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Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated Aug 16, 2023
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Summer brings with it so many fruits and vegetables that are hard to get enough of. But of all of them, I think it’s safe to say corn is always the one that steals the show. Those sweet, tender-yet-crisp kernels are all too easy to love. And since fresh corn is only in season for a couple months a year, we want to get our fill every chance we get.
Picking the perfect ears might seem tricky since you can’t see inside, but when you know what to look for it’s actually quite easy. And there’s no shucking necessary. When sticky black or dark brown tassels; it’s a sign that the the cob is past its prime. The real secret to picking the best corn: look for ears that are firm and heavy for their size, and avoid corn with sticky black or dark brown tassels; it’s a sign that the the cob is past its prime.
As for getting it on the table, well, there are a lot of methods for cooking corn on the cob. And we even found the best way to remove corn silks. And when sweet summer corn is truly in its prime, you don’t even have to cook it. Just cut the kernels from the cob and dig in. From classic corn on the cob to crowd-friendly side dishes to super-seasonal mains to sweet corn desserts, here are 53 fresh corn recipes to get excited about.
Corn on the Cob
You can’t talk about summer corn without talking about corn on the cob that’s cooked simply, slicked with butter, and sprinkled with salt. It’s arguably the most enjoyable way to eat the good stuff. (Although it’s always nice to have a little fun with the classic, too.)
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Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Cooking corn in the air fryer results in the most tender-crisp kernel with some lightly charred edges in every sweet bite.
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Grilled Corn on the Cob
Of all the ways to cook corn on the cob, there's nothing better than grilled corn. This simple, foolproof method that leaves you with juicy, smoky cobs you can happily serve with whatever you're cooking up for dinner.
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Buttery Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
This method for making corn on the cob in the Instant Pot cooks 8 cobs in under 20 minutes. Plus there's a tip for melting butter in the same pot!
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Boiled Corn on the Cob
This recipe is proof that sometimes the old-fashioned way can be the best way to do things.
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Corn on the Cob in the Microwave
Want to quickly cook a couple ears of corn on the cob in just a few minutes? Do it in the microwave.
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Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
The most important elote tip is to let the cooked corn cool before rolling it in the crema mixture - it will stick a whole lot better. Thank us later.
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Bacon and Basil Wrapped Corn
This recipe is a summer standout. As the corn cooks, the smoky flavor of bacon wraps itself around all the sweet kernels. A match made in heaven.
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Grilled Corn with Vietnamese Scallion Oil
Be warned, this is no ordinary grilled corn. It includes a sweet, umami-rich oil made with scallions, sugar, and fish sauce that bathes the grilled corn for an out of this world summer side dish.
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Oven-Roasted Parmesan Corn on the Cob
This easy Italian-inspired corn is buttery, garlicky, and extra cheesy.
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Dips, Salsas, and Snacks
Strip the corn from its cob and you have endless possibilities. The sweet kernels can be fried up into snack-able fritters, baked into a creamy casserole, or simply tossed with other summer vegetables for a fresh and super-seasonal salad.
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Avocado-Corn Salad
Fresh sweet corn, creamy avocado, and juicy tomatoes shine in this flavorful summer side dish.
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Corn, Cheese, and Potato Croquettes
Super cheesy corn and potato croquettes.
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Korean Corn Cheese Dip
This cheesy, flavor-packed dip comes together in less than 30 minutes.
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There's never been a better time to keep tortilla chips in the pantry. Tossed with black beans, lime juice, spicy chipotles, fresh cilantro, fresh summer corn is transformed into a bold, full-flavored salsa you’ll want to eat with everything.
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Charred Corn Salsa
Want to take your corn salsa up a notch this summer? Give is a quick char on the grill before mixing it together.
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Crispy Corn Fritters
Corn fritters are essentially a quick corn cake batter studded with fresh corn, jalapeños, and chives that’s gently fried in a slick of oil.
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Smoky Corn and Jalapeño Dip
If you like jalapeño poppers, this creamy corn dip will be right up your alley.
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Hot Corn Casserole
Fresh summer corn is cooked into an irresistible creamy casserole that plays the role of dip, side dish, or condiment.
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Cowboy Caviar
This upgraded bean salsa goes by many names, but it's a fresh and flavor-packed addition to everything from scrambled eggs to a tailgating spread.
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Smoky Corn and Shrimp Fritters
Sweet summer corn and shrimp are perfect partners. These smoky fritters are great as a snack or light dinner served with a salad and some bread.
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Salad and Sides
When you find yourself with sweet summer corn that’s perfectly crisp and tender, it hardly needs to be cooked; the time is right for a bright and fresh corn salad. For a side the whole table will adore, butter bath corn is always a delight. If you happen to hit the point of corn overload (and even if you don’t!), a tomato corn cake is just the thing to cook up.
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Elote Fritters
If you can't get enough of Mexican street corn, we combined all the flavors in one sweet, salty, and crispy fritter.
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Corn Pone
Serve these old-fashioned cornmeal cakes with butter and jam or braised greens.
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Cheesy Corn Garlic Bread
This elevated garlic bread has a lot going on for it: a soaking of butter, a cloaking of melted mozzarella, a generous pile of yellow corn, and a showering of chives and parsely.
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Fresh-Corn Polenta with Butter and Herbs
This summery side dish can be served alongside anything you’d eat with polenta, but it’s also lighter than its cornmeal-based counterpart so it works well seafood as well.
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Carbonara-Inspired Corn Skillet
Fresh corn mingles with salty pancetta, Pecorino cheese, black pepper, runny eggs, and fresh basil in this late-summer skillet.
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Corn Salad
Simply put, this salad tastes like summer. It's mixed with fresh corn, juicy tomatoes, sweet basil, and salty feta for a simple, refreshing summer salad.
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Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado
This classic black bean salad is packed with bright, refreshing flavors like corn, tomatoes, and cilantro, and has a kick from fresh garlic, jalapeño, and red onion.
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Esquites (Mexican Corn Salad)
Sweet, charred corn is partnered with a short list of ingredients for a salad that's just the right balance of smoky, spicy, tangy.
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Curried Corn and Coconut Rice
The coconut rice and curried corn in this recipe could very well be eaten separately, but the combination of the two is a force to be reckoned with.
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Hot Honey Butter Bath Corn
Butter bath corn is taken to whole new heights with the addition of sweet honey and fiery red pepper flakes.
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Upside-Down Tomato Corn Cake
When you’ve reached the point of salad fatigue and are looking for a way to make the most of sweet summer corn and juicy red tomatoes, look no further than this savory cake.
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Fresh and Simple Corn Casserole
A mountain of fresh corn kernels take center stage, barely bound with a splash of dairy and sprinkled with salty wisps of Parmesan and sweet basil.
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Corn and Tomato Salad with Torn Croutons
This is a perfect hot-summer midweek meal, for which so little effort is required for such delicious reward.
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Corn and Avocado Pasta Salad with Cilantro and Lime
Every forkful of this colorful pasta salad is packed with fresh corn, creamy avocado, and plenty of cilantro and lime.
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Summer Dinners That Start with Corn
Since corn is really at its best for just a couple of months out of the year, it’s worth showing it off in the main course. It can add surprising crunch and sweetness to pizza, make an impossibly delicious sauce for pasta, and be slow-cooked into a creamy summer soup.
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One-Pot Corn Pasta
This quick and easy pasta dinner is packed with corn, basil, and scallions, and tossed with a light and creamy no-cook sauce made with pasta water, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese.
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5-Ingredient Creamy Corn Bucatini with Burrata
This pasta sings warm weather sweetness: It’s got juicy, milky corn; creamy, luscious burrata; and edgy, grassy chives to bring it all into focus.
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Creamy Corn and Basil Orzotto
This riff on risotto may not be traditional, but it is creamy, cheesy, and flecked with summer sweetness in the form of corn kernels and chopped basil. Plus it hits the table in under 30 minutes.
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Zucchini squash melted down into a creamy, pale green-hued sauce to toss with pasta and lots of fresh corn. Meet your go-to summer pasta.
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Black Bean Tostadas with Coconut-Corn Salsa
Crunchy corn tortillas are topped with refried black beans and a tropical corn salsa for a fun and easy vegetarian dinner.
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Creamy Ricotta Corn and Tomato Baked Ziti
With a blender ricotta sauce, tomatoes, and corn, this is the freshest casserole you'll taste all summer.
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Sweet Corn Risotto
For maximum corn flavor, simmer the stripped corn cobs in the stock so the final dish is infused with the intense flavor of sweet, fresh corn.
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Creamy Corn and Chives Fettuccine
Inspired by creamed corn, this creamy vegetarian pasta dinner is tossed with sweet corn, mascarpone, and chives.
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Cherry Tomato, Corn, and Goat Cheese Pizza
Corn isn't a traditional pizza topping, but when summer's in full swing this lightened up pie is irresistible.
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Creamy Corn Mac and Cheese
A mix of basil and corn turn mac and cheese into a summer mainstay.
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Fresh Corn Galette with Zucchini, Thyme, and Goat Cheese
This savory summer hardly hardly needs help in the flavor department, but spread a layer of Dijon mustard over the pie crust before adding the topping, anyway. It adds such a great and unexpected kick, and prevents the crust from getting soggy.
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This is how we'll be eating any and all forms on gnocchi this summer. Who's with us?!
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Peppery parsley, toasted pine nuts, sharp pecorino and velvety olive oil are blended into a creamy, cheesy pesto that's just the right compliment to sweet summer corn.
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Slow Cooker Corn Chowder
Instead of relying on bacon to get a smoky flavor in this soup, you'll swap in a bag of fire-roasted or grilled frozen corn, or season with a pinch of smoked salt.
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Southern-Style Grits with Okra, Corn, and Goat Cheese
A mix of okra, summer corn, and tangy goat cheese give your bowl of grits a fresh, summery topping.
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Thai-Style Corn Chowder
This summer soup has all the components of your usual corn chowder, but adds a tantalizing twist with lemongrass, chili peppers, and coconut milk.
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Summer Corn Chowder
This corn chowder recipe doubles down on sweet corn flavor with its homemade corn stock and juicy corn kernels throughout.
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Corn Desserts
It may be a stretch from the savory applications you know, but these desserts harness the sweetness of fresh summer corn and will be easy to love.
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Corn Ice Cream with Berry Crumble Swirl
Fresh, sweet corn is also a fun ingredient to play around in summer desserts, like this corn ice cream with a tangy berry swirl and flecks of shortbread chunks.
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Chè Bắp (Vietnamese Sweet Corn Pudding)
Hailing from Vietnamese culinary traditions, this pudding marries juicy corn with the chewy texture of tapioca pearls and creamy coconut milk.
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Fresh Corn Waffles with Summer Berry Compote
These sweet corn-speckled waffles are cooked until brown and topped with a blend of summer berries.
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