10 Delicious Corn-Based Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Corn recipes bring out the sweetness and versatility of this beloved ingredient, perfect for a range of dishes. From grilled sides to comforting main courses, corn can take on many forms and flavors.
Its natural sweetness pairs beautifully with savory elements, enhancing both simple and complex dishes. Corn’s golden color and juicy kernels add visual appeal, making any meal feel vibrant and inviting.
Many recipes are easy to prepare, making it a staple for quick yet satisfying meals. Take a look at our 10 best corn recipes to enjoy this versatile ingredient at its finest:
Corn Casserole
Corn casserole is a comforting and easy side dish that shines during holidays yet fits seamlessly into any meal throughout the year. This southern-style creation features a delightful combination of corn, creamed corn, butter, sour cream, and Jiffy corn muffin mix for an incredibly moist texture.
Minimal cooking skills are required to whip this up; just combine all ingredients in a baking dish and let your oven do the work for about 50-55 minutes. Flexibility is another perk, if you prefer alternatives to Jiffy mix, there are options available through linked recipes.
Once prepared, this creamy casserole can be stored for up to five days in either cling wrap or airtight containers, making it perfect for leftovers as well as family meals.
Homemade Corn Chowder
Homemade corn chowder is a comforting dish that brings warmth and satisfaction, especially during the colder months.
This thick and creamy soup features sweet corn as its star ingredient, making it a fantastic way to utilize any surplus you might have.
Simple to make with fresh or frozen corn, this recipe also incorporates onions, garlic, potatoes, bacon for added flavor depth, flour for thickness, butter for richness, heavy cream for smoothness and your choice of broth or water alongside seasonings.
To enhance this hearty meal further without much effort at all, consider adding chicken pieces or topping each bowl with shredded cheddar cheese before serving; both options elevate the experience deliciously while ensuring you'll savor every spoonful of goodness.
Black Bean And Corn Salad
Black bean and corn salad offers a refreshing taste of summer, perfectly combining the natural sweetness of fresh corn with hearty black beans.
This vibrant dish bursts with textures from crisp vegetables like avocado, cherry tomatoes, and red onion while being versatile enough to serve as either a side or main course.
Topped on tacos or served alongside tortilla chips, it can easily become your go-to appetizer.
A squeeze of lime juice blended with honey adds an irresistible dressing that enhances its flavors beautifully; dairy-free cheese options can seamlessly replace cotija for those following a vegan diet.
Spicy Coconut Chicken Stew With Corn
Spicy coconut chicken stew with corn is a quick meal that comes together in just one pot. This dish stands out for its combination of sweet corn and fiery chilies, creating a delightful balance of flavors.
Fresh ingredients like coconut milk, Thai chilies, and shredded rotisserie chicken add depth to the broth while fresh spinach and basil contribute an aromatic touch. A splash of lime juice enhances the overall taste profile with zesty brightness.
Ideal for busy weeknights, this comforting stew brings warmth to your table while catering to everyone’s palate effortlessly.
Chocolate Cornstarch Pudding
Chocolate cornstarch pudding is an unexpected dessert that highlights the versatility of corn in sweet dishes. This rich and creamy treat delivers a luxurious texture thanks to its key ingredient, cornstarch, which transforms a simple chocolate mixture into something extraordinary.
Made from unsweetened cocoa powder, whole milk, butter, sugar, and the magical thickener, cornstarch, this pudding can be whipped up quickly with pantry staples you likely have on hand. While preparing this delightful indulgence may seem straightforward, it’s important to stir continuously over medium-high heat to ensure a smooth finish without lumps.
Once chilled and served with whipped cream and fresh berries on top, you'll find this decadent dessert is sure to impress everyone around the table.
Corn Fritters
Corn fritters are a tasty snack featuring crispy exteriors and sweet, tender interiors. This dish allows you to choose between fresh or frozen corn kernels, ensuring versatility in your kitchen.
With simple ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, and cream mixed with the corn, creating the batter is straightforward. Once shaped into rounds and fried until golden brown on both sides, they emerge irresistibly crunchy.
Topping them with garlic aioli or Greek yogurt adds an extra layer of flavor that enhances every bite you take. These fritters make for an excellent appetizer or side dish that's sure to impress anyone at your table.
Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
Grilled Mexican street corn, known as elote, captures the essence of summer gatherings and backyard barbecues.
This iconic dish features fresh corn on the cob grilled to perfection and slathered in a creamy sauce that blends tangy sour cream or mayonnaise with zesty lime juice, garlic, cilantro, chipotle pepper, and lime zest.
The preparation starts with making this irresistible sauce before grilling cobs until they achieve a golden hue.
Once off the grill while still warm, each ear is generously coated in your prepared mixture and topped with crumbled cotija cheese for an added burst of flavor.
While it may get a bit messy to eat straight from the cob, creating a Mexican street corn salad allows you to enjoy all those flavors without any fuss.
Grilled Corn Salad
Grilled corn salad is a fresh dish featuring the sweet, smoky flavor of grilled corn as its star ingredient. This recipe not only serves as a delightful side but can easily elevate your meals in unexpected ways.
Pairing it with tortilla chips creates a fantastic dip reminiscent of salsa, while adding it to tacos or avocado toast introduces an exciting twist to traditional toppings. For those looking for heartiness, mixing this salad into pasta transforms it into a satisfying lunch option.
The simplicity lies in combining charred corn kernels with toasted nuts, herbs, pickled onions, and zesty Parmesan cheese; finish off with lime juice and seasonings to taste.
Corn Salsa
Corn salsa is a zesty blend of fresh ingredients that pairs beautifully with various dishes. This vibrant dip features sweet corn, crunchy red onion, and spicy jalapeños, creating an exciting contrast in flavors.
Incorporating lime juice and chopped cilantro elevates its taste while adding a refreshing touch to your meals. Ideal for enhancing salads or complementing tacos and burgers, this versatile recipe makes any gathering feel special.
Grilling the corn beforehand introduces a delightful smoky flavor that transforms the dish into something truly remarkable.
Potato Salad With Fresh Corn And Basil
Potato salad with fresh corn and basil is a hearty dish that celebrates the sweetness of summer produce. The use of tender red baby potatoes contributes to a delightful creaminess, making this salad both satisfying and refreshing.
Alongside the cooked potatoes, sweet corn kernels enhance the flavor profile while chopped onions, celery stalks, fresh dill, cilantro, white wine vinegar, and mayo create a harmonious blend of textures. After mixing these ingredients together thoroughly, allowing it to chill for an hour intensifies its flavors beautifully.
This recipe allows you to prepare ahead as well; simply store in the fridge for up to three days without losing freshness or taste.