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Why You’ll Love My Recipe
Once you try this recipe, you’ll never look at plain corn the same way again! Cooked with bacon, herbs, and butter, this corn is golden, slightly crisp, and packed with rich, savory flavor for a side dish that’s anything but ordinary.
If you’re craving more tasty corn-inspired sides, try this classic Creamed Corn or switch things up with a comforting Creamy Scalloped Corn Casserole!
Karlynn’s Recipe Notes
- Skill Level: This recipe is incredibly easy to make, so you can throw it together any night of the week!
- Total Time: You’ll have this side dish on the table in about 35 minutes from start to finish.
- Variations: Elevate the flavor with minced garlic and diced onion, or add spices like smoked paprika, cayenne, or cumin. For a richer finish, sprinkle in some Parmesan cheese or stir in a little heavy cream at the end. Serve your fried corn with my Smothered Pork Chops, BBQ Ribs, or Buttermilk Cornbread for a classic Southern-style meal!
- Tools For This Recipe: You will need a large heavy-duty skillet or cast-iron pan, tongs or a spatula, a spoon, and a knife.
What You’ll Need for Ingredients
Corn: Fresh corn kernels cut straight from the cob are key to getting the best taste and texture! They cook up sweeter, juicier, and crisper when fried. Karlynn’s Tip: While canned corn is convenient, it won’t give you the same results. The extra moisture makes it harder to get that golden, crisp texture, so fresh is definitely worth it here.
Bacon: This adds a rich, smoky flavor and provides the fat needed to fry the corn to perfection. As it’s mixed in, bacon infuses your entire dish with the savory depth that makes fried corn so irresistible.
Sugar: It might seem unusual in a dish like fried corn, but a small amount of sugar enhances the natural sweetness of the corn and gives it a subtle, cornbread-like taste – something you often find in Southern-style recipes. Karlynn’s Tip: If you decide to skip the sugar, add seasonings like paprika or garlic powder for an extra kick!
Butter: Butter adds richness and helps create that golden, browned finish on the corn. It also pairs with the salt and pepper to round out the overall flavor and bring everything together!
How To Make Fried Corn
This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Place the diced bacon into a large, heavy-duty skillet and cook on medium-high heat until browned.
- Remove the bacon pieces from the pan and dry them on a paper towel.
- Drain the bacon grease from the pan, leaving at least 1 tablespoon behind.
- Heat the grease and butter over medium-low heat.
- Add the fresh corn kernels in an even layer.
- Fry the corn, stirring occasionally.
- Lower the heat as needed to keep the butter and corn from burning.
- Fry until the corn is light golden, about 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle with the seasonings and sugar.
- Garnish with fresh chives or parsley and enjoy!
Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Fried Corn
- How to Cut Corn Off the Cob: Fresh corn makes all the difference, but removing the kernels can feel tricky if you’re not used to it. Stand the cob upright on a cutting board or hard surface, holding the top steady with your non-dominant hand. Make sure you have a good grip! Then, use a sharp knife to slice downward, letting the kernels fall away as you go. This method is quick and easy, even if it leaves a tiny bit behind. If you want to be extra precise, you can carefully cut behind each kernel using a smaller knife – but don’t stress, the amount of corn you lose is minimal!
- Don’t Skip the Sugar: You can absolutely leave out the sugar, but keep in mind that it does more than add a hint of sweetness. It also helps the corn brown and develop that golden, crispy exterior. Without it, you may miss out on some of that color and texture!
- Let It Char (But Keep It Moving): For that signature “fried” flavor, let the corn develop a slight char in the pan. Stir it often to prevent burning, but give it enough time to sit and caramelize in a few spots.
Storage Instructions
This recipe is best enjoyed fresh, but the leftovers are still packed with flavor!
Refrigerator: Let the corn cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat to bring back some of that crisp texture, or warm it in the microwave for a quicker option.
Freezer: Place cooled corn in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months following USDA food safety guidelines. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in a skillet for the best texture!
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes
Who doesn’t love a good Side Dish Recipe? If you’re looking for more tasty options to pair with your favorite mains, try these sides next:
- Rich, creamy, and endlessly comforting, these Party Potatoes are perfect for sharing!
- This Kale Caesar Salad is great as a light lunch, fresh appetizer, or dinner accompaniment.
- Potatoes Romanoff is a steakhouse classic loaded with chunky baked potatoes in a sour cream, onion, and cheese sauce. It’s the ultimate comfort dish!
There you have it, folks! Sometimes the simplest ingredients make the biggest impact, and this recipe is proof of that!
Give it a try, serve it up with your favorite mains, and don’t forget to leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out.
Happy Cooking!
Karlynn
Fried Corn
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh corn kernels, scraped off the cob (about 6 ears)
- 4 slices thick cut bacon, diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- fresh chives, parsley , use as garnish if desired
Instructions
- Place the diced bacon into a large heavy-duty skillet or cast iron pan and cook medium-high heat until browned and crisp, about 10 minutes.
- Remove the bacon pieces from the pan and set on a paper towel to drain.
- Drain the bacon grease from the pan, leaving 1-2 tablespoons remaining in the pan.
- Heat the grease and the butter over medium-low heat until foamy.
- Add the fresh corn kernels in an even layer.
- Fry the corn, stirring occasionally.
- If needed lower the heat if necessary to keep the butter and the corn from burning
- Fry until the corn is light golden in places, about 13-15 minutes. Add in the cooked bacon.
- Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and if desired, the sugar to sweeten it a bit.
- Garnish with fresh minced chives or freshly minced parsley if desired.
Notes
- Sugar is optional but if you are person that likes sweet cornbread, you will probably like it in this dish!
- If desired you can leave out the bacon!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Dolores HILL says
Love your recipes.
Mickeycy27@gmail.com says
Hi Karlynn. your recipes are fantastic! you are an inspiration to all! Thank You very much for what you do.