Air Fryer Polenta Fries (with oven option)
A tube of prepared polenta and simple seasonings are the key to these irresistible bites. Serve the quick and easy recipe as an appetizer or side dish and watch them disappear!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) tube precooked polenta*
- 1 tablespoon (14ml) olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt and a few turns of the pepper mill
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
- 2 tablespoons (10g) grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- For the oven method, preheat the oven to 425℉, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or spray or grease it. If using an air fryer, you will cook at 400℉, but it need not be preheated or greased.
- Slice the polenta log in half through the center so you have two shorter tubes. Then cut each half into four even slices. Next, slice each quarter into four sticks. The goal is to end up with “fries” that are each about ½-inch thick. (As long as you’re close, they’ll cook evenly. If I end up with a few that seem too thick but will be too thin if halved, I slice them diagonally. A few crisp edges are fine!) Place the polenta in a large bowl.
- Gently toss with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and toss again to evenly coat.
- Arrange the polenta on the prepared baking sheet or air fryer rack so they aren’t touching. If using the oven, roast for 25-30 minutes or until lightly golden and crisp on the outside. Check after 20 minutes. If very brown on the bottom, flip them. If not, there’s no need. (Dark baking sheets will brown more quickly.) If using the air fryer, cook for 15-18 minutes at 400℉. No need to flip. With both methods, the polenta fries should be lightly golden on the outside and tender on the inside as opposed to being crunchy throughout. This bit of chewiness is what makes them extra satisfying!
Notes
*New to polenta? Look for a plastic-wrapped tube or log (much like a fatter version of prepared cookie dough) in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Some stores have prepared polenta in the organic refrigerated section, and some have shelf stable polenta. I have purchased 16-ounce packages and 24-ounce packages. If you find the larger size, you can prepare 1½ times the recipe (for example, 1½ tablespoon olive oil, 3 tablespoons Parmesan, etc.) for a total of 6 servings instead of 4. In the case of the larger size, it will likely be too much for a single batch in the air fryer, as one pound fits almost perfectly in my model.
If you have leftovers, cool and store in a covered dish or airtight container. The crisp exterior will fade, but you can “refresh” the fries by placing them in a 325℉ oven for about 10 minutes or a few minutes in the air fryer. They’ll taste as good as new.
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