Instant Pot Polenta In Only 15 Minutes

This Instant Pot polenta is unbelievably creamy, cheesy, and flavorful. It's a comforting and elegant dish that only takes 15 minutes to make with 7 simple ingredients. And the best part - there is no stirring required and the Instant Pot does all the work! 

THE BEST INSTANT POT POLENTA 

If you love rich and creamy dishes that are filled with flavor, then this cheesy polenta is right up your alley.

But if you've made polenta before, then you know it usually takes upwards of 30 minutes to cook and requires a lot – and I meant a lot – of constant stirring. 

Luckily, this creamy polenta takes just 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to pressure cook in the Instant Pot! And it create the perfect polenta every time and tastes so much better than a traditional polenta recipe. 

 

Honestly, this recipe has quickly become a staple at my house, and I'm positive it will become a part of your regular dinner rotation too once you try it. 

By the way, if you dig quick and easy Instant Pot recipes, try making this Instant Pot potato salad, Instant Pot coconut rice, or Instant Pot Corn On The Cob next!

INGREDIENTS

So, the most basic instant polenta recipe includes dry polenta, stock, and salt. But, to make polenta Instant Pot style - that's what we like to say in our house anyway - I like to take the taste and texture up a notch by using just a few additional basic pantry staples.

As I mentioned, this recipe only has 7 simple ingredients, but it truly tastes like something you would get at a restaurant!

Anyway, here's everything you'll need:

• 2 cups Vegetable Broth
• 1 cup Milk
• ¾ cup Dry Polenta
• ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
• Salt and Pepper
• 3 tbsp. Pesto
• Fresh Rosemary

Now, just so you know, I make my polenta with vegetable broth, but you can also use chicken broth if you prefer as well.

And by the way, be sure to use regular dry polenta – not the instant cook kind.

Oh, and make sure to pick up some extra polenta. You can use it to make this fried polenta next!

WHAT IS POLENTA?

Ok, so if you've never heard of polenta before, it's basically a creamy porridge made from yellow cornmeal but with a little more of a texture and a nice chewy bite.

And it goes so well with a variety of things like these easy 5 ingredient biscuits and this vegan lasagna.

Also, in my opinion, it makes for an even better stand alone dish since it is so incredibly rich, cheesy, and delicious. Even if you don't love polenta cooked other ways, I have a feeling you'll like this recipe because it's absolutely delicious.

By the way, if you want some more recipe ideas for what you can use polenta to make, check out this article.

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT POLENTA

Ok, so the process of making polenta usually turns people off because it typically requires a lot of stirring, which can obviously get tiring after a while.

But the beauty of this recipe is that there's practically no stirring required.

Literally, all you have to do is add the ingredients to your Instant Pot and let it do the rest.

How easy is that?!

So, grab your ingredients, get out your Instant Pot, and let's get into the good stuff.

STEP 1: PRESSURE COOKING THE POLENTA

First, you'll want to set your Instant Pot to sauté mode and add the vegetable broth, milk, dry polenta, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to it.

Then, stir all of these ingredients until well combined. And be sure to adjust the amount of salt you use if your vegetable broth already has salt in it.

Next, add the tablespoon of pesto, cover the Instant Pot with the lid, and set it to cook on low pressure for 10 minutes to pressure cook.

STEP 2: GARNISHING AND SERVING

Once it's done, release the steam completely by turning the knob from the closed to venting position with an oven mitt. 

Then when the valve drops and steam is out, open the lid, give your polenta a quick stir, and if it feels a little dry, you can add in a little extra milk or vegetable broth.

For serving, pour your polenta into two dishes and garnish each with a swirl of the leftover pesto and some fresh rosemary on top. Enjoy this warm creamy bowl of deliciousness!

HOW TO STORE COOKED POLENTA

This Instant Pot recipe makes 2 servings of cheesy polenta, so it's perfect for a dinner for two.

Of course, you can also double or triple the recipe for a family dinner!

And don't worry about having too many leftovers – you can store your cooked polenta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

HOW TO REHEAT POLENTA

Now, there are two ways you can reheat refrigerated polenta. You can either bring it back to its creamy consistency or turn it into something completely new (and equally delicious).

So, to reheat your polenta back to its original form, gently warm it up on the stovetop over low-medium heat or in the microwave. 

It might be a little dry at this point, so add a little milk, broth, or water to make it creamier.

And for the second way of reheating polenta, you can cut your cold polenta into squares and toast them in a skillet with butter or oil. 

This heating method works best if your polenta has dried out a little in the fridge and has a firmer consistency. It'll come out crispy on the outside and deliciously tender and cheesy on the inside. 

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

Well, that's how you make some quick and easy polenta Instant Pot style - like 15 minutes easy!

This ultra creamy and cheesy polenta recipe takes a fraction of the time and effort to make than the traditional kind but tastes just as amazing. 

It's a delicious and elegant main dish  - or side - that can really take your dinner over the top.

I hope you enjoy this Instant Pot recipe as much as me and my family. As always, be sure to leave a comment below if you try it. I'd love to know how it turns out!

By the way, if you liked how cheesy, creamy, and easy this recipe was, give this Instant Pot Risotto a try next.

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