Polenta Casserole with Beef

This mouthwatering baked polenta casserole with beef from Slavonia is packed with hidden health benefits to endure those long winter months, yet light enough to enjoy all summer too!

This comfort meal is made with ground beef, cornmeal, savoy cabbage, carrots, and more! 

If you're turning up your nose at cabbage or polenta, humor me, please, and make this casserole recipe once.

It might not turn you into a savoy cabbage or polenta lover, but you will love this polenta casserole, I guarantee it!

This polenta pie is perfect for all seasons and is packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like ground beef, savoy cabbage, and carrots. Plus, its delicious flavor will have you coming back for more.

📃 Why it Works

• For starters, who doesn't like casseroles, amirite?
• It's the ultimate fall comfort food!
• Your picky eaters will get their vegetable intake because they won't know they are hidden in this recipe with polenta.
• An easy make-ahead meal!
• Nourishing.
• This baked polenta casserole is lower in carbs than traditional pasta or rice casseroles.
• Polenta pie is gluten-free and an excellent source of complex carbohydrates and protein.
• Polenta is low in fat, rich in vitamins A and C, and high in beta-carotene.
• Cabbage provides fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and B6, calcium, magnesium, and iron, to name a few.

🌍 Where Does This Casserole Originate From?

This sneaky Slavonian polenta pie casserole with beef will have you wondering: what in the heck is a Slavonian casserole, and why is it sneaky?

Slavonia is a region in Croatia (Europe) from where this recipe originated, hence I'm bringing you a taste of my homeland.

But you're from Bosnia, I hear you say. I wasn't born in Croatia, but both countries belonged to Yugoslavia long before I was born.

Before they separated, that was my home for a larger part of my life. I still feel equally connected to them all.

Now to the second question: why is this Croatian beef casserole sneaky? You'll love this…wait for it…there is a whole head of savoy cabbage hiding in the polenta layer!

Besides, the flavor combination in this polenta beef casserole is fantastic!

🛒 Ingredients and Notes

For the Polenta Layer: Centuries ago, polenta was considered peasant food because it was plentiful and inexpensive and a good winter diet staple when other food was limited. Cornmeal is affordable, and you only need to add salt and water to make polenta. Cabbage is added to the polenta layer to sneak in some veggies!

For the Meat Sauce: Crushed tomatoes, ground beef, olive oil, red wine, carrot, celery, onion, fresh herbs like parsley and basil, and ground spices like oregano, nutmeg, and all-spice round out this perfectly flavored meaty sauce.

For the Béchamel Sauce: A creamy layer of béchamel is the finishing touch that makes this casserole ultra-creamy and satisfying. You'll need milk, butter, Parmesan cheese, flour, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper.

🔪 How to Make Polenta Casserole with Beef

Prepare the Vegetables:

1. Dice the onion. Coarsely grate the carrot, chop the celery stalk, and shred the cabbage. In a large saucepan, bring 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil.
2. Add 1 small head of shredded savoy cabbage and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes.

Prepare the Polenta:

1. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of cornmeal with 1 cup of water until all the cornmeal is wet. Add the damp cornmeal to the pan with the cabbage and swiftly whisk it together to combine.

Prepare the Meat Layer:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet. Sauté the diced onion, grated carrot, and chopped celery stalk until the vegetables are softened.
2. Add 1 pound of ground beef and seasonings and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Mix in the dry red wine and crushed tomatoes and cook, occasionally stirring, for 20 minutes.
3. Immediately lower the heat and cook, often stirring, until the mixture thickens, about 20-30 minutes; remove from the heat.

Prepare the Béchamel Sauce:

1. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour and cook, constantly stirring, until the paste cooks and bubbles, about two minutes. Don't let it brown.
2. Add 1 ¼ cup milk and continue to stir until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste and a dash of nutmeg.

Put It All Together:

1. Pour polenta (cooked cornmeal) into a greased casserole dish. Add the layer of meat sauce and finish with béchamel sauce. Sprinkle with ½ cup of Parmesan cheese and some chopped fresh parsley.
2. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit preheated oven for 20 minutes. Let cool before serving. Serving suggestion: serve with a cold glass of your favorite beer.

📝 NOTE: Looking for the FULL recipe to print? Find the complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

👩‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Polenta cooks fast on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, instant pot, or rice cooker; it's economical and a great binder in casseroles, soups, scrambles, etc.
• Be sure to stir the polenta consistently and often to prevent it from clumping.
• When adding the cornmeal to the cabbage, do not drain any water from the cabbage. This extra moisture that is exuded from the cabbage helps to give the polenta a creamier texture.

🍽️ Serving Suggestion

This casserole is a complete meal all in one! It has veggies, protein, and whole grains. It's an excellent dish to make for a dinner party, as it comfortably serves six. Serve with a light side salad and a glass of red wine!

🗄️Storage Instructions

Allow the casserole to cool before covering it and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can store the casserole directly in the baking dish, be sure to cover it with saran wrap or aluminum foil; reheat it in the microwave.

This polenta casserole also freezes well. Prepare it in a freezer-safe airtight container, and keep it in your freezer for up to 3 months.

When ready to enjoy, place in the oven to reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour or until completely defrosted and warmed all the way through.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

😋 Other Amazing Recipes to Try

• Chilean Corn Shepherd's Pie
• Paraguayan Cheese and Onion Cornbread
• Traditional Bosnian Polenta
• Italian Apple and Fig Polenta Torta

🧡 Liked this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section. Your feedback is always appreciated! 👋 Stay in touch through Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok!

NOTE: This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated for photos and content.