Milk Street's Most Popular Summer Corn Recipes

Mexican Sweet Corn Cake

This super versatile reader favorite makes a light and sweet breakfast, dessert, or anytime snack. And it's made in a blender!

By Calvin CoxMarch 25, 2020

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

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.

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

Sweet Fresh Corn Pudding

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

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

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

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

Skillet Shrimp and Sweet Corn Pilaf

Buttery, fresh corn creates a flavor base for this shrimp and rice pilaf, while adding pops of grassy sweetness in every bite.

By Hisham Ali HassanJune 21, 2024

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

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

“Creamed” Corn with Scallions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bucatini with Sweet Corn and Scallions

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

Indonesian-Style Corn Cakes or Fritters

In Indonesia, we learned to make light, airy corn fritters from plump kernels of fresh corn, shallots and chilies, all held together with only eggs and flour. A food processor makes quick work of prepping the batter. As for cooking, you have a couple

By Courtney HillJuly 30, 2024

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

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

Grilled Corn

The best way to grill corn is husks-on.

By Calvin CoxNovember 10, 2021

Grilled Corn with Hoisin Butter

By Calvin CoxNovember 10, 2021

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

Campanelle Pasta with Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Basil

Creamy pasta with corn, not cream: the cobs flavor the cooking water while grated kernels release a starchy corn “milk” that clings to the noodles.

By Courtney HillOctober 15, 2019

Charred Corn with Coconut, Chilies and Lime

Corn and coconut make so much sense together you’ll wonder why we default to butter. Our dead-simple go-to summer side, inspired by Andy Ricker.

By Julia RackowDecember 18, 2019

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

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.