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Chili Cheese Polenta

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Crispy-edged, creamy-centered polenta topped with chili, cheese, and crunchy crushed nacho chips. No one will ever guess that this chili cheese polenta is a frugal leftover makeover, unless you tell them that is!

Crispy-edged, creamy-centered polenta topped with chili, cheese, and crunchy crushed nacho chips. No one will ever guess that this chili cheese polenta is a frugal leftover makeover, unless you tell them that is!

Crispy-edged, creamy-centered polenta topped with chili, cheese, and crunchy crushed nacho chips. No one will ever guess that this chili cheese polenta is a frugal leftover makeover, unless you tell them that is!

 

They say that necessity is the mother of all invention and in most circumstances it’s probably correct. But not when it comes to the creation of new recipes. At least not in my kitchen, most often it’s stubbornness that is the mother of all new recipes.  Perhaps you’re like me and were raised with the notion to waste not, want not. In my kitchen, I’m always looking for new ways to stretch the ingredients I’ve got on hand, like last week’s banana French toast muffins. Well today’s recipe is another frugal fix, making the most from what I’ve got and this week what I’ve got is leftover chili, but trust me this chili cheese polenta bake is leftovers that your family will actually want to eat!

Chili Cheese Polenta; Crispy-edged, creamy-centered polenta topped with chili, cheese, and crunchy crushed nacho chips. No one will ever guess that this chili cheese polenta is a frugal leftover makeover, unless you tell them that is!

The base of this dish is polenta. For any of y’all not familiar with polenta, let’s just say polenta is the Italian cousin of good old southern grits. Both are made from coarse ground cornmeal that’s then cooked into a creamy corn porridge. There are other slight differences between the two. The polenta base of today’s chili cheese polenta retains a creaminess, but the sides and the bottom get a lovely crisp edge thanks to being baked in cast iron.

Chili Cheese Polenta; Crispy-edged, creamy-centered polenta topped with chili, cheese, and crunchy crushed nacho chips. No one will ever guess that this chili cheese polenta is a frugal leftover makeover, unless you tell them that is!

After a quick bake to set the polenta, it’s then topped with 1 3/4 cups leftover chili. (Now, if you really wanted, you could substitute one can of chili and I won’t judge you. Some days even food bloggers like me, who love to cook, are so worn out that we go for convenience and topple into bed at 6:30 with all our clothes on, on top of the covers, and fall asleep in spite of the fact that our kids are laying in the same bed watching Sponge Bob at an incredibly loud volume and bickering with each other. Just you know, for example.)  Top the polenta and chili with some shredded cheddar cheese and crushed nacho chips for added crunch and it goes back into the oven. Serve it up with sour cream, cilantro, salsa, or jalapenos and you’ve stretched less than two cups of chili into a gorgeous main dish that will serve your whole family.

So tell me, have you been enjoying my frugal fixes lately? I’m thinking of making it it’s own category on the blog. Tell me what you think!

Chili Cheese Polenta; crispy-edged, creamy-centered polenta topped with chili, cheese, and crunchy crushed nacho chips. No one will ever guess that this chili cheese polenta is a frugal leftover makeover, unless you tell them that is!

Chili Cheese Polenta

Yield: 4 -6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

A thin layer of crispy-edged, creamy-centered polenta topped with chili, cheese, and crunchy crushed nacho chips.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 large egg, , lightly beaten
  • 1 3/4 cup leftover chili, , or 1 15 oz can chili
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 cup crushed nacho flavor chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Grease a 10 inch cast iron skillet well with shortening.
  3. Mix together the cornmeal, water, chicken broth and salt in a medium sized saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to medium, stirring frequently. Cook for around 6 minutes or until the mixture is very thick.
  4. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
  5. Stir the egg into the mixture, making sure it is well blended.
  6. Spread the polenta in a thin and even layer in the bottom of your cast iron skillet.
  7. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and carefully spread the chili over the polenta. Layer the cheese over the chili and the crushed chips over the top.
  9. Bake again for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the center is set.
  10. Serve with sour cream, fresh chopped cilantro or salsa.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a review or a photo! I'd love to hear your feedback!

Michelle @ The Complete Savorist

Thursday 28th of January 2016

Wasting food hurts me. I love to learn new ways to use up all my leftovers. Cheers to you.

Debra C.

Thursday 28th of January 2016

I recently made chili mac 'n cheese so I can only imagine how wonderful chili cheese polenta must be! Sounds like a fantastic combination of flavors, I can't wait to give it a try.

Amy D

Thursday 28th of January 2016

Chili mac"n cheese would go over well with my crew. Leftover chili idea swap. LOL! Thanks Debra.

Kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox

Thursday 28th of January 2016

Oooo, this looks so good! Like a pizza...but waaaaay better!

Amy D

Thursday 28th of January 2016

I agree that it does kind of look like pizza, which is a win in my book! If it looks like pizza 9 times out of 10 my kids are going to eat it.

Kacey @ The Cookie Writer

Thursday 28th of January 2016

Love utilizing leftovers! People get bored with the same thing over and over again. Recreating the meal into something completely new ensures every drop will get eaten. Love what you did with this chili cheese polenta (I still need to try polenta but it looks soooooo good!)

Amy D

Thursday 28th of January 2016

If you are a grits fan, then polenta is just such a tiny little jump to something new. You really should try it sometime!

Marye

Thursday 28th of January 2016

This sounds like it would be really filling and super yummy!

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