Perfect Creamed Corn Recipe - Downshiftology (2024)

Home Recipes Courses Side Dish Creamed Corn

by Lisa Bryan

36 Comments

Nov 07, 2023

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Creamed corn is a classic Thanksgiving side dish and easy to make with a frozen bag of sweet corn. But it’s also great as a summer BBQ side when fresh corn is in season. Just simmer the corn in a rich and creamy sauce, then season with the right amount of herbs and spices. It’s quick to make and as delicious as can be!

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Creamed corn is a classic undisputed side dish. And it’s one of my personal favorites for Thanksgiving or Christmas, alongside these creamy mashed potatoes or candied yams. It’s sweet and creamy bite always reminds me of simple comfort food at home.

Store-bought and canned versions of creamed corn tend to be a bit bland and watered down, but this simple homemade version with sweet corn is buttery, rich, and slightly chunky. Just as it should be!

Then, when summer BBQ season hits, you can make this recipe with fresh in-season corn for a smashing BBQ side dish! It’s right up there next to grilled corn on the cob or a fresh corn salad as a family favorite corn recipe.

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Creamed Corn Ingredients

  • Fresh or frozen corn: For Thanksgiving or Christmas, I always opt for bags of frozen sweet corn. But in the summer you can use fresh corn on the cob.
  • A thick and creamy base: A mixture of whole milk, heavy cream, unsalted butter, and some flour is the prime combination for the creamiest texture. Gluten-free flours work as well! If you’re looking for substitutions, I’ve got ideas in the recipe card notes.
  • These add extra flavor: Sautéed shallot, cayenne pepper, and dried thyme give this a subtle yet delicious flavor boost. For more flavor variations, head to the flavor section in this post.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Make Creamed Corn

Dissolve the flour. Whisk the flour and milk together in a small bowl, then set aside.

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Saute the shallot. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Saute the shallot in the melted butter for one minute, until softened.

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Mix it together. Add the corn, cream, and thyme to the skillet. Stir for 4 to 5 minutes, until the corn has plumped up. Then add the milk mixture and stir for another 3 to 4 minute, until the sauce has slightly thickened.

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Blend some corn. Take 1 to 2 cups of the creamed corn and blend it in a blender or food processor, until smooth. Alternatively, you could use a stick blender and spot blend a few times. This not only thickens the creamed corn, but also enhances the corn flavor while making the sauce a vibrant yellow!

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Season and serve. Add the blended corn back to the skillet and stir together. Season the creamed corn with cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. If you’d like it extra creamy, stir in some freshly grated parmesan! Then serve it up warm. You could even add chopped parsley or green onion on top for a pop of fresh green!

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Flavor Variations

  • Bacon & Cheese: Cook bacon bits first, then and add diced red onion and garlic and stir together. Add the corn and dashes of paprika, salt, and black pepper, and stir. Add heavy cream and milk, and stir until creamy. Top with diced green onions.
  • Cajun Corn: Follow this recipe as is, but instead of using cayenne pepper and thyme, use half a teaspoon of Cajun seasoning or more, depending on how much flavor you want.
  • Coconut Lime: Sauté shallot, fresh garlic, and red Thai chilies. Then add the corn and stir together. Add coconut cream and a squeeze of fresh lime juice to taste. Stir it all together until it’s nice and creamy. Top with freshly chopped cilantro.
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Storage Tips

  • To store for the week: I doubt there will be any leftovers! If there are, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
  • To freeze for later: If you want to enjoy this a month later, you can freeze it! Let it cool completely before storing it in a freezer-safe container. It will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

More Holiday Side Dishes

  • Honey Glazed Carrots: The ultimate carrot side dish for the holidays.
  • Roasted Acorn Squash: A savory twist with parmesan herb goodness.
  • Sweet Potato Casserole: The nutty pecan crumble topping is unmatched.
  • Balsamic Bacon Brussels Sprouts: The best way to serve sprouts this season!
  • Or these other delicious Thanksgiving side dishes!

I hope you love this creamed corn recipe! If you make it, I’d love to know your thoughts on this recipe in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.

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Perfect Creamed Corn

5 from 22 votes

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Lisa Bryan

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Description

This creamed corn is a classic Thanksgiving side dish recipe. But it's also great as a summer BBQ side when fresh corn is in season. It's rich, creamy, perfectly chunky, and so delicious! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon flour (arrowroot powder, cornstarch, or other flour)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons finely diced shallot
  • 5 cups (about two 12-ounce bags) frozen sweet corn, thawed
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: freshly grated parmesan

Instructions

  • Dissolve the flour. Whisk the flour and milk together in a small bowl, then set aside.

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  • Saute the shallot. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Saute the shallot in the melted butter for one minute, until softened.

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  • Mix it together. Add the corn, cream, and thyme to the skillet. Stir for 4 to 5 minutes, until the corn has plumped up. Then add the milk mixture and stir for another 3 to 4 minute, until the sauce has slightly thickened.

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  • Blend some corn. Take 1 to 2 cups of the creamed corn and blend it in a blender or food processor, until smooth. Alternatively, you could use a stick blender and spot blend a few times. Add the blended corn back to the skillet and stir together. Optional: If you'd like it extra creamy, stir in ¼ cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

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  • Season and serve. Season the creamed corn with cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper, stir it again, then serve warm.

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Lisa’s Tips

  • While some people add sugar to creamed corn, I don’t think it’s necessary if you buy frozen sweet corn. It’s naturally sweet! But, you can always add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter flavor profile.
  • You can substitute 2 cups of half-and-half for the heavy cream and milk. If you’re dairy-free you can swap in your milk of choice and coconut cream.
  • If you save rendered bacon grease (as I always do!) you can use that as an alternative to the butter, to impart a slight bacon-y flavor. You can of course add bacon crumbles to the creamed corn as well, for even more bacon flavor.
  • If you prefer a chunkier creamed corn, blend only one cup in step 4. If you like a smoother creamed corn, blend 2 cups. Keep in mind that the blended corn plus the parmesan (if you use it) will thicken this recipe up, so it shouldn’t be super thick in step 3. But if at the end you find that the recipe is a bit too thick for your liking, you can always thin it down again with a little bit more cream or milk.
  • If you’re gluten-free, keep in mind that many brands of canned creamed corn you’ll find at the market are not gluten-free, which is one more reason to make it at home (and because it just tastes better).

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 516mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 773IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Creamed Corn, Creamed Corn Recipe

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

Read More About Me

Perfect Creamed Corn Recipe - Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to canned cream corn to make it taste better? ›

Sugar: A tablespoon of white sugar adds a hint of sweetness. Seasonings: This creamed corn recipe is simply seasoned with salt and pepper. Butter: Butter adds richness and flavor. Milk: This recipe calls for whole milk, but you can use 2 percent milk if you'd prefer.

Is there a difference between creamed corn and cream-style corn? ›

Canned creamed corn is usually called "cream-style" corn because it typically contains corn, water, sugar, starch, and sugar. That's right: Cream is not one of the ingredients. Canned cream-style corn is a go-to staple for those seeking a convenient and readily available option.

How do you make creamed corn thicker without cornstarch? ›

Cook corn according to package directions; I use the microwave. Melt butter in saucepan, stir in flour and blend well. Add milk, about 1/2 cup at a time, and blend with whisk. Cook over medium heat until thickened.

Why is my creamed corn not thickening? ›

The answer to thick and smooth creamed corn

You can begin by turning up the heat to thicken a runny creamed corn. This is simple but will require a little more time. You don't want the bottom of the corn to stick or burn, so you want to slowly cook and stir the corn until enough moisture has evaporated.

How do you elevate canned creamed corn? ›

You can add various ingredients to enhance the flavor of canned cream corn. Some popular additions include chopped onions, garlic, crispy bacon, shredded cheese, or fresh herbs like thyme or parsley. Experiment and find what combinations you enjoy the most!

What thickens creamed corn? ›

Slurry, as told by the Rouxbe Online Culinary School, is a mixture of starch and water which can help thicken hot liquids, soups, and — in this case — creamed corn. Common types of starches that may be used include corn starch, potato starch, or flour.

Is canned creamed corn healthy? ›

It is not only delicious but also offers several health benefits when included as part of a balanced diet. Here are some reasons why corn is considered good for health: Nutrient-rich: Corn is a good source of various essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

What are the ingredients in canned creamed corn? ›

Water, Corn, Modified Food Starch (Corn), Sugar, Sea Salt.

How do you fix watery creamed corn? ›

You do this by combining equal parts cornstarch and cold water or even cream. They recommend half of a tablespoon of cornstarch for each cup of creamed corn. However, if your creamed corn is really soupy, you will want to use flour to thicken it up. Our Everyday Life suggests using rice flour.

Does creamed corn thicken as it cools? ›

Once the creamed corn is blended, you can serve it right away, or let it sit in the crock pot with the lid on to keep it warm. It will thicken more as it cools.

What is a substitute for creamed corn? ›

One substitute that can be used is frozen corn kernels. These can be cooked and pureed to create a creamy consistency similar to creamed corn. Canned corn can also be a viable alternative, although it may have a slightly different taste and texture compared to fresh corn.

How long does it take for creamed corn to thicken? ›

Adjust seasonings to your personal liking, stir everything together and let the creamed corn thicken at a gentle simmer for another 10 minutes or so, stirring every few minutes until the desired thickness has been reached.

What can I add to corn to make it taste good? ›

You can add butter and cream to make it taste better. Also a pinch of pepper. A little butter, milk and a dash of sugar will go a long way to improving the flavor. If you have the option, I'd recommend frozen corn over canned.

Does creamed corn need to be pressure canned? ›

Regardless of your choice or source of vegetables- they are all low acid foods. A pressure canner is the essential piece of equipment required to safely heat process all home canned vegetables.

What can I do with tasteless corn? ›

Rick often makes a quick corn side dish by cutting kernels off the cob and sautéeing them in butter with some chopped shallot and garlic. As the corn cooks, flavorful brown bits will stick to the pan, which along with the nutty-sweet butter help mask the flavor of bland corn.

How do you make bland corn taste better? ›

The corn cooked in plain water was virtually tasteless, as was the sample pulled from the water-milk bath. So although adding milk proved unnecessary, a little sugar did the trick—4 teaspoons per gallon of plain water brought out the bright flavor of the kernels.

How do you make canned food taste better? ›

Go beyond basic salad and casseroles.

Mix in eggs, bread crumbs, onions, mustard, garlic powder, and Sriracha to turn canned tuna into Spicy Canned Tuna Fish Cakes, or plate it up with boiled eggs, canned beans, and steamed green beans to make a Nicoise-Style Tuna Salad With White Beans and Olives.

Can cream corn be eaten out of the can? ›

Great straight from the can

If you're looking for a quick meal or a tasty side, the canned goods from DelMonte are the ones you want! The creamed corn was indeed sweet right out of the can. The corn pieces are nice and firm and taste fresh. It turned into an even tastier chowder with their easy recipe on the back.

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