37 Corn Recipes for Making the Most of Every Ear
In the eternal battle of summer produce recipes—which really comes down to corn versus tomatoes—corn recipes have a distinct edge: Great tomatoes can be a little pricey, but the sweetest, juiciest corn? They’re practically giving that stuff away. Here we’ve compiled all of our favorite corn recipes, which include our bucket list of tried-and-trues (grilled, on the cob, and all the corn salads you can eat) plus new ideas for those ears once you've covered the basics. We also have a helpful guide covering how to buy fresh corn and store it for the sweetest flavor. (Not reading this during peak season? Some of these recipes are even designed with frozen corn in mind. We’ve even got a recipe in here for dried corn.) There’s nothing left for you to do but get cooking—summer won’t last forever, after all.
Marcus Nilsson1/37Grilled Corn with Herb Butter
Corn recipes need not be fancy. For a simple take on grilled corn, chop up some kitchen herbs (think parsley, cilantro, chives), mix them with softened butter and a pinch of cayenne pepper, and spread generously over grilled corn on the cob. The herby butter wouldn't be bad on grilled salmon, either.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch2/37Esquites con Salsa de Totopos
If you can’t eat just one crispy tortilla chip, this is the salsa of your dreams. Spoon it over a cup of Mexican-style street corn, which is best eaten while standing up. In this recipe, the corn is sliced into wide sheets, drizzled with a tangy crema and mayo mixture, and topped with the crunchy salsa. Serve with tacos or brochetas de pescado.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson3/37Pasta Salad With Corn and Tomatoes
When you're working with great ingredients, you really don't need to do much. For this delightfully uncomplicated recipe, just toss sautéed fresh corn kernels with chopped plum tomatoes, penne pasta, Parmesan cheese, and a garlic-basil dressing. And here's a bonus: This dish comes together in less than 20 minutes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Bill Clark6/37Cheesy Corn Casserole With Crunchy Cracker Topping
This from-scratch savory corn pudding is creamy and cheesy, with fresh corn kernels, celery, and onions throughout. A topping of buttery cracker crumbles adds crunch. You can prep this summer side dish ahead of any gathering—reheat, covered, about 15 minutes in the oven, then remove the cover to re-crisp the buttery topping.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson7/37Classic Seafood Boil With Lemon-Butter
This southern favorite, also known as Frogmore stew, is brimming with plump shrimp, sweet corn, smoky sausage, and tender potatoes. Choose your favorite seafood seasoning to flavor it. This recipe was designed to feed a crowd, but you could easily halve it and have yourself a festive family meal.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich8/37Succotash
The classic combo of fresh summer corn, lima beans, and okra gets a touch of bacon for meaty flavor, cherry tomatoes for sweetness, and spicy jalapeños for kick. Serve with grilled fish or grilled chicken.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell9/37Pasta With Clams, Corn, and Basil Pesto
Briny clams tangle with sweet corn in this simple pesto pasta dish. (Want to make it even simpler? Use store-bought pesto instead of making your own with basil, garlic, grated Parmigiano, and olive oil—we won't tell anyone.) This is the kind of weeknight-friendly corn dish that's totally at home at a summer celebration.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell10/37Shrimp and Corn Fritters
Shrimp and grits are traditionally prepared separately: shrimp in one pan, grits in the other. In this clever corn recipe, though, all the ingredients come together into one delicious fritter, sweet and moist on the inside and unbelievably crunchy around the edges. Serve with lemon wedges and a light, refreshing sour cream sauce.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell11/37Chilled Coconut Corn Soup
Cold soup is exactly what you want for a light meal on a hot summer day. For this refreshing version, cooked corn and potatoes get blitzed in the blender, bringing sweetness and body to the soup. Creamy coconut milk adds richness but keeps it vegan, while lime juice brightens the whole the whole affair. Top it with sliced avocado and coconut flakes for extra lusciousness. It's a nice departure from your standard corn chowder move.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch12/37Shrimp With Chochoyotes in Smoky, Herby Broth
This brothy soup feels like coastal Oaxaca in a bowl. It has tons of herbs, fresh corn kernels, buttery shrimp, a light spicy-smoky broth—and chochoyotes, dumplings made from fresh masa or masa harina.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell13/37Fresh Corn Carbonara
Eggs are usually what give carbonara its creaminess, but this summery spin on the pasta fave is entirely eggless—the silkiness comes instead from puréed corn kernels. We also added fresh basil to boost the seasonal flavor profile a little further, along with cured pork and grated Parm.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell14/37Summer Corn, Tomato, and Salmon Salad With Za’atar Dressing
Not all summer corn recipes require you to fire up the grill: This one asks only for a big pot of boiling water. The salmon is poached in the same thyme- and garlic-scented broth as the corn, so you'll build flavors while saving yourself from washing another dish. All it needs on the side is a crusty baguette.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi15/37Fresh Corn Quiche
This corn recipe is BYO pie crust: Here's our favorite, but nobody's judging if you buy frozen. The procedure could not be easier: Simply purée corn, onion, and seasonings in the food processor with a little half-and-half and butter, then pour into the shell and bake till it's golden brown. This would be great at brunch with a green salad.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell17/37Cheesy Corn Spoon Bread
This cooks in the oven and would be an impressive side dish alongside a roast or grilled entrée—like something that you'd find here. With creamed corn and melty Fontina cheese, it's also rich enough for a simple lunch the next day, served alongside a salad with a bright, acidic vinaigrette.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews18/37Grilled Sweet Corn With Basil Butter
Once you start messing around with compound butters, the only limit is your imagination. In this easy summer recipe, butter is enlivened with a handful of basil and a little fresh thyme; let those flavors meld while you cook the corn (pulling the husks back but leaving them on as a handle) on a hot grill. Serve with double-stack chicken burgers or any of your cookout favorites.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Molly Baz19/37Pan-Seared Scallops With Chorizo and Corn
Here's a little cooking trick: Searing scallops in the amber-hued fat rendered from cooking chorizo results in a gorgeously caramelized crust, and it gives the shellfish a wonderfully smoky flavor that plays beautifully off of the sweetness of the fresh corn. Serve this dish with lime wedges on the side.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert20/37Corn Mint Raita
Serve this cooling raita with spicy okra or grilled broccoli and this quick chana masala.
Photo by Eva Kolenko23/37Blueberry and Corn Crisp
What do you get when cornbread muffins cross paths with the freshest, sweetest blueberry jam? This ingenious dessert, which couldn't be easier to put together, requiring just a few minutes of active time in the kitchen. We won't say it requires vanilla ice cream for serving alongside—but you definitely couldn't go wrong that way.
Christina Holmes24/37Shrimp with Fresh Corn Grits
This version of shrimp and grits benefits from a double dose of corn: the grits themselves, of course, and grated fresh corn, which enriches and helps thicken the grits. Sauté the shrimp with a handful of fresh corn kernels at the end for a nice pop of savory sweetness. For an appetizer, fry up some crispy okra.
Photo by David A. Land, food styling by Carrie Purcell, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano25/37Tostadas With Creamy Roasted Poblanos and Corn
Roasted poblano chiles and cream are a classic—and irresistible—combination in Mexican cooking, and they get another dimension of flavor here with the addition of sweet corn. (You could also throw sliced and seared zucchini or chayote squash into the rajas mixture, to extremely beneficial effect.) It's worth roasting more than you need; the peeled and seeded chiles freeze well and thaw quickly.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson26/37Creamed Dried Sweet Corn With Onion and Chives
Just in case you thought we wouldn't tackle dried corn, here's a recipe that does just that. Soak the dried kernels in milk and cream for at least four hours (or up to overnight), then simmer it with a bit of sautéed onion. Soon you'll have a luscious side dish that's just as sweet as fresh summer corn—and just as irresistible.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman27/37Spiced Salmon With Potatoes and Corn
We love sheet-pan dinners for their ease. This summertime delight packs everything you love about a seafood boil into a weeknight-friendly package. Fresh herbs and sliced red onion brighten up the final dish.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Bowl by Meilen Ceramics28/37Tofu With Soy-Butter Corn
The classic combo of corn, soy sauce, and butter joins pan-fried tofu, scallions, mirin, and sesame oil to make an ultra-flavorful, just-rich-enough summery vegetarian main. Keep the cobs to make corn stock later!
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen29/37Trinidad Corn Soup
Photo by Romulo Yanes30/37Tomato and Corn Pie
In the South, one hallmark of summer is a creamy, cheesy tomato pie. With the addition of fresh sweet corn, this recipe is like a cousin of that old stalwart, involving an ingenious biscuit crust in place of the usual pie dough. Serve with green salad and a big pitcher of iced tea.
Matt Duckor31/37Pickled Corn
With a little bit of jalapeño pepper, cilantro, onion, lime, and vinegar, this tangy quick pickle is an amazing use of sweet summer corn. Toss it into a salad, scoop it up with corn chips, fold it into corn dip, or put it on a grilled cheese sandwich.
Photo by Alex Lau32/37Corn Waffles With Strawberry Syrup
Grating corn on a box grater squeezes as much flavor as possible out of the cob, and makes the kernels practically melt into these sweet and savory waffles. Strawberries and corn are a classic summer match, but you can use another fruit if you prefer—blueberries, pitted cherries, and sliced plums would all work beautifully. No shame in using frozen fruit, either.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt33/37Grilled Clambake With Miso-Lime Butter
This festive summer recipe asks you to depart from the traditional clambake by grilling, rather than steaming, an irresistible assortment of seafood, including shell-on shrimp, littleneck clams, baby new potatoes, and fresh ears of corn. The gingery, citrusy miso butter adds richness and umami.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props by Meilen Ceramics36/37Corn & Chickpea Bowl With Miso-Jalapeño Tahini
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton37/373-Ingredient Elotes
Sometimes the best corn recipes are the ones with the fewest ingredients—and that's certainly the case with this easy rendition of elotes, or Mexican street corn, which you can make at home with the help of flavor-packed chipotle mayonnaise and crumbly Cotija cheese. (Want to add a fourth ingredient? Fine: Cut up a lime to squeeze over the finished product.)
