13 Easy Fresh Corn Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
Make the most of peak-season corn without spending all day in the kitchen.
When it’s peak corn season, you absolutely must make as many corn recipes as possible. That’s just the rule! It only comes ‘round once a year, so you should make the most of its sweet, fresh flavor. Corn is an ideal side dish, too, because it goes with practically anything else you want to eat. You can simply boil it and slather it with butter or get creative with other ideas.
You don’t want to spend too much time making your meals, though. It is summer, after all! Who wants to be standing over a hot stove for that long? The good news is that you can whip up plenty of corn recipes in 30 minutes or less. You just need to know how to shuck corn efficiently, and then it only takes a few minutes to cook. So, putting in a little more effort to turn it into a pasta salad or fresh salsa is a no-brainer!
You can also turn corn into a main course. Ree Drummond’s rigatoni with creamy corn is the perfect example. “It's such an easy summertime dinner!” she says. And yes, from start to finish, it’s one of those 30-minute corn recipes you’ll have on repeat all summer long. So, head on over to the market, pick out the sweetest corn you can find, and get shuckin’. You’ll be eating in less than half an hour.
Grilled Corn with Hot Honey Butter
If you’re really craving corn on the cob, one little thing will make it that much better: sweet honey butter! A dash of hot sauce gives it a perfect spicy kick, too. You’ll be eating in just 15 minutes, too.
Get Ree’s Grilled Corn with Hot Honey Butter recipe.
Chipotle Corn Salsa
Do you love Chipotle’s corn salsa? Skip a trip to the chain and make it yourself from scratch with this copycat version. All you need is a bag of tortilla chips for snacking. Or top some tacos with it!
Get the Chipotle Corn Salsa recipe.
Rigatoni with Creamy Corn
Here’s the trick to getting this meal on the table in just 30 minutes: While the pasta cooks, you place a bowl on top of the pot and heat up the rest of the ingredients with the steam. So smart!
Get Ree's Rigatoni with Creamy Corn recipe.
Corn Salad
Guess what’s also in season with corn? Tomatoes and avocados! Turn all three into a craveable side dish. They’re all tossed in a chipotle-lime dressing for a smoky, tangy bite. Serve it with anything you’d want off a grill.
Get the Corn Salad recipe.
Esquites
Another corn salad idea is to make it Mexican-inspired. This has poblano peppers for a spicy kick and a creamy dressing made with mayo, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, chili powder, and cotija cheese.
Get the Esquites recipe.
Corn Fritters
Freshly fried fritters are such a treat! Surprisingly, they only take 25 minutes from start to finish. Ree loves to serve them with sifted powdered sugar for a pop of sweetness. They’ll be a great balance to a smoky or spicy main course.
Get Ree’s Corn Fritters recipe.
Mexican Street Corn
If the esquites recipe sounds amazing, you can make the corn on the cob version called elote. Fresh corn is coated in mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and a squeeze of lime for freshness.
Get the Mexican Street Corn recipe.
Street Corn Pasta Salad
Guess what? You can also turn that Mexican street corn flavor into a pasta salad. Charred corn is mixed with pasta and smoky peppers with a pop of lime and a creamy homemade dressing. Get all of that in just 30 minutes!
Get the Street Corn Pasta Salad recipe.
Succotash
This is like a summer garden in a skillet! Corn, lima beans, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes cook up super fast with a few extra ingredients for an easy side dish you’ll want all season long.
Get the Succotash recipe.
Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette
There’s no such thing as too many summer side salads. Try this one, too. Combine grilled corn with sweet onions, avocados, tomatoes, pinto beans, and pimentos. Then toss everything in a cilantro vinaigrette.
Get Ree's Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette recipe.
Grilled Corn with Bacon-Jalapeño Butter
The Drummond family has corn on the cob on repeat all summer long. This easy twist is the “kind of recipe that disappears almost as soon as it hits the table,” says Ree. Doesn’t everything taste better with bacon?
Southwestern Pasta Salad
Everyone will love this at your next cookout! Corn is combined with pasta, chipotle peppers, tomatoes, pinto beans, avocado, and a creamy, spicy dressing. Sprinkle some cilantro on top for a pop of freshness.
Get the Southwestern Pasta Salad recipe.
Corn and Black Bean Salsa
Crack open a few cans of black beans and you’ll have a party dip ready in just 15 minutes. It has a bite of red onion and a kick from jalapeño but is balanced by sweet corn and tomatoes.
Get the Corn and Black Bean Salsa recipe.
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