Vegan baked herbed polenta fries are crispy, chewy, and so delicious. This savory snack is so easy to make and they’re great when dipped in our homemade marinara sauce. Make them for a weekend snack, a party appetizer, or as a side dish.

Published April 25, 2014 and updated February 19, 2020.

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Hi there! We’re Linda and Alex, the mother daughter duo and creators of Veganosity. Thanks for visiting us, we’re so happy you’re here. If you’re looking for Southern inspired vegan comfort food recipes, you’ve come to the right place.

We love vegan comfort food and we’re really good at making it. Take a tour through our site and you’ll find all of the recipes that scream, stretchy pants required!

The good news, they’re all plant-based recipes, so you don’t need to feel guilty eating them. Now sit back, relax, and eat happy. 🙂

Also, in case you didn’t know, we’re published cookbook authors. We’ve written two vegan cookbooks that will help you make amazing vegan BBQ (you don’t even need a grill) and everyday meals, from breakfast to dessert.

Click on the titles to check them out. GREAT VEGAN BBQ WITHOUT A GRILL and THE ULTIMATE VEGAN COOKBOOK.

A New Twist on Fries

We’ve tried a lot of polenta fry recipes, and we’re here to say that these are by far the best we’ve ever eaten.

The sautéed green onions and oregano, plus the fruity and nutty vegan parmesan elevate the flavor of these polenta fries to another level, especially when you dip them in our tomato pasta sauce.

They’re oven fried until they’re golden brown and crispy on the outside and chewy and tender on the inside. There’s truly nothing better than these tasty vegan appetizers.

We like to add quite a bit of salt and pepper to these, as the cornmeal absorbs the salt, so make sure you add some as well. It really brings out the flavors.

How to Make Crispy Polenta Fries

STEP ONE

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet on medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the green onions and cook for 3 minutes. Add the oregano and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

NOTE: Make sure the oil is hot before adding the green onions. Adding vegetables to oil that isn’t hot will make them greasy and soggy.

STEP TWO

In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil then slowly add the polenta, whisking continuously. Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir the polenta until it becomes thick and creamy, approximately 5 minutes.

NOTE: It's really important to slowly add the polenta to the water while constantly whisking. This will prevent lumps from forming.

Once the polenta is smooth, you can swap the whisk out for a spoon to stir it until it's thick and creamy.

STEP THREE

Add the scallions and oregano mixture to the polenta and the salt and pepper to taste and stir to combine.

NOTE: For the best flavor, make sure you add salt and pepper. The cornmeal will absorb the salt, so taste it as you stir it into the mixture until it’s just right for you.

STEP FOUR

Pour the polenta onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a lightly greased 9-inch baking dish and smooth it out into a rectangle, approximately ¾ of an inch thick.

Refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours until the polenta is firm.

STEP FIVE

Preheat oven to 425˚F (218˚C) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

NOTE: Make sure the oven is fully preheated before putting the fries in the oven. This will ensure that they get as crispy as possible on the outside.

Slice into sticks and separate them about a half-inch apart on the baking sheet and lightly brush or evenly drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoon of olive oil on the fries.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes and then flip and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until they’re crispy and lightly browned.

Make Them in the Air Fryer

To make polenta fries in the air fryer. Follow these instructions:

Preheat the air fryer
Spray the fries with a thin coating of oil and fry in batches for 10 minutes, then flip and fry for 10 more minutes, or until crispy.

Deep Fried

To deep fry, follow these instructions:

In a heavy skillet, fill the bottom of the skillet with about 2 inches of canola oil and heat to 375F (176C).
Fry the polenta in batches until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes. Use tongs to remove from the pan and set on paper towels to drain the excess oil.
Keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.

How to Serve Oven Fried Polenta Fries

There are so many ways to serve these fries, here are our favorite ways to eat them:

APPETIZER – They make a great appetizer for a happy hour or a party. Dip them in our pasta sauce, pesto sauce, or in our ranch dressing.

SIDE DISH – Fries are always a great option as a side. Serve these with our Spicy Black Bean & Quinoa Burger, Vegan Pulled BBQ Carrots, Vegan BBQ Ribs, or our Vegan Nashville Hot Chicken.

SNACK – Of course, they also make a great snack. Serve them to the kids after school, or treat yourself in the afternoon.

More Vegan Fry Recipes You'll Love

CRISPY SWEET POTATO FRIES

ROASTED ROSEMARY AND SAGE HOME FRIES

OVEN BAKED CURRY CARROT FRIES

QUICK & EASY OIL-FREE CHIPOTLE HOME FRIES

PIN ME!

Make our best baked polenta fries’ recipe and let us know what you think. We love to hear from you! And, don’t forget to take a picture of your gorgeous creation and tag us @veganosity on Instagram.

Let’s connect on Instagram and Twitter. You’ll get a peek into our everyday lives in our stories and see what we’re sharing in our feed.

And, don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the blog so you never miss a recipe. Scroll below the recipe or in our side bar to become a Veganosity subscriber.