Our 20 Favorite Corn Recipes, From Sides and Soups to Salads and More

All the best ways to savor fresh, sweet, juicy corn.

Mexican Seafood Salad — Credit:
Sidney Bensimon

Fresh corn is something we wait all year for, just like local tomatoes. There’s nothing like corn on the cob, slathered in butter, but don’t stop there; explore the many possibilities of corn, from creamy chowder to crunchy salads. Of course, we’ve included the classics, like corn fritters, creamed corn, and perhaps the most decadent of all, elote. If your crisper drawer always has an ear or four during the summer, you need these recipes to explore all the sweet, crunchy, juicy flavors of corn.

01 of 20

Summer Corn Chowder

Summer Corn Chowder — Jacob Fox

Martha's corn chowder is hearty, creamy, and packed with bright, sweet corn flavor. It calls for five cups of corn kernels and an easy corn stock made from the cobs. Fingerling potatoes add heft and body to the chowder, while half-and-half or heavy cream infuses every bite with creamy richness.

02 of 20

Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad

Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad — John Kernick

Our go-to pasta salad with corn is this recipe starring the small rice-sized pasta orzo, along with zucchini, basil, and feta.

03 of 20

Elote Recipe (Mexican Street Corn)

Mexican Corn — David E. Steele

Few can resist the allure of elote. The combination of mayonnaise, queso fresco, and cayenne pepper takes sweet, crunchy corn on the cob to new heights.

04 of 20

Corn Fritters

corn fritters with honey

Are they a snack, appetizer, or side? We're not sure, but we love Martha's corn fritters. The savory bites have just the right ratio of crunchy exterior to soft interior.

05 of 20

Corn Salad

Simple and delicious, this raw corn salad comes together quickly, is packed with colorful tomatoes, basil, and scallion and tossed in a lime juice-olive oil dressing, and can be made up to a day ahead. It's perfect for summer entertaining or any night dinner.

06 of 20

Orecchiette with Sausage, Corn, and Chiles

msl-food-entertaining-whats-for-dinner-noodles-orecchiette-md110135.jpg

This 20-minute pasta dish might not be a combination you thought of before, but it's one you should try. Orecchiette ("little ears" in Italian) pasta is the perfect shape to capture bits of corn, sweet Italian sausage, and chile in every bite.

07 of 20

Classic Creamed Corn

Creamed Corn

This nostalgic dish is the ultimate summer comfort food—it uses just a few ingredients and is so easy to make at home.

08 of 20

Seasoned Roasted-Corn Salad Cups

linda xaio

Our corn salad cups are a fresh take on esquites, the Mexican street corn salad. In our version, corn is charred, then the kernels are cut off and combined with jicama, chiles, cilantro, oil, cheese, and lime juice. Stir in sour cream to temper the heat and enjoy!

09 of 20

Creamy Corn-and-Onion Dip

creamy corn-and-onion dip served with radishes — Kate Sears

Sweet corn and caramelized onions mingle in this summery dip that always goes fast at parties.

10 of 20

Salmon-and-Corn Chowder

salmon-and-corn chowder — Armando Rafael

Late-summer corn adds just the right amount of sweetness to this creamy salmon chowder. Serve it with oyster crackers or larger Vermont common crackers.

11 of 20

Mexican-Style Seafood Salad

Mexican Seafood Salad — Sidney Bensimon

This colorful dinner salad is packed with shrimp and red snapper, and there's a summery mix of corn, tomatoes, and lime over tender lettuce leaves.

12 of 20

Pressure-Cooker Corn Risotto

corn risotto with basil and tomato — Marcus Nilsson

This super summery risotto can be made in an Instant Pot or a pressure cooker. In addition to corn, two other peak-summer ingredients, basil and cherry tomatoes, are stirred in right before serving.

13 of 20

Martha's Corn on the Cob

Four ears of corn on a plate topped with butter and ground pepper with a butter dish in the background — Kelsey Hansen

Of course, Martha's easy recipe makes perfect corn on the cob every time. It's an absolute classic and sure to be your go-to side all summer.

14 of 20

Tomato, Corn, and Avocado Salad

This bright, colorful salad tastes as good as it looks. Plus, it takes mere minutes to pull together.

15 of 20

Chilled Corn Soup With Corn Custard

corn soup with corn custard — Pamu LLC

A very Martha recipe, this creamy-but-creamless chilled corn soup is sublime, but when you add the five-ingredient savory corn custard to each bowl, it becomes next-level elegant.

16 of 20

Corn With Butter and Chives

buttered corn

Sometimes, simple is best. Rather than charring corn on the grill, this recipe calls for wrapping the cobs in foil packets and cooking them on the grill. This seals in moisture for tasty, tender, and juicy corn—and you won't need to wash a single dish.

17 of 20

Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing

Corn-and-Avocado Salad With Goddess Dressing — Petrina Tinslay

A creamy, dreamy take on corn salad, this easy-to-put-together option combines finely diced avocado in the mayo-sour cream dressing. In addition to corn kernels, there are thinly sliced radishes, romaine hearts, scallions, and bacon—it's a very tasty combo.

18 of 20

Corn Soup With Tomato-Bacon Toasts

Corn soup with tomato-bacon toasts — Armando Rafael

Our summery spin on the classic grilled cheese-and-soup combo should not be missed! Ripe tomatoes and crisp bacon amp up the open-face sandwich, and fresh sweet corn shines in the chilled soup.

19 of 20

One-Pot Shrimp Boil With Corn and Potatoes

one-pot shrimp boil recipe with corn, potatoes, and shrimp on a platter — decorvow

Our easy take on the New Orleans shrimp boil is a hearty meal that's full of flavor and fun to eat. Corn, potatoes, and plenty of your favorite crustaceans are cooked in a broth flavored with spices.

20 of 20

Creamy Corn and Spinach Pasta

Creamy Corn-and-Spinach Pasta — Johnny Miller

We love a one-pan pasta, especially when it's built around quick-cooking produce like corn and spinach. Everything cooks in one skillet, and a fresh, creamy pasta dinner is on the table in 35 minutes.

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