All recipes

Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole

Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole layers creamy, sliceable polenta with a bright marinara and a trio of melted Italian cheeses for a cozy, melty bite in every forkful. Sweet green pepper and scallions add a gentle freshness that balances the rich provolone, fontina, and Parmesan. It’s a comforting weeknight dinner or a hearty side for gatherings when you want something warm and satisfying.

  • Prep20 mins
  • Cook35 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

37 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
51 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
0 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityFair
57 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

18
Heart Health
71
Metabolic
32
Digestive
20
Inflammatory
35
Performance
32
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8-inch square casserole dish. Combine the provolone and fontina cheeses in a bowl.

  2. 2

    Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the bell pepper, green onions, and garlic; cook until the pepper softens, about 3 minutes. Add the marinara sauce and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. 3

    Spread a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange 1/3 of the polenta slices in the dish, top with 1/3 of the cheese mixture, and spread a thin layer of sauce over the cheese. Repeat the layers two more times. Top the casserole with Parmesan cheese.

  4. 4

    Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 25 minutes.

About This Recipe

Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole is an Italian side dish recipe made with 9 ingredients. It takes about 55 mins, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Grated Parmesan Cheese, Green Bell Pepper, Green Onion, and Marinara Sauce. Each serving provides about 330.24 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole?
It is an Italian casserole recipe made with 9 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch.
What is Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole made of?
The main ingredients are Grated Parmesan Cheese, Green Bell Pepper, Green Onion, Marinara Sauce, Minced Garlic. The full list of 9 is above.
How long does it take to make Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole?
About 55 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 330.24 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 4 steps.
Is Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole healthy?
Baked Polenta and Cheese Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 330.24 calories and 16.13 g of protein, or 32% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium and vitamin A. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 833.06 mg (36% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 9.19 g (46% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Gluten, Corn, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

Score a recipe free, no app required

Learn More