This summer corn salad recipe is sweet, creamy, and spicy all at once. Perfect for your summer BBQs!
This creamy corn salad recipe is adapted from one I observed Kevin Bevington, BBQ champ extraordinaire, making at a BBQ class. I didn’t write anything down and so I had to recreate it from memory. Memory and my own twists. I use fresh jalapenos instead of jarred, added cilantro, and way less butter and cream cheese. The result was a perfect side dish for BBQs or potlucks.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
Should I Use Fresh Or Frozen Corn?
The recipe calls for defrosted frozen corn but if you have lots of cobs, grill them and then cut the kernels off. Such a great way to show off the great flavor of fresh corn.
You can also use fresh corn that has been microwaved.
How To Make Creamy Corn Salad
If you have fresh corn on the cob, cook it first and then cut the corn kernels off the cob. In a medium casserole dish, combine the corn, bell pepper, onion, jalapeño, fresh cilantro, salt, and pepper.
Squeeze the cream cheese and butter into a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 20 seconds and stir. Repeat the process until the butter is melted and the cream cheese has softened. You want to be able to stir them together to be smooth and fully combined.
Pour the hot creamy sauce over the corn mixture and stir until everything is coated. At this point you can go ahead and serve at room temperature or cover and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°F, until heated through.
Serving Summer Corn Salad
I usually serve this salad warm because the sauce is made of cream cheese and butter. If it’s cold, the butter coagulates a bit.
Room temperature works too, but if you really want it fridge cold, skip the butter and use half cream cheese and half mayonnaise instead so that it has a better consistency when cold.
Can I Make Corn Salad In Advance?
Yes! It’s one of the many great reasons this is such a great side dish for summer parties. This recipe can be made ahead and then put in the refrigerator before baking but it will then take a little bit longer to heat through.
If you leave it in your fridge and forget about it until after the steaks or grilled chicken is ready, no worries. You can heat it in the microwave! Two minutes on high then stir. Repeat until heated through.
More Delicious Corn Recipes
I’m seriously obsessed with corn in the summer, so I like to work my way through all my favorite recipes with corn when it’s available fresh.
- Corn Salad with Tomatoes and Cucumber
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Black Bean and Corn Salsa
- Corn Pudding
- Creamed Corn
- Cheesy Jiffy Corn Casserole
- Microwaved Corn on the Cob
- How To Make Grits
And you should definitely browse through all of my side dish ideas. I just know you’ll find other recipes there that you’ll love, like this creamy farro recipe, and this incredible lemon broccoli that even broccoli-dislikers like!
Podcast Episode About Making Summer Corn Salad
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this corn salad, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Creamy Spicy Summer Corn Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
This summer corn salad recipe is sweet, creamy and spicy all at once. Perfect for your summer BBQs!
Ingredients
- 3 cups of corn (you can either shave it* from 3-4 cobs of corn or defrost some frozen)
- 1/2 of a red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup of finely chopped red onion (green onions work too!)
- 2–3 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely minced (decide how many jalapenos to use based on how spicy you like things)
- Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 3 Tbsp. butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, if serving warm.
- In a medium casserole dish, combine the corn, bell pepper, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
- Squeeze the cream cheese and butter into a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 20 seconds.
- Stir. Repeat until the butter is melted and the cream cheese is soft. Stir for a while until they are fully incorporated together and smooth (not curdled-looking at all).
- Pour the hot sauce over the corn mixture. Stir.
- Serve at room temperature or cover and bake for 25-30 minutes, until heated through.
Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!
Notes
This recipe can be made ahead and then refrigerated before baking but it will then take a little bit longer to heat through. If you leave it in your fridge and forget about it until after the steaks are ready, no worries. Heat in the microwave for two minutes on high then stir. Repeat until heated through.
If you choose to use corn on the cob, cook it first and then shave the kernels off.
This post originally appeared in July 2016 and was revised and republished in June 2023.
Rog3 says
I will be making it with non-dairy cream cheese. Nonetheless, a good recipe.
★★★★
Lynette says
You say to pre-heat oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, but if you are serving at room temp do you still bake it? Your photo doesn’t look like it is cooked.
Christine Pittman says
Lynette, The instructions say to serve it at room temperature OR bake it for 25-30 minutes. If you’re planning to serve it at room temperature, don’t preheat the oven. Hope that helps :-)
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says
This looks so tasty! Perfect for a 4th of July picnic!
fabiola@notjustbaked says
Corn is popping up this week all around us, perfect timing for a tasty corn salad. Even better for the 4th this weekend!
Renee says
I agree, I can’t get enough fresh corn in the summer. This is really really good!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
What a delicious salad Christine! I love fresh corn on the cob!!! This looks just perfect for the 4th and any other summer celebration! Headed over to read that very special blog post now….
Morgan says
Can you serve this cold? Looking to take a dish to a pot luck and will not be able to keep warm over a long trip… Thanks!
Christine Pittman says
Hi Morgan, Sorry for the delay. Yes, you can serve it at room temperature or slightly cooler for sure. Let me know how it turns out for you!
Mikaela Cowles says
This looks fabulous. I’ve made a salad similar to this with the addition of black beans. It’s amazing how fresh corn can really make a dish. Love it!
Christine says
Thanks Mikaela! This would be great with black beans too, I think. I honestly do like frozen corn (defrosted). Or at least I always think I do throughout the winter. Then the summer corn arrives and I realize that they are two different species.
The Mrs says
I know what tomorrow is!
Christine says
I can tell you tomorrow is not when I become the new Mango Mentor :(. That fabulous title has gone to Molly Chester of Organics Park. Oh well. She was pretty awesome. And it turns out all the finalists will be in the official mango-cutting video. Thanks for all your support and the post about me. You’re too amazing.
adventuresindinner says
I’m sure she’s a lovely person but we were all rooting for you.
Christine says
Thanks Jane!
adventuresindinner says
Mango-licious! I’m going to do a shout-out on my blog for you (taking the cue from the Mrs. ). Hope it helps.
Christine says
Thanks Jane! I really appreciate that. Voting ends tonight. I have my fingers and my toes crossed.
Raymund says
Wow this looks so yummy, the falvours in this dish are oozing! I love the combination of flavours in here.
Christine says
Thanks Raymund! It is a very flavorful dish.
secretmenu says
Just this morning at the farmer’s market, my friend asked if I like corn. I said, “yeah,” but when I tried to think of a recipe I drew a blank. But not anymore.
Christine says
Maybe you drew a blank because plain old corn on the cob with butter and salt is so darned good. I have several corn recipes but when I bring home sweet cobs I almost always stick to those tasty basics. If you do try this recipe, let me know how you like it.
Steve @ HPD says
cream cheese and butter … will have to try this one. great photography! off to check out the FB thingy … cheers!
Christine says
Thanks Steve! I think the corn would make a great side dish for your wondrous beer and maple brisket. Thanks for going to FB to vote :).
Kathleen says
This corn looks absolutely amazing!! I’m bookmarking it and can’t wait to give it a try! ;)
Christine says
Great! If you try it, let me know what you think.
The Mrs says
Uh, there was some funky fake html in that comment about wailing…but looks like it was close enough to the real thing to get rendered as such.
If your computer starts wailing, it’s because I commanded it to. With my made up HTML.
Christine says
Laughing now. No wails here though.
The Mrs says
You, and your mango-jango-ness, are all over The Mrs today. It’s a Christine-fest, if you will.
WHY can’t I have a kitchen in my office?
Christine says
It’s complete awesome awesomeness. I love your post and the publicity you’re giving me. Thank you thank you thank you. And it was just so darned sweet, I cried. Readers, if you haven’t seen it, head to http://www.themrs.ca/2011/06/we-interrupt-this-blog.html to check out the post that my wonderful blogger-friend has written.