Air fryer polenta fries (using tubed polenta)

Do you love cornbread, arepas, or grits?

If so, you’ll love air fryer polenta fries.

They have the mild, cozy flavors of cornmeal, but with the texture and bite of a french fry.

Best of all, they’re super easy to make, thanks to the help of prepared polenta in a tube.

It’s just a matter of cutting, seasoning, and air frying. Can’t beat that!

Air fryer polenta fries get beautifully crispy on the outside, while the inside is creamy and tender.

(Don’t have an air fryer? There are oven directions in the notes section of the recipe card below.)

They are perfect for dunking into warmed marinara, ranch dressing, or barbecue sauce.

Enjoy them on their own. Or have them as a side dish with a sandwich or soup.

They’re loved by kids & adults alike.

Tubed polenta: Look for tubed polenta in the center aisles of your grocery store. It’s often near the other Italian foods like pasta, shelf stable gnocchi, and spaghetti sauce.

I buy mine at Trader Joe’s. You can also find it online.

It is a shelf stable item that you can store in the pantry until you’re ready to open it. Once opened, it must be stored in the refrigerator.

Oil spray: Any oil spray will work for this recipe. Buy it in a can or use a refillable oil sprayer.

Or if you’d rather, drizzle a little oil on the fries, and gently coat them evenly with your hands.

Dried herbs & seasonings: Finish with dried basil, dried oregano, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper.

1. Open a tube of prepared polenta.

2. Lay it on its side. Cut in half.

3. Stand the halves up, cut side down. Cut each one straight down the middle.

4. Now you have 4 sections. Cut each one in half, straight down the middle.

5. Now you have 8 slabs total. Lay them flat.

6. Cut each slab into 4 equal-sized fries.

Here’s how to cook polenta fries at a glance. For complete instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.

Put the cut polenta fries into a large mixing bowl.

Spray with oil & season with the following:

• Dried basil
• Dried oregano
• Granulated garlic
• Salt
• Pepper

Omit the herbs & garlic

If you have tubed polenta that’s already seasoned, or if you just prefer to go the simpler route, you can simply oil the fries, season with salt & pepper, and air fry.

Vary the spices

Or you can vary the seasonings by using a generous sprinkle of Italian seasoning, pizza seasoning, smoked paprika, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning salt.

Cut the polenta into different shapes

You can cut it into wedges or rounds. Keep in mind that the air frying time will vary, depending on how thickly or thinly you cut it.

Keep an eye on it, and flip once it looks fairly browned. (Polenta can be a little floppy & difficult to flip if it isn’t done enough.)

You can certainly enjoy air fried polenta on its own. But it’s even more fun & delicious with a dipping sauce.

Warmed marinara is a great option if you want to lean into those Italian vibes. Use jarred or homemade marinara sauce.

But my personal favorite dipping sauce is vegan ranch dressing.

Here are some other dip ideas:

• Barbecue sauce
• Ketchup
• Cocktail sauce
• Lemon garlic aioli
• Buffalo sauce
• Vegan sriracha mayonnaise
• Vegan honey mustard

Polenta fries are a tasty snack in their own right. And since they’re so pantry-friendly, it’s easy to whip up a batch when you’re feeling peckish.

They also work well as a side dish, anywhere you’d typically serve baked fries or alongside dishes with an Italian bent.

• Eggplant parmesan sandwich
• Meatball burger
• Air fryer stuffed peppers
• Creamy tomato soup
• Three bean chili
• BBQ jackfruit sandwich
• Buffalo chickpea sandwich

(For more air fryer inspiration, check out these vegan air fryer recipes.)