One-Pot Creamy Spinach Parmesan Polenta
Make this rich, creamy polenta in a single pot. This recipe combines fresh spinach and sharp Parmesan cheese for a satisfying, simple meal or side dish.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup instant or quick-cooking polenta
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Pour the broth into a large, heavy-bottomed pot and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Slowly whisk in the polenta while continuously stirring to prevent lumps. Reduce the heat to low.
- Continue stirring frequently for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the polenta thickens to your desired consistency.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese until the butter melts and the cheese dissolves completely.
- Add the minced garlic and the fresh spinach to the pot. Stir constantly until the spinach wilts down, which takes about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, use whole milk instead of heavy cream, or stir in an extra tablespoon of butter at the end.
- If the polenta becomes too thick while resting, stir in a splash of hot broth or water to loosen it.
- You can substitute instant polenta with traditional cornmeal, but cooking time will increase significantly (up to 40 minutes).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 12
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
- Cholesterol: 75