You can never go wrong when you serve corn as a side dish; some of my favorites include black bean corn salad, slow cooker creamed corn, and this simple yet flavorful fried corn. There’s nothing better than fresh, sweet corn in the summertime. While corn is obviously delicious enjoyed on the cob with a little butter, it’s even better when made into Southern fried corn. That combination of caramelized corn and savory bacon just can’t be beat!
Fried corn ingredients
Corn: You can use fresh corn or frozen corn in this recipe. If you’re going with frozen corn, be sure to thaw it first.Bacon: I use standard slices of bacon here, as thick cut bacon will take longer to cook.Onion: The flavor of the onion complements the sweetness of the corn nicely, be sure to cut it into small pieces.Seasonings: Salt, pepper and sugar all enhance the flavor of the corn.Chives: A little bit of fresh herbs add color and an extra dimension of flavor.
How do you make fried corn?
Start by cooking your bacon in a skillet until it is crispy. The bacon is then removed from the pan and corn kernels and onions are fried in the bacon grease, along with some seasonings and a bit of sugar. The sugar helps the corn to get those flavorful caramelized bits. The final step is to stir the bacon back into the corn and add a sprinkling of chives.
Tips for the perfect Fried Corn
You can use fresh or frozen corn kernels for this recipe. I don’t recommend using canned corn because it has added sodium and the texture isn’t as good. Yellow and white corn work equally well here.You’ll want to drain off some of the bacon grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon left in the pan to cook up your corn.If you’re concerned about adding sugar, you can omit it. That being said, this dish is not overly sweet, the sugar just makes the corn kernels brown better in the pan.
Flavor Variations
Traditional Southern fried corn has just a few ingredients to really let the corn flavor shine through. That being said, there are many different flavorings you can add to your corn to make it your own.
Vegetables: You can add diced red bell pepper, fresh tomato, or a can of green chiles to the mix.Herbs: Instead of chives, try parsley, green onions, basil or thyme.Meat: Swap out the bacon for diced ham.
Once you taste this dish, you’ll find yourself making it all summer long! It’s the absolute best way to enjoy fresh corn.
More delicious side dishes
Roasted MushroomsIsraeli SaladRoasted Green BeansSauteed AsparagusBacon Fried Cabbage
