Baked Polenta with Cheese

This baked polenta with cheese side dish is reminiscent of scalloped potatoes, except it's just thinly sliced store-bought polenta in a decadent Cheddar and Parmesan cheese sauce.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 424 Calories

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups finely chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon butter, or as needed
• 1 pinch salt and ground white pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese, or as needed
• 1 (16 ounce) tube polenta, cut into 1/8-inch slices
• 0.5 cup bread crumbs
• 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1.5 cups whole milk

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with 1 teaspoon butter. Add 2 teaspoons Parmesan cheese to the baking pan and shake gently, back and forth, until the bottom and sides are coated with Parmesan, discarding any extra.

Step 2

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add flour and stir until well combined. Turn off heat and whisk in milk. Turn heat to medium-low and bring sauce to a simmer; cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 3

While sauce is thickening, mix together Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs in a bowl.

Step 4

Layer 1/2 of the polenta slices in the prepared baking dish and top with 1/2 of the sauce. Repeat with remaining polenta and sauce. Top with cheese mixture.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 25 minutes.