Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole

Get over here. We have a casserole to talk about.

Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole / Bev Cooks

I’m only calling it casserole because I’m originally from Arkansas. But you can call it whatever you so desire! Bake? I like it. It’s strong. Or even lasagna. That was my original plan. But there’s no ricotta in it, so I swapped out lasagna for casserole. I also swapped out regular low fat milk for half & half in my coffee today. Arctic nostril blasts make me rebelliously dangerous, you guys.

This blog post is getting off to a smashing start, isn’t it?

Okayokayokay, so THIS is what happened.

Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole / Bev Cooks  Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole / Bev Cooks

Do you remember that polenta pie I made you a 150,000 moons ago? As the same old blah blah goes, I was in the mood for it, but didn’t want to get all laborious in the kitchen. Plus we were watching Robin Hood and I really wanted to see how it ended. (that would be a joke, my pigeons. i’ve seen it trillions of times hah ah ah ah!  ha hah. ha. ha?) Anyway! I thought, HEYWAITAMINUTE. I can use tubed polenta! I can brown some sausage! I can use frozen spinach! And jarred marinara! And save the children and establish world peace and finally try this new after-shower detangler for my hair!

Please don’t go. Look at all that cheese.

Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole / Bev Cooks

This is ridiculously fantastic.

I only used three Italian sausage links (behind the counter), so it didn’t yield too much meat. But I’ll be honest, a fourth would have been nice. Use at your delicious discretion.

Also, it’s hard to get a photogenic shot of a casserole. At least it is for me. I’m too busy trembling and drooling to get the proper job done.

Who cares though. Look at all that cheese, will ya?

Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole / Bev Cooks

One more thing! And again, I’ll be completely honest here. I pan-fried the polenta rounds first to try and get a good crisp. But once everything was baked to gloriously-glory-glor, I’m not sure if I could detect a crisp. But I also inhaled it like a ravenous zombie, so . . . yeah.

One last thing! Make this all winter and make your life and mouth and belly happy.

(excuse the sloppy photo. but who cares. all that cheese!)

Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole / Bev Cooks

You better.

Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Lasagna:

What it took for 4-6:

* 3-4 Italian sausage links, casings removed
* 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* 2 (18 oz) tubes polenta, sliced into 1/2″ rounds
* 1 (10 oz) box frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess liquid
* 1 large jar (26 oz) favorite marinara
* 1 (8 oz) block mozzarella, shredded

Preheat your oven to 350.

Heat a sauté pan over medium high. Add the sausage and brown all over, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Remove the browned sausage and set aside.

To the pan, add a Tbs. of olive oil and the polenta rounds. You’ll need to do this in batches. Fry on one side for 2 minutes, flip and fry another 2 minutes.

Pour a little of the marinara in the bottom of an 8×10 baking dish. 9 x 13 works, too, you’ll just a little more space around the polenta rounds.

Place 8 rounds in the bottom of the dish, two at a time. Follow with the browned sausage and chopped thawed spinach. Layer the remaining 8 polenta slices, and the rest of the spinach and sausage. Pour the rest of the sauce over the dish.

Sprinkle with the grated cheese, stick her in the oven (uncovered) for 30-40 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbly, baybuh.

Garnish with parsley and oh my dear faces.

Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole / Bev Cooks

Go ahead in nap in that.

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39 Responses to Polenta, Sausage and Spinach Casserole

  1. Jennifer @ The Foodie Patootie November 13, 2014 at 7:44 am #
    Les be honest, shall we? I'm digging this casserole. And by digging, I mean I just want to fall into it and get lost forever. Also, I'm a new reader and I think your About Me video is perhaps the most adorable thing ever...after fainting goats, of course.
  2. Trisha (Stew or a Story) November 13, 2014 at 7:53 am #
    I need easy, filling, delicious, cheesy meals like this right now in my life. Perfect!
  3. Charlotte @ Drop Dead Bread November 13, 2014 at 8:10 am #
    I love this. Warm, comforting, easy; spot-on for Friday nights as the weather gets colder.
  4. Sharana @ Living The Sweet Life Blog November 13, 2014 at 8:28 am #
    Looks cozy ... and gorgeous - yum!!
  5. kelly @ livelovepasta November 13, 2014 at 8:50 am #
    you are like....really on point! first the reverse shephards pie and now this polenta casserole. I am constantly drooling and adding to my weekend cooking list.
  6. jen November 13, 2014 at 9:11 am #
    This sounds amazing!!! Where can I find polenta in that form? Thanks
    • Bev Weidner November 13, 2014 at 9:24 am #
      I get mine in either the hippie part of the store, ORRR by the wonton and egg roll wrappers!
    • Adri April 6, 2022 at 10:28 am #
      I've found it on a grocery store shelf in the dried pasta & vacuum-packed gnocchi area. Trader Joe carries it in the cold deli area, near ready-to-eat salads. Smart & Final carries it in the evaporitively cooled produce storage area for fresh veg.
  7. Ashley November 13, 2014 at 9:34 am #
    Polentaaaaaaaa!!! I just like saying it..........and eating it.
  8. Christina @ The Beautiful Balance November 13, 2014 at 11:04 am #
    This is so perfect. I need to try a meat-free version of this asap!
  9. Jessica @ Golden Brown and Delicious November 13, 2014 at 11:35 am #
    woah, I want this. amazing!
  10. Tanah November 13, 2014 at 12:21 pm #
    This is perfect! I have a tube of polenta I've been trying to figure out what to do with!
  11. Amber @ Slim Pickin's Kitchen November 13, 2014 at 7:54 pm #
    What a great idea! I'm need to buy polenta in a tube more often, I think.
  12. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough November 13, 2014 at 8:49 pm #
    Oh, this casserole. HOLD ME.
  13. Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures November 14, 2014 at 6:46 am #
    Comfort food! Yum!
  14. Jessica December 8, 2014 at 9:10 pm #
    I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing this yummy goodness!
  15. Pam C February 16, 2016 at 8:27 am #
    This looks so delicious. I plan on making some this week!
  16. Roberta Rainwater July 5, 2017 at 4:11 pm #
    Hi Bev, Thanks so much for this marvelous recipe. My Italian mom made this when I was growing up, a hundred years ago. Oh, how she would have loved the tube Polenta. Today, my neighbor called because someone gave her a tube and she didn't know what to do with it, being a true southern girl of North Carolina. So, her "yankee" friend is making it for her tonight. YUM!
  17. Alex August 8, 2020 at 1:41 pm #
    Delicious! Substituted the Italian sausages for Chorizo sausages and it was a hit!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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