The polenta sticks in the air fryer are a really easy, quick snack — perfect as a side dish, an appetizer, or even as a party snack. In this recipe I used pre-cooked polenta, the ready-made one you find at the supermarket, just slice it. Slice the polenta, not too thick nor too thin, and from the slices cut sticks more or less all of the same size. If you see they are too long, cut them in half. Put the sticks in a bowl, add 2 tbsps of extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, herbs to taste (I used a ready-mixed jar with rosemary, sage and thyme), and finally 2 tbsps of cornmeal. Mix everything well with a spoon so they absorb the flavors, then pour everything into the air fryer basket.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking time: 17 Minutes
- Portions: 4Servings
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients to make polenta sticks in the air fryer
- 14 oz cooked polenta
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- to taste aromatic herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme)
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsps cornmeal
Tools
- Bowl
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Spoons
Steps to make polenta sticks in the air fryer
To prepare the polenta sticks in the air fryer, first take the polenta — I used the pre-cooked polenta you buy ready-made at supermarkets, just to be sliced. Slice the polenta, not too thick nor too thin, and from the slices cut sticks more or less all the same size. If you see they are too long, cut them in half. Put the sticks in a bowl, add 2 tbsps of extra virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, herbs to taste (I used a ready-mixed jar with rosemary, sage and thyme), and finally 2 tbsps of cornmeal. Mix everything well with a spoon so they absorb the flavors, then pour everything into the air fryer basket.
Arrange them so they don’t overlap — they need to cook evenly. I recommend cooking them in batches if necessary. Cook them at 392°F for about 15-17 minutes, depending on the size of the sticks and the type of air fryer. I cooked mine for 17 minutes and they reached a nicely crispy texture. Halfway through cooking, shake or move the basket. My air fryer isn’t very large so I cooked them in several batches. They turned out really tasty. Serve with a sauce of your choice — I really like them with barbecue sauce.
Storage and tips
You can store the sticks in an airtight container. Place a small sheet of paper towel at the bottom. It will absorb moisture and prevent the polenta from becoming too soggy. They can be kept for a couple of days.
To reheat them, refresh them for 5 minutes in the air fryer, perhaps adding a spray of extra virgin olive oil with a mister.
