When you want to make canned corn taste better, look no farther than your pantry or refrigerator. You probably have everything you need to take a can of corn to new heights of flavor without heading off to the grocery store.

If you like fresh corn, don’t assume that you can’t achieve the same delicious flavor and corn taste from the canned version. It might be a tad different, but it can be just as tasty if you know a few tricks.

Whether you use canned corn, frozen corn, or fresh corn, you might want to try some of these recipes. They’re all delightfully packed with flavor that will have you wanting to make them over and over.

There are so many different ways you can enjoy canned corn. I like it as a side dish on its own as well as an ingredient in one of my many favorite dishes.

One delicious way to prepare canned corn is to make this amazing corn casserole. I add cream cheese and green chiles for extra flavor. However, if you don’t want the chiles, you can leave them out.

Delicious Side Dish of Corn

The key is to add some seasonings to the can of sweet corn. There are so many different ways to prepare canned corn, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

You can buy corn from national brands or generic corn. I typically get whatever is the best price, especially if I plan to add something to it because I know that I can make it so much better.

Whether you’re cooking for two people, a family, or a large crowd, adjust the measurements so everyone can have some. You can double the recipe all the way down the line for any of these dishes.

Easy Canned Corn Recipe

When you want the corn to be the star of the dish, consider this very easy and yummy but easy fried corn recipe. If you know how to use a can opener, you can create a side dish everyone will rave about.

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• 8.5 ounce can of sweet corn, drained
• A little bit of butter 
• Salt and black pepper to taste

How to Prepare the corn:

Melt the butter in a hot skillet.

After the butter melts, add the drained corn.

Allow the corn to start to sizzle. Then stir it so all sides of the corn are coated in butter.

Add the salt and black pepper. I use Himalayan salt that’s pink from the minerals it contains.

Allow the corn to develop small golden brown edges. Serve hot.

The total cooking time is only about 15 minutes.

Note: If you prefer to use a tablespoon of olive oil in place of one of the tablespoons of butter, that’s good too!

If you need to keep this warm on the stove top, cover the skillet and turn the burner on low heat for up to 15 minutes.

This easy recipe is a great way to add something extra to any delicious meal. 

Or you can heat the corn and butter it at the table. Many people prefer to do it this way because it’s like buttering corn on the cob as you eat it.

More Spices to Make Canned Corn Taste Better

There are so many different things you can add to canned corn to improve the taste. The best way to find out what you and your family like best is to experiment.

That’s typically how I discover new recipes. I start thinking about what might work together, and a recipe forms in my mind. 

Then I go to the kitchen and start creating. I feel like a mad scientist sometimes, but that’s okay. My husband seems to enjoy tasting new foods as much as I enjoy making them.

Here are some great items you can add to canned corn:

• Dried or fresh thyme
• Chili powder
• Other canned veggies
• Green chilies
• Brown butter
• Sugar
• Ground cayenne pepper
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Cream cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Chicken broth
• Beef broth
• Everything bagel seasoning

The good news is that so many different foods and spices go with canned corn. If you want more of a Tex Mex flavor, add a little cilantro. Or for a more Italian flair, sprinkle in some basil as it heats up.

For a sweet-and-savory combination, drizzle a little honey over it and then sprinkle on some parmesan cheese. The good news is that there are so many different flavors you can add to corn to take it to next-level goodness!

The bad news is that you’ll find so many you like that it will be hard to decide which ones are your favorites. So you just might have to stock up on canned corn and try them all.

My suggestion is to add one or two things at a time. Otherwise, you may wind up with a dish that’s overwhelming.

Even More Tips to Improve the Taste of Canned Corn

As if that’s not enough, I have even more ideas to make canned corn taste amazing. Here are a few of them:

• Roast the corn. You can do this either in your oven or air fryer. Pour it into a single layer on a baking sheet, salt and pepper it, and roast at 400˚ for about 10-15 minutes, or until the edges of the corn turn golden brown.
• Grill it. This might sound impossible because the kernels will fall through the grates. But that won’t happen if you put it in a wire mesh basket first.
• Add more veggies and toss it in Italian dressing and a few dashes of parmesan cheese. I’ve done this with canned green beans, halved cherry tomatoes, and corn. It’s not only tasty, but it’s also colorful and adds a festive look to any meal!

Recipes with Corn

There are so many different ways to prepare canned corn that you’ll never run out of ideas. Here are a few corn based dishes that we like around our house.

Tomato Cucumber Corn Salad

Corn is one of the many ingredients in this delicious tomato cucumber corn salad. All of them come together to create a delicious, satisfying, and nutritious dish that you can serve your family.

I love the fact that this salad looks very pretty on the table. And after the first bite, you’ll see the looks of appreciation on everyone’s face.

This has turned out to be one of my favorite corn side dishes.

Tex Mex Salad

This flavor-packed festive Tex Mex salad is another favorite. Corn is a natural ingredient that goes well with a lot of Tex Mex recipes, and I don’t hesitate to use it.

I serve this yummy salad with a side of tortilla chips that are also made from corn. In other words, this can be a very corny meal, and that’s just fine with me.

Homemade Creamed Corn

My friend Julie has this delicious homemade creamed corn recipe on her Back to My Southern Roots Blog. She’s a great cook, and she can make anything taste like a million bucks.

I like the fact that heavy cream is one of her ingredients because I know it will taste rich and wonderful. 

Check it out, and you’ll know what I mean. This is a creamy comfort food that you’ll want often.

Mexican Street Corn

I’ve always been one who added spice to everything, so this is one of my favorite ways to eat corn. It starts with either canned corn or cooked corn kernels scraped off the cob.

Put it in a saucepan with your favorite Mexican spices and lots of butter, lime juice, and sour cream. 

The seasonings I use are cilantro, chili powder, and of course, ground cayenne. If you want to add salt and pepper, go for it. This is your corn, so make it to suit your taste.

You can also add all colors of bell pepper, sliced jalapeño peppers, red onion, black beans, or pinto beans to your corn dish.

If you make this for a variety of people, take note of personal taste and tolerance for spice. An all-adult crowd might appreciate lots of heat. However, if there are children, either tone down the spices or at least give them a warning.

Corn Pudding

Here’s another delicious corn recipe from Back to My Southern Roots. Julie starts with a box of Jiffy cornbread mix to make her yummy corn pudding.

The rest of the ingredients are probably things you’ll find in your pantry and refrigerator. While you’re looking at her site, check out all of the other wonderful things she does with Jiffy mix.

It’s sort of like my Jiffy corn casserole recipe. In fact, you can even call it that if you want. It’s still just as good and makes any meal special. Serve it for birthdays, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas, Easter, and any other kind of celebration.

Experiment with Ways to Make Canned Corn Taste Better

If you’re not sure what your family will eat, make small quantities of each and make a game out of rating the different ways. You can do this before the meal or at the dinner table.

There are so many seasoning possibilities that you may want to try. Also, don’t be afraid to combine different add-ons. And then don’t be surprised when someone says it’s the best corn they’ve ever eaten.

More Delicious Side Dishes

I love serving a variety of side dishes at dinner parties or whenever I have a large group of people.

Here are some sides that have been big hits:

Butternut Squash – When you cook butternut squash in an air fryer, you’ll get a sweet but nutty flavor that enhances any meal.

Classic Baked Mac and Cheese Casserole – The ultimate comfort food for adults and children, macaroni is always popular as a side dish … or even as a main dish.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts – There’s something about roasting Brussels sprouts that makes them taste better than any other way I cook them.

Garlic Zucchini Parmesan – Even people who say they don’t care for vegetables will ask for seconds of this yummy side dish.

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