If there’s one thing that reminds me of summer, it’s corn. It doesn’t matter whether it’s grilled, on the cob or in a salad; every meal tastes a little more like summer when you add corn. To add some sweetness to your summer meal rotation, I’m going to share my favorite corn recipes.
17 Most Popular Corn Recipes to Make for Summer
1. Mexican Street Corn Salad
I love this salad because it’s the perfect mix of smoky, tangy, spicy and creamy. While this recipe calls for jalapeno, you can omit it if you want a milder version. Otherwise, all you need is some red onion, garlic, mayo, cotija cheese (or feta if you can’t find it), lime juice and a few spices. Easy, delicious and a cold side dish that’s ideal for warm summer nights.
2. Summer Corn and Zucchini Chowder
Who doesn’t love a good chowder in the summer? This corn chowder recipe adds zucchini, bacon, potatoes and other delicious veggies to make it both filling and a little healthier than other hearty chowders.
This recipe calls for half and half or whole milk, but you can easily use almond milk or oat milk (make sure it’s unflavored). The best part? It cooks in less than 20 minutes, so you won’t have to heat up the kitchen to enjoy it.
3. Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl
Here’s a quick and easy summer meal that’s great for a busy weeknight. Marinated chicken is the perfect addition to this creamy, sweet corn salad, which has feta cheese, fresh cilantro, lime juice, mayo, spices and cojita cheese. I like to serve this dish with rice or add black beans into the mix.
Related: 20 Refreshing Summer Salads to Make for a Crowd
4. Crack Corn Salad
Some corn recipes are addicting, and this is one of them. It’s the perfect side dish to serve at a BBQ. If you’re not a fan of bacon, you can omit it. Grilled mushrooms would be a great substitute.
Along with sweet corn, you’ll need fresh green onions, jalapeno, cheddar cheese, lime, ranch salad dressing, and spices. There’s even a recipe for making your own ranch dressing, which I highly recommend.
5. Easy Blackened Corn
Blackened corn has a delicious grilled and smoky flavor, which makes it the perfect pair for any grilled meal – burgers, hot dogs, ribs – you name it. But instead of grilling your corn, you’ll cook it in a cast iron skillet. I recommend serving your blackened corn with lime wedges for a fresh flavor.
6. Crunchy Corn Salad
Here’s a fresh take on a classic corn salad. This recipe adds crushed Doritos to the top for a little extra crunch. If you’re not a fan of Doritos, any type of corn chip will do, or try your hand at making your own. You’ll also need mayo, spices, cheese, peppers, cilantro, tomatoes and fresh lime juice.
Here’s a great tutorial on how to make corn chips at home.
7. Chili-Lime Corn Salad
I love this salad because it’s hearty enough to be an entire meal on its own. And it’s loaded with fresh flavor. Along with sweet corn, you’ll need tomatoes, diced red onion, black beans, avocado, cilantro and cheese. If you can’t find cojita cheese, try using feta instead. I recommend grilling your corn on the cob instead of buying frozen corn.
8. Cheesy Corn Fritters
Looking for a corn recipe that isn’t a salad or another variation of street corn? You’ll love this one. It’s cheesy, crispy and delicious.
You’ll need fresh corn, cornmeal, flour, eggs, paprika, green onion, Parmesan cheese, lime juice and cilantro. Mix your ingredients, form corn patties and fry them up in a cast iron skillet.
9. Creamed Corn
One of my favorite corn recipes is creamed corn, and it’s easier than you think to make at home. You’ll need frozen corn, whole milk, flour, heavy whipping cream, sugar, butter, Parmesan cheese and fresh spices. The milk and flour create a thick and rich sauce that gives this dish its creaminess. It’s a great side dish for a BBQ.
Related: 20 Easy High Protein Salads for Meal Prep
10. Corn and Zucchini Fritters
Here’s another excellent recipe for corn fritters, but this one adds zucchini into the mix. You’ll need some unique ingredients for this, including Masa Harina flour. But the addition of poblano pepper and the chipotle cream sauce make these fritters the ultimate summer food.
These fritters are served on their own, but you can easily turn them into a mini burger or even serve them with a salad on the side.
11. Blistered Shishito and Corn Salad
Looking for unique corn recipes? Here’s a great one to try. Shishito peppers are delicious, and they pair well with the corn salad in this recipe.
If you can’t find shishito peppers, try poblano or even bell peppers.
You’ll also need shallots, cilantro, rice vinegar, cumin, corn and a few other simple ingredients.
To blister the peppers, just add them to a hot cast iron skillet and let them cook undisturbed for a few minutes before turning them over. The skin should be blistered.
12. Sweet Corn Salad with Peaches
Peaches may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of corn salad, but it’s the perfect addition. It adds some extra sweetness to complement the spiciness of the jalapeno.
The ingredients for this salad are so simple, which makes it great for a hot summer evening. Along with the peaches, corn and jalapeno, you’ll need fresh cilantro, lime juice, red onion, honey, salt and pepper. Toss the ingredients together, and you have the ultimate summer salad.
13. Pasta Salad with Street Corn, Pesto and Goat Cheese
In just 45 minutes, this street corn pasta salad will overrun your senses with fresh flavors and a filling dish. You’ll need to grill two corns on the cob that you drizzle with olive oil (avocado works, too), chili powder and cumin.
For the pasta, you can use any that you wish, but bowtie works best and is great at holding the flavors together. If you want to reduce some of the carbs and calories, I recommend trying brown rice pasta.
On top of these ingredients, you’ll also need:
- Cilantro
- Garlic cloves
- Limes
- Red bell peppers
- Red onions
- Goat cheese crumbles
- Cashews
Street corn pasta takes 15 minutes to prep before cooking, but it’s a filling dish that you’re sure to love.
Related: Raw Cauliflower Salad Recipe
14. Blueberry Corn Feta Salad
I wasn’t 100% sure that I would appreciate the flavors that this salad has to offer, but I was wrong. You’re in for a real treat with the taste of real blueberries, feta, basil and summer corn.
And ready for the best part?
It takes all of 20 minutes to make this salad, which serves four people. A few of the ingredients that you’ll need in addition to the ones mentioned are green onions, jalapenos, honey, lime juice, chili powder and olive oil.
Jalapenos, chili powder and honey on top of feta give this salad an array of flavors that will shock your taste buds.
15. Summer Corn + Green Beans with Herb Butter
Corn recipes don’t get much easier than this delightful option, which uses sweet corn, green beans and a delightful herb butter sauce on top of it all. I recommend trying to source the corn and green beans fresh because they taste so much better than from the store.
Local farmer’s markets are a good option for fresh produce, but you may not have many options in your area.
Fresh just tastes so much better, in my opinion. With that said, you only need to have:
- Fresh corn on the cob
- Fresh herbs
- Green beans
- Butter
All you need is a sauté pan to cook everything, tongs, a strainer and a large pot.
16. Edamame, Corn and Farro Salad
Salads are perfect for a warm summer meal. You can still enjoy the tastes of summer, including delightful corn, and you can prep this recipe ahead of time if you want.
What will you need?
Quite a bit of ingredients, including frozen shelled edamame, frozen corn, craisins, pecan pieces and a few others, including agave nectar or honey, which provide an exceptional taste.
And the only real cooking that will take place is making your farro, which will require you to simmer the farro for up to 20 minutes in a medium saucepan.
17. Seasoned Corn Ribs
Garlic corn cobs with spices and butter slathered on top are a delightful treat for any barbeque this summer. You’ll do something I’ve never done before – cut the corn long way into pieces.
And this is the hardest part because adding the butter, garlic, paprika, onion and parsley before putting them on the grill is the easy part.
For the cutting, I recommend that you use a sharp knife and a non-slip cutting board. I won’t even try to walk you through this delicate process, as the author of the recipe does an amazing job explaining what you need to do to avoid cutting yourself.
