Looking for easy corn recipes? You're in luck! These are the 25 best corn recipes for dips, salads, pastas -- even pancakes and scones -- that feature the natural sweetness of corn.
Up to your ears in corn? (hardy har har) Or just looking for a crop of fresh corn recipes to try? I've got you covered.
I reached out to top food bloggers and asked for their very favorite corn recipes and boy, oh, boy, they didn't disappoint.
They hit me with the most delicious appetizers, salads, main course dishes, even breakfast and dessert recipes featuring the fresh flavor of corn. I even threw in a few of my own favorite recipes!
Whether your harvest comes from ears of corn or cans of corn, the farmers market or the grocery store, I hope you enjoy these 25 a-maize-ing (yes, I did that) sweet corn recipes.
Charred Corn Avocado Salad with Roasted Red Onions
Charred Corn Avocado Salad with Roasted Red Onions combines all the fresh flavors of summer in a salad bowl. Sweet, smoky grilled corn mixed with avocado, cherry tomatoes, roasted red onions, and a lemon Dijon dressing makes it a perfect side salad for any barbecue or potluck gathering.
Elote Mexican Street Corn Nachos with Zesty Cheese Sauce
Elote Mexican street corn nachos are a fun twist on nachos with crunchy corn tortilla chips, zesty cheese sauce, corn, and unique nacho toppings. Try these and you will agree that Mexican elote and nacho chips are a winning combination!
Corn, Squash and Goat Cheese Pizza
Corn, Squash, and Goat Cheese Pizza with Balsamic Glaze is a quick and easy vegetarian-friendly pizza that screams summertime. It's made with fresh toppings and a foolproof homemade pizza dough (optional) for a new pizza night favorite!
Easy Corn Dip with Cream Cheese (Hot or Cold)
Fast and easy dip with cream cheese, sour cream, green chiles, chili powder, green onions, and plenty of cheese. Serve cold or top with MORE cheese and bake until hot and bubbly.
Corn and Zucchini Fritters
You’ll love these corn and zucchini fritters made with fresh corn, shredded zucchini, cheddar cheese, and green onions. Zucchini corn fritters are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and an easy side dish or savory breakfast.
Sweet Corn Relish
Zesty Sweet Corn Relish is a delicious way to use and preserve fresh sweet corn. This homemade relish pops with bites of pure corn flavor and can be enjoyed in so many different ways like a fun chip dip or tasty condiment for tacos, quesadillas, burgers, hotdogs, and more!
Grilled Zucchini Salad with Corn and Cheese
This easy 20-minute grilled zucchini corn salad recipe with cherry tomatoes and a sprinkle of cheese is a quick and delightful dish that captures the essence of corn season in every bite.
Corn Pancakes
These corn pancakes are thick and fluffy and get their sweetness entirely from fresh corn kernels. Delicious and easy breakfast recipe, best served with syrup on top!
Corn and Zucchini Chowder
This healthy Corn and Zucchini Chowder is the perfect soup to enjoy during the summer months or any time of year. Made with sweet summer corn, garden-fresh zucchini, cauliflower, and half-and-half instead of heavy cream, this delicious corn chowder is hearty, healthy, and super easy to make.
Mexican Street Corn Pinwheel Appetizers
Soft flour tortillas rolled around a creamy mixture of charred fresh or frozen corn, cream cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, chili powder, and lime juice. Always a hit at parties!
Double Decker Black Bean and Corn Salad Tacos
These double-wrapped tacos of the best of both worlds! A soft corn tortilla spread with refried black beans, wrapped around a crispy hard taco shell, then stuffed with a flavorful corn and black bean salad, it's a delicious, easy recipe you'll be making on repeat.
Sweet Jiffy Cornbread with Creamed Corn
Super tender and moist cornbread with sour cream, creamed corn, and honey. Delicious baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with a little bit of cinnamon honey butter!
Mexican Corn Salad
Inspired by Mexican street corn, this Elote Salad is easy to make ahead and equally delicious served warm, chilled, or at room temperature.
Paula Deen Corn Casserole
Paula Deen's Corn Casserole is so soft and fluffy -- and super easy to make with just 6 simple ingredients. It's also easy to make ahead, so it's the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Herbed Summer Corn Pasta Salad
Herbed summer corn pasta salad is perfect for summer entertaining or barbecues. This bowtie pasta summer salad features fresh corn off the cob, briny feta cheese, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet bell pepper, red onion, and a lime vinaigrette.
Cheesy Baked Jalapeno Creamy Corn {With Bacon!}
This cheesy baked jalapeño creamy corn with bacon is baked in a rich and creamy sauce and topped with melted cheese. Tasty corn recipe and a great side dish for the holidays you'll be asked to make again and again.
Corn Salsa
Scoop up the flavors of late summer with this easy corn salsa loaded with fresh veggies. Made from fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers, sweet corn kernels, lime juice, and cilantro, it's sure to become your new favorite thing to make during corn season.
Southern Corn Pudding Recipe
Nothing tastes like Grandma's cooking as much as this Southern Corn Pudding Recipe. It’s an old-fashioned, comforting dish that features fresh corn, heavy cream, butter, and eggs. All fresh ingredients -- nothing artificial or from a can.
Sweet Corn Scones with Lime & Cinnamon
Sweet Corn Scones are light and fluffy and flavored with a hint of lime and cinnamon! Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon tea snack.
Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad
Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad is tossed in cilantro lime dressing for a delicious side dish to accompany any main entrée. This fresh and flavorful sweet potato salad is a simple, healthy salad recipe that's easy to prepare and even easier to customize.
Creamy Sweet Corn Pasta (Vegan, Gluten Free Option) ~ Veggie Inspired
This incredibly delicious Sweet Corn Pasta dish makes use of the best summer sweet corn. Dairy-free, gluten-free, depending on the kind of pasta you use, and kid-friendly. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and you’ll want to eat this meatless dish all summer long!
Blackened Corn
Ready in just 15 minutes, this blackened corn is perfect for a summer side dish. Charred in a cast iron pan with spices like smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, and garlic powder, this corn is packed with flavor and heat!
Black Bean Corn & Feta Dip
Black bean corn feta dip is made with canned beans, sweet corn, crumbled feta cheese, red bell pepper, green onions, and fresh cilantro and dressed in an apple cider vinaigrette. The perfect combo of sweet, tangy, and salty!
Creamy Chicken and Corn
This creamy chicken and corn skillet is made with seasoned pan-seared chicken breasts simmered in a fresh corn, green chile, and cilantro cream sauce.
How to Make Frozen Corn
Preserve summer’s sweet corn using a simple method …freezing! This post will walk you through preparing and preserving your very own batch of frozen corn.
How to Choose the Best Sweet Corn Every Time
Wondering how to pick the best ears of corn at the grocery store or farmers market without peeling back the husk? Here's what to look for.
Heavy weight. Juicy corn should feel heavy for its size. If it feels lighter than it should, it's probably dry.
Bright green husk. Look for ears that are tightly wrapped with a fresh-looking, bright green husk. Pass on any that have a brown or yellow husk that feels dry. If you see little brown holes, insects may have already chosen that ear. Let them have it.
Light brown tassel. Those corn silks sticking out the top of the corn should feel a little sticky and be a light brown, almost golden color. And if it smells fresh, go for it. If the tassels are dry, black, or mushy, the corn is old.
Plump kernels. Gently squeeze the ear of corn to feel if the kernels are firm and plump. If you feel mushy spots or missing kernels, pass on it.
What not to do. You've probably noticed other shoppers before you have left behind ears with the husks peeled back. But please resist -- it's kind of frowned. Once you peel back the husk, it causes the corn to dry out. Instead, try the tips above to see what's going on inside the husk.
How to Store Fresh Corn at Home
Chill it. As soon as you get home, put the corn in the fridge to help maintain the sweetness. If left too long in a warm temperature, those sugars can turn into starch and it will be less sweet. Leave the husks on and place the ears of corn in a loose-fitting bag.
Eat within a few days. Fresh corn is best eaten within 2-3 days. You can freeze leftover corn (see recipe #25 above) to enjoy the fresh flavors of late summer any time of year.
FAQs
Yes. To preserve the sugars in sweet corn, refrigerate the corn as soon as you get home. Otherwise, those sugars can turn to starch and the corn won't taste as sweet.
Fresh corn on the cob is best eaten the day of, however, you can store it in the refrigerator in a loose-fitting bag for 2-3 days.
There are a few tell-tale signs (without pulling back the husk) that a cob of corn with the husk on is no longer fresh.
Light for its size. Fresh corn should feel heavy for its size. If it feels light, it means it's dry.
Brown or black tassels. If the silks of the corn are dried out or black, the corn isn't very fresh.
Missing kernels or mushy spots. Feel the corn through the husk from silk to stem. If it feels soft or like there are bare spots, pass on it.
Once it's home, refrigerate and eat it within a few days. You can tell that corn has gone bad if it is slimy or has an offputting odor, mold, dark areas on the kernels, or the kernels are shriveled. If you are at all in doubt, toss it.
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