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43 Sweet Corn Recipes To Make This Summer

Get the most out of this seasonal staple.

By and
grilled corn topped with a creamy mixture, cotija cheese, chili powder, cilantro and limepinterest

Yes, corn is a "great beautiful lump of nobs", but it's also one of THE most versatile ingredients out there. All summer, we'll take corn any way we can get it—baked in a corn cookie, blended into an elote-style soup, or grabbing a smoked corn on the cob right off the grill. To make the best of summer's sweet corn while at its peak, we've rounded up all our favorite recipes in one place. Flip through for our top 43 sweet corn recipes for ideas—you wouldn’t want the summer to slip by without trying at least one of them.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t start with grilled corn on the cob—it’s THE quintessential summertime side dish, and we try to eat as much of it as we can once it’s in season. Lucky for you, we’ve got tons of ways to make it so you too can eat a ton. Try out our recipes for boiled, grilled, steamed, microwaved, oven-baked, and Instant Pot corn on the cob. Once you’ve cooked your corn on the cob, take it one step further and turn it into a side dish worthy of all your summer BBQs. Grilling corn adds a special smokiness that improves even the most basic dishes—check our grilled creamed corn or grilled corn salad to see what we mean. Another favorite ingredient to add to jazz up corn—cheese, ofc! Cotija (think feta or Parmesan if you’re unfamiliar) is a favorite, particularly because it’s a main player in one of our favorite ways to eat corn—Mexican elote. You could serve it on the cob, in a Mexican corn salad, or even with more cheese in our Instant Pot street corn queso.

Feeling corny, but not so into the cobs? Try one of our many other recipes where corn plays more of a secondary role (shh, you can even use frozen corn in some of them!). Try our chicken chowder stuffed zucchini, our chicken tamale pie, or our sweet corn shrimp & rice skillet. They’re great when corn isn’t absolutely at its peak, or you just can’t find nice fresh ears.

Want more summertime produce inspiration? Check out our zucchini recipes, healthy eggplant recipes, peach recipes, and blueberry desserts too.

1

Corn & Tomato Gnocchi Foil Packs

gnocchi foil packs
Andrew bui

The foil packets here trap in steam from the wine and juices from the tomato and corn as everything grills, which in turn cooks the gnocchi to perfectly tender while infusing the pasta with all the flavors of the dish.

Get the Corn & Tomato Gnocchi Foil Packs recipe.

2

Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

grilled corn topped with a creamy mixture, cotija cheese, chili powder, cilantro and lime
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Elote (AKA Mexican street corn) is an unbelievably popular antojito—little craving or street food—featuring grilled corn covered in a creamy mayo and Mexican crema mixture, then topped with chili powder, cotija cheese, and plenty of lime juice. The combo is INCREDIBLE.

Get the Elote (Mexican Street Corn) recipe.

3

Corn & Ricotta Pasta

corn and ricotta pasta
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI ; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Fresh ricotta and sweet corn are the stars of the show for this quick and easy pasta. We utilize frozen corn here, but leftover kernels from grilled corn would make the dish even better. The dish comes together in one pot and in about 30 minutes, which you just can’t beat.

Get the Corn & Ricotta Pasta recipe.

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4

Corn Fritters

corn fritters
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Fluffy and crispy, corn fritters are our new favorite Southern-fried side (sorry, hush puppies). Littered with fresh sweet corn, these are the perfect addition to countless summer dinners, from a crab leg feast to a rack of saucy BBQ ribs or a taco spread.

Get the Corn Fritters recipe.

5

Corn Casserole

classic midwestern casserole made with jiffy muffin mix, creamed corn, and fresh corn then baked and topped with paprika and chives
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Looking for the perfect potluck recipe? This corn casserole is IT. It's packed with sweet corn, balanced by a pinch of paprika and herby chives, and has an insanely tender and custardy texture that will have everyone reaching for more before they even know what hit 'em.

Get the Corn Casserole recipe.

6

Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa

copycat chipotle corn salsa with corn, diced red onions, jalapeño and fresh cilantro
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

As we all know, Chipotle has many toppings we love to load our bowl up with. If you can't get enough of the corn salsa (and find yourself asking for a second scoop), this is the copycat recipe for you.

Get the Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa recipe.

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7

Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Nachos

elote mexican street corn nachos
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: TYNA HOANG

During the summer, a recipe we keep coming back to again and again is Mexican street food elote. It’s such an incredible flavor combination, we knew it shouldn’t be confined just to the summer. The solution? Turning it into skillet nachos that can be enjoyed all year long.

Get the Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Nachos recipe.

8

Creamy Corn Pasta

creamy corn pasta
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MARY RUPP

Don’t be fooled by the name—this pasta has no cream! Instead, you’ll puree fresh corn, sautéed garlic, and scallions into a luscious sauce that’s topped with Parmesan, basil, and even more corn. With just a few ingredients, you can have a crowd-pleasing summer pasta in no time.

Get the Creamy Corn Pasta recipe.

9

Creamy Basil Chicken Skillet With Corn and Tomato

creamy basil chicken skillet with corn tomato
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: RILEY WOFFORD

Here is a dish that evokes summer in a skillet: There are just-burst cherry tomatoes, kernels of sweet summer corn, and basil-smothered chicken. Serve the chicken breasts whole or remove them from the skillet and slice before serving.

Get the Creamy Basil Chicken Skillet With Corn and Tomato recipe.

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10

Succotash Gnocchi

succotash gnocchi pin
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Inspired by delicious and oh-so-summery succotash, this colorful dinner is extra hearty and full of fresh flavors. Though this rendition doesn't include beans, we think the chewy boiled gnocchi are the perfect bean-shaped stand-ins.

Get the Succotash-Inspired Gnocchi recipe.

11

Mexican Street Corn Flatbread

mexican street corn flatbread
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Mexican street corn is one of our forever faves, so we riff on it as often as we can. Here, we’re taking the creamy tangy sauce that usually goes on the corn, spreading it over pre-made pizza dough instead, and loading it up with corn, more chili, and lots of cheese.

Get the Mexican Street Corn Flatbread recipe.

12

Black Bean And Corn Salad

black bean corn salad
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Think of this as a medley of the most exciting parts of a vegetarian burrito bowl, unadulterated by rice, and hyped up by a little honey-lime action. It comes together quickly and works as a side dish, a great topping for tacos, or as an summery appetizer with tortilla chips.

Get the Black Bean And Corn Salad recipe.

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13

Chicken Chowder Stuffed Zucchini

chicken chowder stuffed zucchini boats
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Using cooked rotisserie chicken, frozen corn, and sweet cherry tomatoes, you can have a summer chowder in under an hour, served in a crispy-tender stuffed zucchini boat.

Get the Chicken Chowder Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

14

Surf 'N' Turf Foil Packs

surf n turf foil packs
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Worried about cook time with foil packs? Feel free to take a peek! The shrimp should be pink and opaque and the steak—depending on how you like it—should be slightly pink in the very middle. Just open the packs carefully, exercising caution to avoid the steam trapped within.

Get the Surf 'N' Turf Foil Packs recipe.

15

Cheesy Corn Poppers

cheesy corn poppers
Erik Bernstein

The contrast of sweet juicy corn, salty Parmesan, and bright green onions is pretty unbeatable in this summery app. Hot tip: Don't fry these all at once. The poppers will absorb more oil and taste greasy. For best results, cook them in batches.

Get the Cheesy Corn Poppers recipe.

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16

Esquites Corn Chowder

esquites corn chowder
Andrew bui

As inspiration for this soup, we looked to corn chowder—the quintessential New England comfort food that features loads of sweet corn, bacon, and potato. The warm, creamy soup and the cool, sweet, acidic esquites (or Mexican corn salad) combine in one bowl to create an insanely good contrast of texture, temperature, and flavor.

Get the Esquites Corn Chowder recipe.

17

Smoked Corn On The Cob

smoked corn on the cob topped with herb butter and cilantro
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

This flavorful and healthy way to grill corn on the cob doesn't require a smoker. Instead, you'll infuse the corn with wood smoke using a clever foil packet of wood chips and a grill.

Get the Smoked Corn On The Cob recipe.

18

Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins

pimiento cheese corn muffins
Erik bernstein

The flavor squad is here to provide standard corn muffins with a mega boost. The result is pimiento cheese corn muffins, which take their cues from the classic Southern cheese dip. Packed with shredded cheddar, diced pimiento peppers, garlic powder, and a generous amount of cayenne, the result is a savory delight.

Get the Pimiento Cheese Corn Muffins recipe.

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19

Corn Cookies

corn cookies   delishcom
June Xie

Momofuku Milk Bar's popular version dominates the results page for corn cookie recipes, but it calls for the use of an unusual ingredient: powdered freeze-dried corn. We've decided to create a version that uses another flavor powerhouse that's easier to find: canned creamed corn.

Get the Corn Cookies recipe.

20

Esquites Fritters

esquites fritters
ERIK BERNSTEIN

We’re happy to report that esquites, the irresistible and less-messy version of everyone’s favorite cotija-coated snack, elote, were the perfect inspiration for these bite-sized corn fritters. Paired with a lime and garlic-spiked sour cream sauce, these crisp patties are guaranteed to disappear in a crowd in minutes.

Get the Esquites Fritters recipe.

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