These Sausage Breakfast Polenta Bowls are loaded with cheesy polenta, maple sausage, and tender kale. Topped with a silky poached egg and rich sun-dried tomato pesto, these bowls are cozy breakfast perfection!
Hi, friends! How’s the week treating you?
My week has been A-okay… nothing super exciting. However, I completely spaced and forgot to tell you about the sensational thing that happened last week.
First, I woke up on Monday to find out Today Food Club named my Instagram the account of the week! Woot Woot! So if you aren’t following me… ummmm apparently you totally should be. Click here (<–shameless self-promotion)
Then, on Friday Al Roker gave me a shout out on the Today Show! And, he even pronounced my name right! Whhhhaaaaat what?! I’d be lying if I said my jaw didn’t hit the floor.
This week has been far less titillating than last week, to say the least.
But, no worries, in case you are having a ho-hum kind of a week like me, I’ve got the perfect cozy dish to at least bring a little comforting deliciousness into your life.
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Sausage Breakfast Polenta Bowls
As much as a love a quick and easy breakfast during the week, I am all about a breakfast done up right on the weekend.
With the weather being so dreary and cold, I have been on a hearty, warm breakkie kick, and these polenta bowls most definitely fit that bill.
These bowls are packed with savory flavor. Smooth, creamy, cheesy polenta; slightly sweet, meaty maple sausage; earthy kale, and a silky, runny poached egg on top.
I have a small (read: insatiable) addiction to condiments, so I decided to finish the breakfast bowls off with a dollop, or five, of rich sun-dried tomato pesto.
The end result?
Complete cozy breakfast heaven your belly will thank you for.
What are breakfast bowls?
Breakfast bowls are exactly like they sound, breakfast in a bowl!
The types of breakfast bowls are limitless, and they can greatly range from savory (these breakfast polenta bowls) to sweet (smoothie bowls). As well, breakfast bowls can greatly vary from hearty and comforting type bowls, such as a cowboy breakfast bowl, to nutritional and superfood packed, such as acai bowls!
How to make breakfast polenta?
You cook breakfast polenta the same exact way you prepare any polenta.
While polenta has a reputation for being fussy, much like risotto with the constant stirring, there is a much easier approach!
While the breakfast polenta bowls recipe below uses prepared polenta, you can certainly make your own polenta!
To easily make polenta, simply bring 4 cups of water to a boil over medium high heat in a medium sauce pot. Add in 1 cup of polenta, or yellow cornmeal, and whisk gently until thickened. Reduce the heat to low and continue to whisk until the polenta is thick enough that it doesn’t settle back to the bottom of the pot. Next, cover the polenta and cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Lastly, stir in the cheese, thyme and salt and pepper as directed in the recipe below.
Notes, Tips & Tricks for the best Breakfast Polenta Bowls recipe:
- I used prepared, or instant polenta because I am lazy. I highly recommend if you use the refrigerated prepared polenta that you use an immersion blender, because otherwise you will end up with chunky polenta. But feel free to bust out all the stops and make polenta from scratch… it’s super easy and really the prepared polenta was an impulse buy. #SpeaksTheTruth
- I poached my eggs, because that is what I was craving and poached eggs are pretty, but you can top these bowls with an egg cooked however your little heart desires.
- I used kale as the greens, but you could most definitely use spinach or some other leafy green if that’s your thang.
- Do you see a pattern here? These bowls are highly adaptable. Don’t feel like making a sundried tomato pesto? Purchase some at the store, or just throw some sundried tomatoes on top. Sundried tomatoes not your jam? Nix them and opt for plain pesto instead. I encourage creativity here, friends. Do you. 😉
Enough chit chat. Cozy Sausage Breakfast Polenta Bowls are calling your name.
Until Monday friends, Cheers – to a wonderful weekend… hopefully filled with a breakfast bowl or two.
XOXO
Cheyanne
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How to make Sausage Breakfast Polenta Bowls👇
Sausage Breakfast Polenta Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 (1 pound) package prepared Polenta – roughly chopped into cubes
- 1 Cup 2% Milk (can substitute vegetable stock or water)
- 1 TBS Unsalted Butter
- ¾ Cup Fontina Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Fresh Thyme leaves
- 1 TBS Olive Oil
- ½ Pound Ground Sausage
- ¼ tsp Paprika
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper , to taste
- 1 TBS Pure Maple Syrup
- ½ large bunch Kale (about ½ pound) – thick stems removed & discarded, kale coarsely chopped
- 1 small Yellow Onion – diced
- 1 clove Garlic
- 4 Large Eggs
- Sundried Tomato Pesto:
- ½ Cup Oil Packed Sundried Tomatoes
- 2 cloves Garlic
- Scant ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated
- 2 TBS Pine Nuts
- 4 TBS Oil from Sundried Tomato Jar*
Instructions
- Prepare the Sundried Tomato Pesto: In the bowl of a food processor add sundried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, olive oil and a pinch of salt. Process until smooth, combined and paste-like*.
- For Polenta: In a large saucepan bring ½ cup water, milk and butter to a rapid simmer over medium high heat. Add in prepared polenta and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring constantly until polenta is softened, about 3-4 minutes. Use an immersion blender to puree until creamy. Stir in fontina cheese, thyme, ½ teaspoon salt and pinch of pepper. Taste and adjust for seasoning. Cover and keep warm, stirring from time to time
- Meanwhile, Cook Sausage and Kale: Heat a splash of oil in a large, deep sided skillet over medium high heat. Add the sausage and season with paprika, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Drizzle with maple syrup. Cook until browned, using the edge of a spatula to break into crumbles, about 5-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium (add a splash of oil if pan is dry) and add the diced onion. Cook until onions begin to color, about 7-8 minutes. Add in the garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds-1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high and add in the kale and ½ cup chicken stock. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cover skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender and soft, about 7-8 minutes. Transfer kale to plate with sausage. Tent gently with aluminum foil
- And Poach the Eggs: Fill a medium pot with about 2-3’’ of water and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat until it is barely simmering (180-190 F). Break egg into a small bowl and then transfer to a fine mesh strainer. Carefully swirl the egg around the strainer to remove an excess whites. Carefully tip the strainer into the water to add the egg. Swirl gently with a wooden spoon for a few seconds. Repeat straining and adding with remaining eggs. Cook, swirling water occasionally, until egg whites are set but yolks are soft, 4 ½ minutes for runny yolks or 5 ½ minutes for set yolks. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon to a plate.
- Assemble the bowls: Divide polenta between serving bowls. Top with a sausage, sautéed kale and a poached egg. Finish with sundried tomato pesto.
Notes
*If a thinner sundried tomato pesto is desired, add more olive oil to food processor, a little bit at a time.
*Leftover polenta can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, stir in a splash of milk and microwave until warm throughout.
*Sautéed Sausage and kale can be made in advance and stored, covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
*Pesto will keep, covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. *Nutritional Information includes everything, even the pesto.
Nutrition
I made this dish today for breakfast and man oh man was it good. I just so happened to have all the ingredients minus the pesto (I just cut up grape tomatoes) and it was delightful. A savory good bomb on the taste buds. I will make again.
Hi Tanya,
I’m thrilled you made this breakfast polenta bowl and loved it! Substituting fresh grape tomatoes instead of making the pesto sounds absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it went! Cheers to a wonderful day!
What a delicious and hearty breakfast! This is exactly how I would like to start my day!
How awesome to get a Today Show shoutout – congrats!!! & can you believe my polenta experience is minimal?!? I have to try this soon – and that sundried tomato pesto is genius 🙂
OMG how exciting! Instagram account of the week AND Al Roker?! How amazing! Congrats Cheyanne 🙂 About these bowls – I want one right now. I’m totally salivating over that polenta and all the goodies piled on top. I’ve got to try this ASAP!
Sooooo…when am I invited over for breakfast?? Because this looks sensational!! I literally love every single ingredient in this dish. Just when I thought this dish couldn’t get any better you added the sundried tomato pesto and I fainted :p This looks so droolworthy, Cheyanne! Fantastic my dear <3 Also big congrats on the Today Show shoutout and the Instagram pick! <3
Cheyanne, that’s so awesome! Congratulations! You totally deserve it. Your recipes are fantastic, and are set off by stunning photography, but best of all your personality and enthusiasm really shine through in your posts! This post being no exception – what a delicious-looking breakfast! 😀
I absolutely love the idea of having French toast for my breakfast. Your recipe looks amazing. I would add more and more and more fruits!!! Strawberries are amazing!
That’s so great! Congratulations!
I really like polenta, but I’ve never had the prepared kind before. I’ll definitely have to check that out because this looks like something I could eat every day. Uber satisfying!
Love this! I love polenta in every form, this combination is new for me and I think I will try it.
yay you! Congrats again Cheyanne, that’s so exciting 🙂 The polenta bowls are packed with all delicious ingredients, love it!!
That is just so cool about the Today Show, Cheyanne! And totally deserved! Congrats on that. And also congrats for being my breakfast hero because these bowls are incredible! They are loaded with everything delicious. Now if only you would come to my house and make them for me in the morning that would be greeeeat. 🙂
We have a star!!!! Ah what…Today Show? Al Rocker!!! I am speechless and over the moon happy for you. Girl you definitely need a bit whoop whoop.
That is an amazing bowl my dear. I would love to dig in. Love polenta and the tomato pesto looks pretty darn amazing.
Happy weekend beautiful!!
xx
Congratulations girl! That’s SO huge! I hope you’re celebrating this weekend 😛 I love breakfast polenta bowls – so adaptable and they keep you going all day! And I’m seriously loving your sundried tomato pesto – definitely a must-try!
Congratulations my dear! Lots of good stuff going on this past week, I’ll say, and well deserved! Woot Woot! Here’s an toast to you my dear!! And this breakfast bowl, is soooo good! Polenta and eggs go hand in hand and takes the creamy over the top! Delicious work Chey! xo
I absolutely love polenta and always had it for dinner with some rich stew on top. This breakfast version sounds just perfect for weekends!
Yum! All this looks so yummy and tempting ♥ I am definitely in love ♥
summerdaisy.net
Yum! All this looks so yummy and tempting ♥
summerdaisy.net
OH MY GOSH!!! I can’t believe you were mentioned on the Today show. My mind is blown. THAT IS SO EXCITING!!!!! So happy for you. Side note…these polenta bowls look out of this world. That runny poached egg = love. Pinned!
What fabulous news! Congratulations. And, so funny that I just finished writing a post about Polenta Lasagna…Sure love this breakfast bowl – it speaks to me…Thanks.
How exciting! Well done for getting the recognition that you deserve 🙂
I am new to the polenta party, but I never would have thought to have it for breakfast like this. I have to give this a try.
OMG, I pinned this yesterday and totally forgot to comment 🙂 Congrats on your Instagram being featured, I love it! Your pictures are inspiring, girl! These bowls look mouthwatering! Definitely making them soon! Love poached eggs 🙂
That’s crazy about the Today Show shout out, Cheyanne! Congrats girl 🙂 !! These bowls look amazing! I eat polenta regularly so this is totally my jam. Loving it!! I seriously can’t wait to try and tomorrow is Saturday and what better time?! Have a great weekend!!
Cheyanne, Look at you!!! Congratulations on all the well deserved publicity! I have to agree with Annie, I had the same feeling when I met you through your blog … this girl is going places. 😀 But of course, look at this recipe and WONDERFUL pictures! Can’t wait to see what the future holds. 😀
Yay!! So happy for you girl and these bowls look amazing!! I love savory breakfasts and it’s been really long since I had polenta!! And that sun dried tomato pesto looks to die for!!
SO COOL!!! Congrats! And congrats again!! That is a hard week to follow! Today’s Food Club and Al now know what I have known for a while….Chey’s place is the place to be…you’re super cool and can cook up some mean dishes. I love, love, love this polenta breakfast bowl! What a great idea for breakfast, but I could eat a nice big bowl of it for lunch or dinner too! xoxo
OHHHEMMMGEEEE!!!! CONGRATS!!! CONGRATS!!! That’s freaking awesome news! TodayFood and Al Roker recognize you for the talented star you are!!! 🙂
And wow – these bowls sound amazing – your polenta looks like pillows for all those delicious flavors on top! AHMAZING!
I love big breakfast on the weekends too! These polenta bowls with sundried tomato pesto is simply amazing!! Honestly!
Waaaatttt??? So cool!!! Congrats lady! That is so so exciting!
And these bowls. Speaking my love language with these. Polenta is such comfort food for me and with that egg and all the other goodness?? Yes to the yes!
Thank you, Ashley! Polenta and eggs are a pretty delicious love language! Cheers, doll – to a fabulous weekend! 😉
Congratulations on the Today Show love! How exciting!
And this polenta bowl looks like the most delicious savory breakfast ever!
Thank you so much, Christin! I’d totally trade you these bowls for like ALL of your Reuben fritters. lol. 😉 I’m still drooling over those bad boys! Cheers!
i looooove polenta and then you throw a poached egg on there and I might just get down on one knee! this bowl is heaven. and congrats on the fantastic recognition on the Today show!! Well deserved!!!
Polenta and poached eggs are soooo good together, right?! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Cathy! Cheers! 🙂
You better be proud, such outstanding accolades that are well deserved. Congrats.
Now may I continue on with this dish. I could eat it for breaky, lunch or a little din din action easily. Everything in it is a fav and with Dave being a type 2 diabetic, it’s tough sometimes to make polenta just for me, but I’d make an exception and cut his portion down. Ha! Win, win!That dollop of tomato pesto is perfect, too. 😉
Thank you, Kevin! Sorry to hear Dave is diabetic, but cutting his portion down, or simply eating his sounds like an excellent idea. 😉 I hope you two have a wonderful weekend, buddy!! Cheers!
Yay for all the shout outs this week – you’re rocking it, Cheyanne! Not a big fan of sugary breakfasts but I love a good savory breakfast bowl and this one has some many wonderful flavors going on – just love the sun-dried tomato pesto and kale! Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks so much, Geraldine! 🙂 I hope you have a beautiful weekend, friend! Cheers!
What a thrill to have Al Roker give you a shout out, and I can totally see why they named you Instagram account of the week — your photos are beyond gorgeous! You’ve got so many things I love in this savory breakfast bowl, too! I love polenta and don’t make it enough, and I’ve totally had a craving lately. Combining it with kale, the egg, the sausage, and pesto — this is just over the top delicious!
Thank you so much, Marcie, for the very kind comment!! I’ve been craving polenta recently too… I think it’s the cold weather? Cheers, friend – to a fabulous weekend!
Yay, that is awesome, Cheyanne! So excited and proud of you! Totally well deserved! And I love these breakfast bowls! The polenta sounds amazing with the sun-dried tomato pesto! Just gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Kelly! You are always SO sweet! Cheers, dear – to a beautiful weekend! <3
So exciting about the Today Show, Cheyanne! Congrats, congrats – the recognition is so well deserved! And umm can I just say that this breakfast bowl looks amazing — I don’t know what I love more, the use of polenta or that sundried tomato pesto – wish I had a bowl of it this morning. Also, that poached egg is perfection!
Thank you so much, Michelle, for the sweet comment! If I could have sent you a bowl this morning I would have.. but I would have wanted one of your Blood Orange Mojitos is exchange. 😉 Cheers, my dear!
Al knows what’s good and it’s No Spoon Necessary’s recipes!!! I’m super impressed that he pronounced your name correctly because I’ve known you for a year and I still don’t know how to say it! lol! Just kidding 😉 Holy moly these breakfast bowls look dang yummy! I luv breakfast so much and this bowl of cheesy polenta, delish sausage, healthy kale, beautifully runny egg, and full of flavor sundried tomato pesto is my kind of eats! I could gobble this up morning, noon, and night (and just might do that). Congrats Darlin’ on your Today Show shout-out and here’s to seeing you on Food Network soon 🙂
Ha! Funny, Karrie! I remember the first time we talked and you asked how to pronounce my name! 😉 #SweetSweetMemories. Thanks so much for the comment love, my sweets! Hope you, J and the pups have a terrific weekend! XOXO
Congrats on all the today show love. So exciting! Love this breakfast bowl and that you used polenta!! So filling and delicious.
Thank you so much, Jennifer! Cheers to a wonderful weekend! 😉
Oh. My. GAHHHHHHHH! Cheyanne! Wow. Two freaking highest of high-fives for your much deserved shoutouts last week. I’m so incredibly happy for you! Oh, and your “shameless” plug for your Insta reminded me to follow you. LOL. So, it worked! And, Al Roker? Okay, you’re like a for-realsies Food Bloggin’ Rockstar now. 🙂 You can’t tell, but I’m throwing roses at your right now. Okay, I have to calm down now. Alright, and your recipe looks amazeballs. That poached egg came out perfect. Plus, sundried tomatoes, parm, kale? Ugh. I’m suddenly hungry again. Anyway, CONGRATS again Cheyanne! Remember us when you’re famous! <3, demeter 🙂
Ba-hahahaha! Giiiirl, you have me cracking up over here! You are too much! 😉 Thanks so much for the sweet (and hilarious) comment, Demeter! And have no fear, I’m not going to forget you! Where would I turn for the laughs?! Cheers, my dear! <3
I love the Al Roker shout out! Your totally deserve it and thank goodness I already follow you on Instagram! 🙂 The only thing that makes this better is they actually pronounced your name right! Woot! 🙂 Now, about these polenta bowls. I have never thought to have polenta for breakfast! Head smack! That poached egg looks so yummy on top of all these delicious flavors and that pesto is genius! I’m totally guilty of impulse buying prepared polenta, but now I’ll have to buy some with a purpose to make these breakfast bowls! Cheers to a fantastic weekend and good times ahead! XO
Thanks so much, Rachelle, you always make me laugh! You totally need to do the whole polenta thang for B-fast, it’s perfect this time of year – cozy and delicious! So glad to know I’m not the only kook who impulse buys prepared polenta!! Leave it to you and me to take care of that! 😉 Cheers, sweetness- to a fabulous weekend! XO
You are so awesome, congratulations girl!!! So incredibly proud of you!!! What an awesome week w/the TODAY show. You are going places my friend…couldn’t be more excited for you. You are also scoring big with these bowls, first the buddha and now this breakfast bowl with the tomato pesto. Amazing colors and flavors going on here. Sausage is a real weakness in our house. That and bacon. Cheers to a wonderful week ahead and more excellent news coming from the you and Subourbon Country cottage…..XOXO
Thank you so much, Allie! You are always so sweet and supportive! I have bowls of food coming out the wah-zoo! Needless to say, I (shamefully?) have a few more coming up! lol. Thanks again for the love, doll! Cheers to you and your family – to a beautiful weekend! XOXO
I would love to have breakfast with you today!!! yum! this recipe is made just for me!! love all the flavors (not the kale so much) 🙂
Lol, I used to hate kale, Gaila… maybe one day you will come around like me! But you can always substitute spinach! Cheers, girl!
Wow, GO YOU! Girl, that is beyond awesome and seriously well-deserved! Hope you are still doing a happy dance over that 🙂
Also, these polenta bowls are calling my name. They are definitely the stuff weekend breakfast dreams are made of – so creamy, so rich and satisfying, so cozy and oozing with egg yolk. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Hope you have a fabulous weekend! XO
Ha! I actually haven’t stopped doing a happy dance, Kathryn… lame I know. 😉 Thank you so much for the sweet comment, friend! Cheers to a wonderful weekend! XO
Chey, your blog is the best food blog I know. Seriously. So I hope my words helped to make your week. Besides, this delicious breakfast bowl looks like you prepared it for me, doesn’t it? I mean, polenta, poached eggs, sausages, sun dried tomatoes(!), and…well… kale (Okay I can tolerate it too). So can I anticipate this delicious meal for my breakfast/lunch/dinner? In a meanwhile, I am going to stop by another 14 blogs to say they are the best, haha. But yours is the best of the best;)
Hahaha, you always make me laugh with your smart @$$ comments, Ben! Thanks for that, buddy! 😉 Cheers!!
Well, isn’t this all sorts of beauty-full!!!! I mean – I dream about these ingredients – each on their own – but together? I don’t even think I can handle it! And your pictures? Stunning! Okay, my friend – from the moment we found each other, I thought to myself – this girl is going places! And I agree with Gayle – next stop – Food Network! I am very impressed and oh so proud! Continue to do all the great things you’re doing…we’re very lucky that you’re part of the food world – you have so much to share! Cheers! XO
Thank you so much for all your kind words and support, Annie! It’s “meeting” people like you who made blogging so much fun! And the fact that YOU think so highly of me really makes me smile, because you KNOW I am a HUGE fan of yours! SO thankful to have you as a friend, my dear! Cheers to you and a fabulous weekend! XO
Congratulations, Cheyanne! First instagram and then the Today Show?! Amazing! Next thing we know, you’ll be the new chef on The Food Network! So fun and you totally deserve all of that praise…love those pancakes! And these bowls look incredible, too! I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never made (or even tried!) polenta before, but I definitely need to do that after seeing this recipe. Especially with that egg and pesto…yum! Pinned, of course!
Hahaha! I don’t know about that, Gayle! But thanks for making me smile.. and laugh! 😉 AND thank you for the pin! Cheers to a fabulous weekend, friend!
First of all, OMG!!! YOU ARE FAMOUS! And it couldn’t happen to a nicer, more creatively delicious person!! And second, the fact that you have made polenta into a gorgeous breakfast is just one more piece of evidence that you are a genius. I think I need to make this for a banged up hubster that I know. Pinning!!
Hahahaha! So NOT famous, but thanks for that, Kate! 😉 I appreciate your friendship and kind comments, dear! I’ve been thinking about you and the Mr… still sending prayers your way! Thanks for the pin! Cheers, lovely! <3
Wow Cheyanne! Congrats! That is awesome news. It’s so nice to see all your hard work get recognized. Your blog is wonderful and you totally deserve it! These polenta bowls look so hearty and delicious! Love the poached egg, the sausage the pesto…all of it! Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much, Mary Ann, for the seriously kind comment! Cheer to a beautiful weekend, friend!
You are famous! Al Roker will be your BFF now. Just don’t forget about us little people! 🙂
Seriously, it’s amazing that happened. I’m so happy for you!
And sundried tomato pesto? YES. Now, please! That alone sold me on the rest of this fabulous dish!
Ha! I’m far from famous, but thanks for the giggle, Mir! 😉 But, I could never forget about you… where would I go for all my bar and dessert deliciousness?! Thanks for the kind comment, doll! Cheers!