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Creamy Polenta with Herbed Mushrooms

April 15, 2020 by Gina +

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Are you familiar with polenta? For years I only knew the pre-made log you could pick up from the market. A few years ago I started cooking with it from scratch, if you will, using the uncooked ground corn.

Now we go on kicks where we eat polenta frequently, either creamy or baked, we love it. But then we forget about it, until I find it in the pantry again. It’s such a great staple to keep stocked. Polenta is full of fiber, cooks easily, and it extremely versatile.

My favorite way as of late is served with a load of herby mushrooms. It’s simple, filling, and delicious. You could add more vegetables or a protein too. I think the mushrooms are great on their own, but peas, vegan sausage, and spinach would be great too.

Polenta cooks easily. It requires a lot of liquid to get creamy, so adjust to your liquid to the consistency you want, meaning you may want to add more liquid as it cooks. I stir in some butter, but again, you can add more if you like that, or even stir in cheese for more of a cheesy grit type dish. Versatile people, polenta is incredibly versatile.

Creamy Polenta with Herb Mushrooms

Print Recipe
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Servings: 2 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dry polenta
  • 4 cups broth or water or a combination
  • 2 tbsp butter or vegan alternative
  • 1 8oz sliced mushrooms
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh herbs, I use parsley and a little dill
  • salt & pepper

Method
 

  1. Start by boiling the water or broth in a larger saucepan. I use a half of each to give it a little more flavor. Add a good pinch of salt to the liquid. Once boiling, slowly whisk in the polenta. Stir for about a minute until it thickens up. Then reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more liquid if it gets too thick. I usually add up to another cup.
  2. While the polenta is cooking, start the mushrooms. In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp of butter. Add the mushrooms, coat, then allow to cook. Try not to stir the mushrooms too much. Cook for about 7 minutes, until soft. Stir through a good pinch of salt and the freshly chopped herbs. Cook for another minute then turn off the heat.
  3. Once the polenta is creamy and cooked, stir through 1 tbsp of butter or a vegan butter. You can also stir in some cheese, parmesan in delicious in it, or leave it as is.
  4. Spoon a large couple spoonfuls of polenta out and split the mushrooms evenly over 2 dishes. I like to sprinkle a little more fresh parm on top to serve.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

This recipe makes extra polenta.  I like to have it the next morning with a fluffy egg and feta on top.  Just another option!

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Dinners, Recipes Tagged With: easy meal, healthy, parsley, polenta, vegan, vegetarian

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  1. Breakfast Strata - Gina Gibson says:
    May 1, 2024 at 9:20 pm

    […] Creamy Polenta with Herbed Mushrooms […]

Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich Follow along Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich

Follow along for easy, family-friendly meals 🤍

Crispy bacon, juicy chicken, melted mozzarella, creamy avocado, and all layered onto a toasted sandwich roll. It’s simple, high protein, and so good for lunch or an easy dinner.

Ingredients:
2 slices bacon
1 small chicken breast, pounded thin
All-purpose chicken seasoning
Freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Sandwich roll
Mayonnaise
1/2 avocado, mashed with salt
Lettuce
Tomato

Directions:
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then remove and set aside. Remove some of the grease from the pan.

Season a thinly pounded chicken breast generously with chicken seasoning and cook in the same pan until golden and cooked through. Once flipped, top with freshly grated mozzarella and let melt.

Spread mayonnaise onto one side of a sandwich roll and mashed salted avocado onto the other side.

Layer with bacon, cheesy chicken, lettuce, and tomato.

Save this easy sandwich recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos Follow al Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos
Follow along for easy, family-friendly dinners 🤍

These healthy chicken Caesar smashburger tacos are one of my favorite easy high-protein dinners lately. Crispy seasoned chicken pressed onto tortillas, topped with Caesar salad and Parmesan. They’re quick, flavorful, and so good for busy nights.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken
8 mini tortillas
Salt Pepper Garlic powder
chopped Romaine lettuce
Caesar dressing
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Press a thin layer of ground chicken onto each tortilla and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place chicken side down onto a hot skillet and cook for about 4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Flip and cook the tortilla side for another 2 to 3 minutes until slightly crispy.
Great and Parmesan on top of the chicken. Honey.

Toss chopped romaine with Caesar dressing. Top each taco with the Caesar salad mixture and more parm.

These are crispy, high protein, and so easy to make.

Save this easy dinner recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑 All the High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑

All the cozy stuffed pepper flavors but turned into a creamy cheesy skillet pasta that’s so easy for weeknights

Ingredients

12 oz pasta 
1 lb ground Italian chicken sausage or sausage of choice 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
3 bell peppers diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1½ cups marinara sauce
1 cup blended 
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
2 cups spinach

Instructions

cook pasta until al dente

brown sausage and cook peppers and onion until soft. Add to pasta. 

Blend the cottage cheese and marinara 

Stir the blended sauce and seasoning into the beverage and pasta mixture. 

add pasta spinach and cheese and stir until creamy
If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakf If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakfast burrito at home… this is the one.

Crispy hashbrown, bacon, creamy avocado, and a soft cheesy egg layer, all wrapped up and toasted until golden. It’s simple, filling, and always a hit.

How to make it
Cook 1 hashbrown patty until crispy
Cook 2 slices of bacon, then remove and leave a little fat in the pan
Whisk 2 eggs and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading thin
Top with cheese and keep the eggs soft (don’t overcook)
Fold into a rectangle and set aside

Assemble:
Mash 1/2 avocado with a little salt and mix with chopped bacon
Spread onto a warmed bun buntortilla
Add chopped hashbrown and the egg
Fold the sides in, then roll tightly

Tips:
Don’t overfill and make sure everything is tucked in well
Place seam side down in a pan to crisp the tortilla

Serve with hot sauce and you’re done

Save this one for later and follow for more easy meal ideas
One of my favorite things to order out. The Hills One of my favorite things to order out.

The Hillstone Dip Duo dupe. Smoky chipotle pimento cheese, fresh guac, salty tortilla chips… it’s dangerously good and PERFECT for Cinco de Mayo or any gathering. 

For the chipotle pimento cheese dip, mix together 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup softened whipped cream cheese, 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons diced pimentos, 1 chipotle peppers in adobo (or half if you like it less Smokey)  plus a little adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon finely grated yellow onion, and Lawry’s seasoned salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors can meld together.  Let all your cheeses come to room temperature so they can blend easier.

For the guacamole, mash together 2 ripe avocados with finely diced onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and salt to taste.

Serve both dips side by side with salty tortilla chips @masa_chips

Save this Hillstone dip duo dupe for your next party, game day, or Cinco de Mayo spread
POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyo POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyone will eat. 

These high protein breakfast biscuits have been on repeat in my house. They’re easy, meal prep-friendly, and perfect for busy mornings when you need something you can just grab and go.

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese. 

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.

These are high protein, freezer-friendly, and perfect for meal prep breakfasts 🙌
Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich Follow along Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich

Follow along for easy, family-friendly meals 🤍

Crispy bacon, juicy chicken, melted mozzarella, creamy avocado, and all layered onto a toasted sandwich roll. It’s simple, high protein, and so good for lunch or an easy dinner.

Ingredients:
2 slices bacon
1 small chicken breast, pounded thin
All-purpose chicken seasoning
Freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Sandwich roll
Mayonnaise
1/2 avocado, mashed with salt
Lettuce
Tomato

Directions:
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then remove and set aside. Remove some of the grease from the pan.

Season a thinly pounded chicken breast generously with chicken seasoning and cook in the same pan until golden and cooked through. Once flipped, top with freshly grated mozzarella and let melt.

Spread mayonnaise onto one side of a sandwich roll and mashed salted avocado onto the other side.

Layer with bacon, cheesy chicken, lettuce, and tomato.

Save this easy sandwich recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos Follow al Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos
Follow along for easy, family-friendly dinners 🤍

These healthy chicken Caesar smashburger tacos are one of my favorite easy high-protein dinners lately. Crispy seasoned chicken pressed onto tortillas, topped with Caesar salad and Parmesan. They’re quick, flavorful, and so good for busy nights.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken
8 mini tortillas
Salt Pepper Garlic powder
chopped Romaine lettuce
Caesar dressing
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Press a thin layer of ground chicken onto each tortilla and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place chicken side down onto a hot skillet and cook for about 4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Flip and cook the tortilla side for another 2 to 3 minutes until slightly crispy.
Great and Parmesan on top of the chicken. Honey.

Toss chopped romaine with Caesar dressing. Top each taco with the Caesar salad mixture and more parm.

These are crispy, high protein, and so easy to make.

Save this easy dinner recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑 All the High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑

All the cozy stuffed pepper flavors but turned into a creamy cheesy skillet pasta that’s so easy for weeknights

Ingredients

12 oz pasta 
1 lb ground Italian chicken sausage or sausage of choice 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
3 bell peppers diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1½ cups marinara sauce
1 cup blended 
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
2 cups spinach

Instructions

cook pasta until al dente

brown sausage and cook peppers and onion until soft. Add to pasta. 

Blend the cottage cheese and marinara 

Stir the blended sauce and seasoning into the beverage and pasta mixture. 

add pasta spinach and cheese and stir until creamy
If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakf If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakfast burrito at home… this is the one.

Crispy hashbrown, bacon, creamy avocado, and a soft cheesy egg layer, all wrapped up and toasted until golden. It’s simple, filling, and always a hit.

How to make it
Cook 1 hashbrown patty until crispy
Cook 2 slices of bacon, then remove and leave a little fat in the pan
Whisk 2 eggs and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading thin
Top with cheese and keep the eggs soft (don’t overcook)
Fold into a rectangle and set aside

Assemble:
Mash 1/2 avocado with a little salt and mix with chopped bacon
Spread onto a warmed bun buntortilla
Add chopped hashbrown and the egg
Fold the sides in, then roll tightly

Tips:
Don’t overfill and make sure everything is tucked in well
Place seam side down in a pan to crisp the tortilla

Serve with hot sauce and you’re done

Save this one for later and follow for more easy meal ideas
One of my favorite things to order out. The Hills One of my favorite things to order out.

The Hillstone Dip Duo dupe. Smoky chipotle pimento cheese, fresh guac, salty tortilla chips… it’s dangerously good and PERFECT for Cinco de Mayo or any gathering. 

For the chipotle pimento cheese dip, mix together 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup softened whipped cream cheese, 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons diced pimentos, 1 chipotle peppers in adobo (or half if you like it less Smokey)  plus a little adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon finely grated yellow onion, and Lawry’s seasoned salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors can meld together.  Let all your cheeses come to room temperature so they can blend easier.

For the guacamole, mash together 2 ripe avocados with finely diced onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and salt to taste.

Serve both dips side by side with salty tortilla chips @masa_chips

Save this Hillstone dip duo dupe for your next party, game day, or Cinco de Mayo spread
POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyo POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyone will eat. 

These high protein breakfast biscuits have been on repeat in my house. They’re easy, meal prep-friendly, and perfect for busy mornings when you need something you can just grab and go.

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese. 

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.

These are high protein, freezer-friendly, and perfect for meal prep breakfasts 🙌
Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich Follow along Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich

Follow along for easy, family-friendly meals 🤍

Crispy bacon, juicy chicken, melted mozzarella, creamy avocado, and all layered onto a toasted sandwich roll. It’s simple, high protein, and so good for lunch or an easy dinner.

Ingredients:
2 slices bacon
1 small chicken breast, pounded thin
All-purpose chicken seasoning
Freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Sandwich roll
Mayonnaise
1/2 avocado, mashed with salt
Lettuce
Tomato

Directions:
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then remove and set aside. Remove some of the grease from the pan.

Season a thinly pounded chicken breast generously with chicken seasoning and cook in the same pan until golden and cooked through. Once flipped, top with freshly grated mozzarella and let melt.

Spread mayonnaise onto one side of a sandwich roll and mashed salted avocado onto the other side.

Layer with bacon, cheesy chicken, lettuce, and tomato.

Save this easy sandwich recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos Follow al Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos
Follow along for easy, family-friendly dinners 🤍

These healthy chicken Caesar smashburger tacos are one of my favorite easy high-protein dinners lately. Crispy seasoned chicken pressed onto tortillas, topped with Caesar salad and Parmesan. They’re quick, flavorful, and so good for busy nights.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken
8 mini tortillas
Salt Pepper Garlic powder
chopped Romaine lettuce
Caesar dressing
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Press a thin layer of ground chicken onto each tortilla and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place chicken side down onto a hot skillet and cook for about 4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Flip and cook the tortilla side for another 2 to 3 minutes until slightly crispy.
Great and Parmesan on top of the chicken. Honey.

Toss chopped romaine with Caesar dressing. Top each taco with the Caesar salad mixture and more parm.

These are crispy, high protein, and so easy to make.

Save this easy dinner recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑 All the High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑

All the cozy stuffed pepper flavors but turned into a creamy cheesy skillet pasta that’s so easy for weeknights

Ingredients

12 oz pasta 
1 lb ground Italian chicken sausage or sausage of choice 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
3 bell peppers diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1½ cups marinara sauce
1 cup blended 
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
2 cups spinach

Instructions

cook pasta until al dente

brown sausage and cook peppers and onion until soft. Add to pasta. 

Blend the cottage cheese and marinara 

Stir the blended sauce and seasoning into the beverage and pasta mixture. 

add pasta spinach and cheese and stir until creamy
If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakf If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakfast burrito at home… this is the one.

Crispy hashbrown, bacon, creamy avocado, and a soft cheesy egg layer, all wrapped up and toasted until golden. It’s simple, filling, and always a hit.

How to make it
Cook 1 hashbrown patty until crispy
Cook 2 slices of bacon, then remove and leave a little fat in the pan
Whisk 2 eggs and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading thin
Top with cheese and keep the eggs soft (don’t overcook)
Fold into a rectangle and set aside

Assemble:
Mash 1/2 avocado with a little salt and mix with chopped bacon
Spread onto a warmed bun buntortilla
Add chopped hashbrown and the egg
Fold the sides in, then roll tightly

Tips:
Don’t overfill and make sure everything is tucked in well
Place seam side down in a pan to crisp the tortilla

Serve with hot sauce and you’re done

Save this one for later and follow for more easy meal ideas
One of my favorite things to order out. The Hills One of my favorite things to order out.

The Hillstone Dip Duo dupe. Smoky chipotle pimento cheese, fresh guac, salty tortilla chips… it’s dangerously good and PERFECT for Cinco de Mayo or any gathering. 

For the chipotle pimento cheese dip, mix together 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup softened whipped cream cheese, 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons diced pimentos, 1 chipotle peppers in adobo (or half if you like it less Smokey)  plus a little adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon finely grated yellow onion, and Lawry’s seasoned salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors can meld together.  Let all your cheeses come to room temperature so they can blend easier.

For the guacamole, mash together 2 ripe avocados with finely diced onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and salt to taste.

Serve both dips side by side with salty tortilla chips @masa_chips

Save this Hillstone dip duo dupe for your next party, game day, or Cinco de Mayo spread
POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyo POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyone will eat. 

These high protein breakfast biscuits have been on repeat in my house. They’re easy, meal prep-friendly, and perfect for busy mornings when you need something you can just grab and go.

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese. 

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.

These are high protein, freezer-friendly, and perfect for meal prep breakfasts 🙌

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