25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (2024)

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Fresh, sweet corn in all its glory.

By

Robin Shreeves

25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (1)

Robin Shreeves

Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Published July 09, 2023

25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (2)

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Growing up, eating seasonally wasn't something we talked about in our house or even made an attempt to do—except when it came to corn on the cob. Corn on the cob was to only be consumed when it was fresh and came from a nearby New Jersey farm stand. That was my father's rule.

For me, corn on the cob is one of the best treats of summer. I still slather the kernels in butter, shake on the salt, and dive in as happily as I did when I was a kid.

These 25 recipes for corn—some on the cob, some off—make the most use of the seasonal goodness. Fortunately, you don't have to make these recipes in summer only. If you freeze the corn on the cob or the kernels off the cob, you can enjoy corn all year round.

How to Freeze Corn on the CobREAD MORE:
  • Pan Seared Scallops with Sweet Corn and Chiles

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (4)

    This dish seems fancy, but it's simple to make. Sear scallops and place them on top of corn cooked with poblano, onion, corn milk, cream, water, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with lime juice and cilantro or parsley.

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  • Trinidadian Boiled Corn

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (5)

    Ready for your new favorite way to prepare corn? Simmer fresh corn on the cob in a broth of coconut milk, habanero peppers, garlic, and fresh herbs. Boil the broth for about 30 or 40 minutes until it's thick and coats the corn. In Trinidad, it's served in-between meals all on its own, but you can serve it as a side dish, too.

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  • Fresh Corn Pasta

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (6)

    The final result of this quick pasta belies its ease. Use a large tube pasta or shapes with some twists and turns so the pasta holds on to the sauce—made with shallot, garlic, dry white wine, heavy cream, and fresh Parm—and the corn kernels won't slide off the pasta.

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  • Ceviche With Avocado and Grilled Corn

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (7)

    "Cook" firm white fish such as halibut in lime juice for up to a half hour. While it's "cooking," prepare the corn and cut up the avocado so they're ready to mix with the fish when it's done—because this is a dish best served as fresh as possible.

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    Continue to 5 of 25 below.

  • Corn Chowder

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (8)

    Fresh corn gives this chowder its summery pop and cooking it with corn cobs infuses even more flavor into the milky broth filled with corn kernels, potatoes, bell pepper, onion, carrot, and celery. Bacon strips, or a little bacon fat, takes all that flavor up a notch.

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  • Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (9)

    Make your own version of Mexican street corn, one of the best corn on the cob preparations out there. Coat grilled corn with a sauce made of Mexican crema (or sour cream), mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, ground chipotle pepper, and lime. Sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese. Dig in, and make sure you have plenty of napkins.

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  • Foil Packs with Sausage, Corn, Zucchini, and Potatoes

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (10)

    Cooking in foil packets is the ideal way to create an easy-to-clean-up dinner on the grill or over the campfire. This version calls on sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes, squash, and bell pepper, along with seasonings, to steam together inside the packet for a tasty meal.

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  • Esquites (Warm Mexican Corn Salad)

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (11)

    Take the flavors of Mexican street corn turn them into a warm salad. Shave the kernels from the cob, cook the corn in butter with a few cobs thrown in to extract flavor, then stir in mayo, ground ancho chili, fresh lime juice, some queso fresco, and cilantro. Serve with crema, hot sauce, and other toppings so each person can personalize their esquites.

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    Continue to 9 of 25 below.

  • Corn Relish

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (12)

    What can you do with this sweet and savory corn relish that you can keep in the fridge for up to 6 weeks or hot water bath can it to preserve it for much longer? You can serve it on top of hot dogs, tacos, or pulled pork. Use it as a condiment on a cheese tray. Add to grilled cheese. The creative possibilities are many!

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  • Creamed Corn

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (13)

    Forget the canned stuff that's just a big bunch of mush. This creamed corned has fresh, crisp kernels cooked in a creamy sauce, and with the addition of extra cream and cheese, it becomes a casserole. It freezes really well, too, so it's a great way to save summer corn for the colder months.

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  • Corn and Ricotta Bruschetta

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (14)

    Top toasted bread and fluffy ricotta cheese with corn and onion cooked in butter. It calls for a sprinkling of mint, but you can substitute basil or cilantro if you'd prefer.

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  • Korean Corn Cheese

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (15)

    Mix corn, Parmesan, and mozzarella with a bit of mayo in this dish that's popular at Korean BBQ restaurants. A little gochugaru (Korean chili powder) gives it some kick. So simple to put together, this corny, cheesy creation makes for a fantastic side dish for any meal.

    Continue to 13 of 25 below.

  • Roasted Corn, Tomato, and Zucchini Tart

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (16)

    Puff pastry is so versatile. In the summer, it's the base for just about any cheese/seasonal veggie combo you can think of. In this version, roasted corn, tomato, and zucchini (a summer trifecta), top the pastry with crumbled goat cheese. Yum.

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  • Crab and Corn Chowder

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (17)

    What makes classic corn chowder even better? Crab! Fresh if you can get it, but frozen or quality canned works, too. This crab and corn chowder doesn't get too fishy because it uses chicken stock rather than fish stock to keep things savory and satisfying.

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  • Lobster and Grilled Corn Panzanella

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (18)

    Traditional panzanella with tomatoes gets a fancy upgrade with grilled corn, steamed lobster tails, and a vibrant tarragon vinaigrette. The end result is a summer salad that's a mash-up vibe of Tuscan vegetable garden and seafood shack.

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  • Guacamole with Charred Sweet Corn, Bacon and Tomato

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (19)

    Guacamole is always the first thing people dive into at a party, and this version will have them rushing to the snack table even faster. Use summer's freshest sweet corn (charred) and sun-ripened tomatoes and add irresistible bacon, and watch it disappear quickly.

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    Continue to 17 of 25 below.

  • Sweet Corn and Goat Cheese Quesadillas

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (20)

    Need a quick dinner that's bursting with flavor? Brown corn kernels, and add to them to a tortilla with zucchini, basil and goat cheese. It's summer's best flavors in a neatly folded package.

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  • Mexican Street Corn Nachos

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (21)

    Top tortilla chips with a creamy Monterey jack cheese sauce, toasted corn, crumbled cotija, chili powder, and cilantro. All the tantalizing flavors of Mexican street corn in nacho form. These are so good, you can make a meal out of them.

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  • Grilled Corn Salad

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (22)

    Need a side for your burgers, grilled chicken, grilled pork chops, or grilled portobello mushrooms? This is the one. Seasoned corn, bell peppers, red onion, and zucchini with olive oil and vinegar and a little feta or cotija cheese create a salad that says summer.

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  • Spicy Corn Fritters

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (23)

    A sweet chili dipping sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for seasoned, spicy corn fritters with plenty of green onion to complement the sweet corn. They're a great side dish, but they're so good that you may want to just eat piles of just them.

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    Continue to 21 of 25 below.

  • Grilled Corn on the Cob

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (24)

    Opinions about how to grill corn abound, but our opinion is that you don't have to pre-soak the corn before throwing corn on the cob on the grill. The corn will steam in the husks as the husks charr and give the corn a wonderful smoky flavor.

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  • Spicy Creamed Corn Linguine

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (25)

    This recipe is unexpected, but it's divine. Linguine with a rich cheddar cream sauce, fresh corn, and cherry tomatoes is an oh-my-gosh-where-has-this-been-all-my-life delight.

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  • Grilled Tomatillo and Corn Salsa

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (26)

    Char tomatillos and corn to make the best green salsa that comes together quickly after you've grilled the vegetables. Take the extra time. Your tacos will thank you.

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  • Caprese Corn Salad

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (27)

    When your garden or the farmers market is bursting with tomatoes and basil, grab some fresh corn to shake up classic Caprese. Use grilled, raw, or boiled corn, but grilled will add a dimension of smoky flavor that takes this up a notch.

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    Continue to 25 of 25 below.

  • How to Microwave Corn on the Cob

    25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (28)

    When you want to cook three or fewer ears of corn (right in their husks!), this is the fastest and easiest way. No boiling pot to steam up your kitchen!

    Get Recipe

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25 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes for Summer (2024)

FAQs

What do you do with fresh corn? ›

Fresh corn is an easy, versatile ingredient to toss into salads, stir-fries, pastas, dips, and so much more. From classics like succotash and Texas caviar to new ways to use fresh corn like our Mexican Street Corn Pizza, this collection of recipes has something for everyone.

What is the best cooking technique for corn? ›

Fill a large pot about 3/4 full of water and bring to a boil. Stir in sugar and lemon juice until sugar is dissolved. Gently place ears of corn into boiling water, cover the pot, turn off the heat, and let corn cook in the hot water until tender, about 10 minutes.

What to do with a bunch of corn on the cob? ›

This versatile veg can be barbecued, grilled or boiled before being coated in toppings like flavoured butter, herbs and spices.

Should you soak corn before cooking? ›

Soaking the corn husks in water has two important purposes. For starters, soaking the corn in water prevents the corn husks from burning or catching on fire. Secondly, the excess moisture helps steam the corn inside the husk and makes the corn kernels as juicy and plump as possible.

What can corn be made for? ›

Bakery products (biscuits, bread, crackers, fillings, icing, macaroons, pretzels, cookies, crackers, wafers, etc.) Beverages, brewed (beer, ale, etc.) Food acids (citric, etc.) Medicinal preparations & intravenous (injections, pills, tablets, drugs, etc.)

What are the 6 ways to cook corn? ›

Learn how to cook corn on the cob in 6 different ways! Microwaving, boiling, steaming, pressure cooking, oven roasting, and grilling are different methods to transform kernels into sweet and tender bites.

What enhances the flavor of corn? ›

5 Ways to Dress Up Corn on the Cob
  • Sweet and spicy. Blend butter with honey and cayenne and spread it on the corn before grilling it (with the husks pulled back on) until it's tender. ...
  • Parmesan butter. ...
  • Seasoning salts. ...
  • Roasted garlic. ...
  • Mayonnaise.
Jun 28, 2022

How do you make old corn taste better? ›

You can do this one of two ways: grill over high heat for 2-4 minutes per side until husks are charred; or roast in a 500° oven for 35-40 minutes, turning once. In either case, don't remove the husks—they contain flavor, as well as moisture that protects the corn inside from drying out.

Why do you put milk in water when boiling corn? ›

Boiling corn on the cob brings out its natural sweetness. But if you want an even juicier and sweeter crisp-tender bite, swap out some of the water for milk. The milk enhances the flavor and texture. It also infuses the corn on the cob with milk and butter, resulting in salty, buttery kernels.

What are the different ways to cook corn on the cob? ›

From boiled to grilled to bacon-wrapped, there are many ways to prepare corn on the cob this summer. Jazz up fresh sweet corn with these recipes for herb rubs, flavored butters, seafood boils and more.

What flavors go well with corn? ›

Basil, burrata, cheddar cheese, chives, coriander, dill, feta, goats cheese, mint, oregano, parmesan cheese, parsley, sage, tarragon, thyme.

How to jazz up corn on the cob? ›

Mix 1 stick softened butter with 2 teaspoons each toasted sesame seeds and chopped fresh cilantro. Spread on corn and sprinkle with more sesame seeds and kosher salt. Mix 1 stick softened butter with 2 to 3 tablespoons of minced fresh tarragon and the zest of 1 large lime. Spread on hot, cooked corn.

What to do with corn after harvest? ›

The corn will be sent to a feed mill where it will be ground into a fine powder. It's then mixed with other ingredients to create a nutrition-dense feed for cattle, pigs, chickens and other farm animals. Some ranchers prefer to keep the kernels, giving them directly to cattle in a feed ration.

How do you eat fresh corn? ›

My takeaway: Boiling corn in salted water is an easy way to make delicious, perfectly seasoned corn without a ton of effort. It cooks quickly, requires no special tools or equipment, and tastes delicious. It's the perfect example that sometimes the simplest cooking methods are the best.

How long will fresh corn last in the refrigerator? ›

For best flavor, use corn within two days. Keep husked corn refrigerated, in plastic bags, and use within two days. If you don't plan on eating your corn within two days of purchase, you can freeze it.

Does fresh corn need to be cooked? ›

Most people prefer to eat corn after cooking it, often with butter, oils, and seasonings. It is also safe to eat corn raw. Many people find that young, tender corn tastes best when raw. The kernels can add texture to salads, soups, and casseroles.

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