One-Pot Italian Sausage and Polenta Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A comforting stew combining savory Italian sausage with creamy polenta, simmered with tomatoes and herbs for a hearty meal. This Italian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs Italian sausage links, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Remove casings from 1 pound Italian sausage links and crumble the meat. Add sausage to the pot and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart as it cooks.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pot. Sauté for 4 minutes until the onion is translucent and garlic is fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Pour in 14 ounces crushed tomatoes and 4 cups chicken broth, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
  4. Step 4: Gradually whisk 1 cup cornmeal (polenta) into the simmering liquid. Stir continuously to prevent lumps. Add 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
  5. Step 5: Reduce heat to low and cook the polenta stew, stirring frequently, for 20-25 minutes until the polenta thickens and the stew is creamy.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat and gently stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves. Serve warm.

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