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.
