Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (2024)

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (1)

When the first sightings of fresh, sweet corn start popping up in grocery stores, we can’t help but dream up tons of creative corn recipes to make. Whip up a family-sized batch of corn pasta, freezer-friendly corn chowder, or corn-flecked salmon burgers for a fun summer dinner recipe. Stir some into roasted corn pudding for a side dish you’ll be thinking about all summer (pair it with smoky grilled chicken breast!), or add it to a fresh bean dip for the ultimate picnic food. Try fresh corn kernels off the cob with tomatoes and basil for a quintessential summer salad, or crispy corn fritters that’ll officially become your family’s most-requested meal. When in doubt, keep the corn on the cob, slather it with butter (try the BBQ butter in #15!), eat, and repeat all summer long.

So, what can be made with all of that sweet corn at the farmer’s market? First, you’ll have to decide how you want to cook it — or if you even want to cook it at all. There are almost as many ways to cook corn as there are to eat it, so here are the basics to get you started: Fresh, shucked corn takes about 2–4 minutes to boil or about 10–15 minutes to grill. If you want to leave the husks on or off, soak it or not, or just cut off the kernels and eat them raw, that’s up to you. Take all summer to experiment.

If you’ve got a lot of fresh corn (lucky you!), you’ve got options: From delicious, Mexican-inspired corn recipes (just wait until you try the toppings in #10) and colorful, healthy corn recipes to creamy, sweet corn recipes, this summer produce superstar can be enjoyed in so many ways — and we plan to try them all.

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1

Roasted Corn Pudding

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (2)

Charred corn adds smoky flair to this creamy, comforting side dish. Try it with BBQ chicken for the perfect summer dinner.

Get the recipe for Roasted Corn Pudding »

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2

Cowboy Caviar

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (3)

Black-eyed peas, fresh veggies, avocado, and, of course, corn, star in this healthy dip (or bean salad — your choice!) that'll be the hit of any summer party.

Get the recipe for Cowboy Caviar »

RELATED: 40 Easy Summer Salads That Pack in the Best Seasonal Flavors

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3

Chilled Corn Soup

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (4)

Sweet corn, yellow pepper, and juicy tomatoes bring tons of flavor to this refreshing, 15-minute soup.

Get the recipe for Chilled Corn Soup »

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4

Creamy Corn Pasta With Bacon and Scallions

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (5)

Summer weeknights should be all about ease, and this 30-minute pasta delivers. It's like a carbonara jazzed up with corn, basil, and scallions to keep it fresh for the season.

Get the recipe for Creamy Corn Pasta with Bacon and Scallions »

RELATED: 75 Quick Summer Dinner Ideas for Easier Weeknights

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5

Southwest Steak Wraps

This spicy sando wraps up a classic hearty taco filling for a delicious, picnic-friendly lunch.

Get the recipe for Southwest Steak Wraps »

RELATED: 52 Fun Picnic Food Ideas That Are so Good You'll Never Eat Inside Again

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6

Corn Wheels With Hot Honey Butter

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (7)

Sweet honey and spicy habañero stirred into soft butter makes a dynamite condiment that pairs particularly well with peak-season corn.

Get the recipe for Corn Wheels with Hot Honey Butter »

RELATED: 24 Easy Memorial Day Side Dishes That'll Take Your Holiday Picnic to the Next Level

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7

Grilled Chicken With Smoky Corn Salad

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (8)

Grilled corn tossed with lime, cilantro, green olives, and grated Manchego cheese makes a powerful flavor combo to spice-up basic grilled chicken.

Get the recipe for Grilled Chicken with Smoky Corn Salad »

RELATED: 50 Different Ways to Enjoy Grilled Chicken Breast

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8

Creamy Corn Chowder

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (9)

Use fresh corn instead of frozen in this creamy, comforting soup to make the most of your farmer's market haul.

Get the recipe for Creamy Corn Chowder »

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9

Grilled Corn and Ricotta Dip

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (10)

Rich feta and ricotta cheese make this easy app ultra-creamy while mint and lemon keep it fresh. Toasted baguette slices are the best dunkers.

Get the recipe for Grilled Corn and Ricotta Dip »

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10

Mexican Grilled Corn

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (11)

The mayo, lime, chili, paprika, and crumbled Cotija cheese topping pays homage to a street food in Mexico called Elote.

Get the recipe for Mexican Grilled Corn »

RELATED: 50 Easy BBQ Side Dishes to Make This Summer

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11

Zesty Shrimp Tostadas With Cabbage and Corn Slaw

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (12)

Switch-up your weeknight routine: Juicy shrimp and crunchy slaw piled on top of crispy tostadas makes a deliciously simple dinner.

Get the recipe for Zesty Shrimp Tostadas with Cabbage and Corn Slaw »

RELATED: 28 Healthy and Delicious Ways to Eat All the Shrimp

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12

Warm Cheddar Corn Dip

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (13)

This snack table star, made with Spicy Chipotle Ranch, tastes even better with fresh instead of frozen corn.

Get the recipe for Warm Cheddar Corn Dip »

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13

Corn-Off-the-Cob Salad

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (14)

Fresh corn goes rogue and hops into this zesty salad, kicked-up with a lime, Dijon, and cumin dressing.

Get the recipe for Corn-Off-the-Cob Salad »

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14

Shrimp Boil With Sausage and Spinach

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (15)

This one-pot Southern staple makes a quick weeknight meal that the whole family will love.

Get the recipe for Shrimp Boil with Sausage and Spinach »

RELATED: 40 Easy, Delicious Family Dinner Ideas For Any Day of the Week

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15

Grilled Corn With Barbecue Butter

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (16)

We stirred homemade BBQ sauce — spiced with cumin, ancho chile, smoked paprika, and cayenne — into butter for a highly dip-able condiment that tastes great on grilled corn.

Get the recipe for Grilled Corn with Barbecue Butter »

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16

Cabbage and Corn Slaw

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (17)

Sour cream, lime juice, and a pinch of cayenne make a slightly spicy sauce that'll be your new favorite slaw dressing.

Get the recipe for Cabbage and Corn Slaw »

RELATED: 15 Creative Cabbage Recipes That Everyone Will Love

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17

Shrimp Taco Salad

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (18)

Grilled veggies, juicy shrimp, and creamy avocado get a surprise sweetness from cubed watermelon. It's basically summer on a plate.

Get the recipe for Shrimp Taco Salad »

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18

Queso Mac and Cheese

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (19)

Come for the two-cheese gooey goodness, stay for the crispy corn chip topping.

Get the recipe for Queso Mac and Cheese »

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19

Gingery Steak and Corn Salad

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (20)

The Ginger Dijon Vinaigrette really kicks up classic grilled steak. Fresh corn adds a summer-ready sweetness.

Get the recipe for Gingery Steak and Corn Salad »

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20

Chile-Lime Grilled Corn

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (21)

Make a double batch of the Spicy Cilantro Pesto to slather on all your grilled meats and veggies this summer— you won't regret it.

Get the recipe for Chile-Lime Grilled Corn »

Our 48 Best Corn Recipes Make For Easy & Delicious Summer Eating (2024)

FAQs

What makes can corn taste better? ›

A little pinch of salt goes a long way to make canned corn taste like summer's fresh bounty. Of course, you'll want to pay attention to the sodium content on the can because it may already contain salt, so it's never a bad idea to taste canned corn before reaching for the salt shaker.

How to make your corn good? ›

My takeaway: Adding butter to your water bath is a great way to add extra flavor to your corn. It coats the cobs in a thin layer of butter, leaving you with perfectly glossy corn that's buttery and rich.

What can I do with a bunch of corn on the cob? ›

This versatile veg can be barbecued, grilled or boiled before being coated in toppings like flavoured butter, herbs and spices.

Does butter make corn taste better? ›

If the name itself doesn't convince you, the brilliant technique will: cooking ears of fresh corn in a pot of boiling water seasoned with milk, butter, and salt. This method infuses every kernel with sweet, buttery flavor, and gives the corn a luxe, tender texture.

Is corn good for health or not? ›

Corn is rich in fiber and plant compounds that may aid digestive and eye health. Yet, it's high in starch, can spike blood sugar and may prevent weight loss when consumed in excess. The safety of genetically modified corn may also be a concern. Still, in moderation, corn can be part of a healthy diet.

Why do you soak corn before cooking? ›

Soaking the corn husks in water has two important purposes. For starters, soaking the corn in water prevents the corn husks from burning or catching on fire. Secondly, the excess moisture helps steam the corn inside the husk and makes the corn kernels as juicy and plump as possible.

What is the healthiest way to eat corn? ›

It's also somewhat low in calories, making it a good way to get some of these important nutrients into your diet without overloading your calorie intake. Corn is healthiest when it is eaten as close to its natural growing form as possible, either on the cob, as cooked kernels, or freshly milled.

Why do you put milk in water when boiling corn? ›

Adding milk to the water might seem strange but it helps bring out the natural sweetness of corn on the cob. Once you try this method you'll never look back!

What do farmers do with leftover corn? ›

We grow a lot of corn in the US. What do farmers do with all of the left-over stalks and leaves? - Quora. Many many things. The big one is rake them into bales and feed it to cows, use it as bedding for animals, or use it to create biofuels.

Will squirrels eat corn off the cob? ›

One of a squirrel's favorite snacks is corn on the cob. A great way to attract them to your backyard is to hang a few ears of corn or even toss a few on the ground. It's not only fun for them to eat, it's also amusing to watch! Corn cobs can be the best option for providing corn for squirrels.

What do farmers do with dead corn? ›

By drying out the liquid starch (milk stage), the corn can be harvested and used for all the necessities you and I need! From glue to corn flakes, cattle feed to fuel, corn (the dented field corn) is not only a complement to our society, but also a crucial source to create so many things.

How to make corn tastier? ›

Rick often makes a quick corn side dish by cutting kernels off the cob and sautéeing them in butter with some chopped shallot and garlic. As the corn cooks, flavorful brown bits will stick to the pan, which along with the nutty-sweet butter help mask the flavor of bland corn.

Can dogs eat corn? ›

Is Corn Good for Dogs? Raw corn and cooked corn are safe for dogs to eat, in small portions, in moderation, and always off the cob. Frozen corn can be a fun, crunchy food topper for dogs—just make sure to watch them as they eat it to ensure they don't choke.

How do you make bland corn taste better? ›

The corn cooked in plain water was virtually tasteless, as was the sample pulled from the water-milk bath. So although adding milk proved unnecessary, a little sugar did the trick—4 teaspoons per gallon of plain water brought out the bright flavor of the kernels.

How do you enhance canned cream corn? ›

Can I add ingredients to enhance the flavor of canned cream corn? Absolutely! You can add various ingredients to enhance the flavor of canned cream corn. Some popular additions include chopped onions, garlic, crispy bacon, shredded cheese, or fresh herbs like thyme or parsley.

Can you eat canned corn without cooking? ›

Did you know? Canned corn is fully cooked, so it is safe to eat without further cooking.

Do you drain canned corn? ›

Canned corn is packed in liquid. For the best flavor, drain and rinse the corn under cool water.

Why is canned corn so good? ›

According to Healthfully, canned corn is rich in protein, vitamin C, and fiber that supports a healthy digestive tract. Canned corn is shelf-stable, meaning that when sealed, it remains edible for quite a while. Ovenvia says that canned corn remains good for three to five years, and Still Tasty agrees.

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