38 recipes to celebrate sweet corn season

Taiwanese Grilled Corn

This smoky-spicy-sweet grilled corn was the highlight of Chris Kimball’s trip to a carnival-like market in Taipei.

By Diane UngerJune 4, 2018

“Creamed” Corn with Scallions

This rich and velvety side dish relies on corn’s starchy “milk” to deliver supreme creaminess without diluting its flavor.

Thai Corn Fritters with Sweet Chili Sauce

Sweet, fresh corn kernels punctuate these crispy-crusted fritters, with rich savoriness that pairs perfectly with tangy, sweet, finger-licking chili sauce.

By Courtney HillJune 11, 2021

Pasta Salad with Charred Corn and Cilantro

Creamy-rich yet bright and fresh, this pasta salad takes inspiration from Mexican esquites, corn that typically is grilled or roasted and finished with a mixture of herbs, lime, chili and cheese. We simmer corn cobs in the water that’s later used for

By Dimitri DemopolousOctober 17, 2023

Sweet Fresh Corn Pudding

We can’t wait til summer to make Vivian Howard’s light, elegant sweet corn soufflés.

Bolivian Pepper Jack Cornbread (Humintas al Horno)

In Bolivia, street vendors sell humintas—savory-sweet corn cake treats, made with fresh corn kernels, filled with cheese, and sealed in husks.

Bucatini with Sweet Corn and Scallions

Peak-season fresh corn gives this creamy-yet-light pasta dish a beautiful vegetal grassiness.

Yelapa-Style Sweet Corn Pie (Pay de Elote)

This pie is our adaptation of a recipe from food writer Paola Briseño-González, who was inspired to re-create the pay de elote (corn pie, translated from the Spanish) sold by the slice in the beach town of Yelapa in central Mexico. Use either white or

By Milk Street & Erin BarnhartNovember 14, 2025

Campanelle Pasta with Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Basil

This summery campanelle utilizes sweet corn two ways to infuse the noodles with creamy, grassy sweetness.

By Courtney HillOctober 15, 2019

Charred Corn with Coconut, Chilies and Lime

In this recipe, inspired by Andy Ricker’s grilled corn from his book “Pok Pok,” cut corn kernels pair with coconut to make a delicious savory-sweet side that’s perfect for cookouts or potlucks. The natural sugars and fat in the coconut milk speed the

By Julia RackowDecember 18, 2019

Colombian Potato Soup with Chicken, Corn and Capers (Ajiáco)

Loaded with potatoes, a corn cob, and avocado slices, this chicken soup (ajiáco) is creamy, hearty, and fresh all at once.

By Rose HattabaughAugust 12, 2022

Corn and Coconut Soup with Ginger and Scallions

Pops of sweet corn, bathed in gentle coconut milk, is our loose vegetarian take on tom kha gai—featuring the signature Thai mixture of salty, spicy, sour and sweet.

By Diane UngerNovember 15, 2022

Pasta with Tomatoes, Sweet Corn and Avocados

This colorful pasta salad is best made with in-season tomatoes and sweet, fresh corn. In non-summer months, however, frozen corn works well. The kernels are dropped into the pasta during the final minutes of boiling and cooked only briefly so they ret

By Dimitri DemopolousOctober 17, 2023

Corn Bisque with Yogurt and Saffron

For this simple yet luxurious soup we combine saffron and corn. With so few ingredients, it’s important to use fresh summer corn; frozen is not up to the task. To extract every drop of flavor, after slicing off the kernels, we simmer the cobs in the s

Tomato, Arugula and Bread Salad with Fresh Corn and Mozzarella

This vibrant, summery salad includes elements of Italian panzanella (bread salad). For best flavor and texture, we mix the tomato wedges and onion slices with the vinaigrette and allow them to marinate briefly before tossing in the leafy greens, herb,

By Rose HattabaughSeptember 7, 2021

Corn with Shrimp, Chilies and Scallions

This is our rendition of Vietnamese bắp xào tôm khô, or stir-fried corn with dried shrimp. Instead of dried shrimp, we add cooked fresh shrimp, which are easier to source and make the dish more substantial. Complementary flavors—salty, sweet, savory,

By Calvin CoxNovember 30, 2021

Corn Chowder with Miso and Scallions

This creamy, no-cream corn chowder is the perfect vehicle to preserve summer corn freshness—freeze now, thank yourself later.

By Diane UngerJune 22, 2023

Esquites Mexican Roasted Corn

These buttery, savory-sweet corn kernels are possibly Mexico City’s best street food: “an explosion of sweet and creamy corn, tangy citrus, briny cheese and chili heat.”

By Calvin CoxMarch 31, 2022

Fettuccine with Corn, Tomatoes and Bacon

Salty-buttery-smokiness is a perfect backdrop for sweet pops of corn, as we know from grilled corn. It also makes a fabulous fettuccine sauce.

By Courtney HillNovember 15, 2022

Fried Rice with Peas, Corn and Bacon

This simple, freezer-friendly fried rice is studded with corn and peas that can be added in their frozen state (no need to thaw them first, though there’s no harm in doing so). Bacon and oyster sauce ratchet up the flavors, adding layers of smokiness,

By Malcolm JacksonNovember 15, 2022

Green Chili and Corn Quesadillas

In Mexico, quesadillas are made on a comal, a flat, round griddle-like pan that’s also used for cooking tortillas and toasting chilies. The closest piece of cookware in most U.S. home kitchens is a 12-inch skillet, which is what we use here. Along wit

By Courtney HillApril 27, 2022

Grilled Corn

The best way to grill corn is husks-on.

By Calvin CoxNovember 10, 2021

Grilled Corn with Harissa Butter

Grilled Corn with Hoisin Butter

By Calvin CoxNovember 10, 2021

Grilled Corn with Miso Butter and Sesame Salt

We balance the toasty sweetness of grilled corn with the creamy-salty richness of butter, miso, sesame and salt. To keep the cooking simple, we borrow cookbook author J. Kenji Lopez-Alt’s clever idea of using a disposable aluminum pan to contain the e

By Courtney HillMarch 25, 2025

Grilled Corn with Tamarind-Chutney Butter

By Calvin CoxNovember 10, 2021

Grilled Corn with Za’atar Butter

Japanese-Style Rice with Corn, Butter and Soy Sauce

Frozen corn kernels add color and sweetness to Japanese-style short-grain rice, with a little butter bringing richness and soy sauce adding umami. If you want to up the nutrition, substitute ¼ cup rinsed and drained quinoa or pearled barley for an equ

By Laura RussellApril 4, 2022

Mexican-Style Corn with Chili and Lime (Esquites)

This brothy bowl of corn, typically ladled from cauldrons and served in cups, is the most delicious thing you can try in Mexico City.

By Rose HattabaughJune 2, 2022

Mexican-Style Zucchini and Corn (Calabacitas)

“This piqued my interest as a way to use a glut of zucchini in our garden, and has quickly become one of our favorite recipes,” a reader writes.

By Calvin CoxSeptember 7, 2021

Peruvian Quinoa and Corn Chowder (Chupe de Quinoa)

Ají amarillo, an orange-yellow chili with a fruity yet earthy flavor, is ubiquitous in Peruvian cuisine. The fresh chilies are difficult to find in the U.S., but ají amarillo paste, sold in jars, is available at well-stocked markets and specialty stor

Rice Pilaf with Sweet Corn and Shrimp

This colorful rice pilaf balances sweetness from corn and roasted peppers with the briny shrimp and peppery arugula. You can use either fresh or frozen corn. If you prefer fresh, you'll need to cut the kernels from one large or two medium ears to get

Sautéed Corn with Miso, Butter and Scallions

For this umami-filled, savory-sweet side dish, plump, tender kernels cut from ears of fresh sweet corn are the first choice, but out of season an equal amount of frozen corn kernels that have been thawed and patted dry will work; they’ll just take a f

Savory Fresh Corn Pancakes

These savory pancakes are best made with kernels freshly cut from the cob. Out of season, 4 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed and patted dry, are a reasonably good alternative. The batter can be made with either buttermilk or whole milk, so use whichev

By Courtney HillSeptember 17, 2021

Steamed Clams with Corn, Fennel and Crème Fraîche

Think of this as a chowder for eating with your fingers. Finished with a small measure of crème fraîche (or whole-milk yogurt), the briny-sweet liquid released by the clams becomes a subtly creamy broth that’s as delicious as the clams themselves. If

By Courtney HillOctober 13, 2020

Two-Corn Chowder with Green Chili and Scallions

For our light, bright take on a classic summer chowder, we take inspiration from Jacques Pépin and use two kinds of corn (fresh kernels and canned hominy) for double the corn flavor.

Polenta with Charred Corn and Taleggio

We deliver a double dose of sweet corn flavor in this almost effortless oven-baked polenta. Once the polenta is done, we fire up the broiler and char corn kernels to make a topping that echoes the flavor of the polenta. Plump, tender kernels cut from

By Malcolm JacksonOctober 17, 2023

Potato, Poblano and Sweet Corn Hash

This hearty hash is weeknight-quick thanks to potatoes that are parcooked in the microwave. Smoky bacon, spicy poblano chili and sweet corn bring layers of contrasting texture and flavor. Dried Mexican oregano adds earthy, citrusy notes and is availab

By Rose HattabaughOctober 17, 2023