Sprinkle individual servings with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.