Southern Fried Corn Recipe (2024)

A Southern Soul › Recipes › Side Dish

by Donya Mullins August 26, 2022 19 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

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Buttery, Southern Fried Corn is a classic side dish that’s a pure delight. It’s simple, made in minutes with fresh corn off the cob, and is destined to shoot to the top of the list of your favorite recipes after the first time you make it!

Whether you serve this corn with Crock Pot Chicken Thighs, or Air Fryer Hot Dogs, this simple recipe will make any meal special.

Fried corn is one of those recipes that brings back good memories. Everyone I knew growing up had their version of this classic Southern dish. Just like Creamy Deviled Eggs and Tomato Cucumber Salad, it was always on the table for Sunday lunch after church or for supper. And, of course, skillet fried corn was on repeat during the summer when fresh was available.

Ingredients Needed To Make Southern Fried Corn

Fresh Sweet Corn – naturally sweet with whatever variety you like.
Butter
Bacon Grease – a must for me, but you can substitute butter if you don’t have any.
Kosher Salt, Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

What Type Of Corn Is Best For This Recipe?

Fresh summer corn is best for this recipe. I use “super sweet” corn from the farmer’s market, but you can use whatever type of corn you find fresh at the grocery store.

How To Make Fried Corn With Canned Corn

If you can’t find fresh corn, you can use canned corn, but make sure to drain it first. You can also use thawed, drained, frozen corn.

Prepping The Corn: How To Shuck Corn And Remove The Silks

Hold the ear of corn upright, with the pointed end facing up. This is the end where the corn kernels are attached. Grasp the top of the husk with both hands and gently peel back the outer layers of the husk.
Continue peeling the husk downward, exposing the kernels.
Use your fingers or a soft-bristled brush to remove the silk by gently pulling it off the ear of corn.

How To Cook Fresh Corn Off The Cob

Cut the corn kernels off using a sharp knife, but do not cut down to the cob. I use a large bowl on a towel to catch the kernels.
Turn the knife around to the dull side, scrape the liquid starch or “milk” from the cob, and place it in the bowl – don’t skip this step!
Melt the bacon drippings and butter over medium-low heat.
Add the corn nuggets and cook so that the natural sweetness of the corn will be released. Season with salt and pepper. Cook an additional 5 minutes until the corn has a creamy texture.

Tips For Making The Best Southern Fried Corn

While I recommend using bacon fat for flavor, you can make fried corn off the cob vegetarian using all butter.
You can add more texture and flavor to Mexican Corn Dip with fresh herbs, garlic, onions, and peppers.
For a bit of spice, add in cayenne pepper or Candied Jalapeños.

How To Store Leftovers

To store any leftovers (lucky you!), place the corn in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Corn Recipes You’ll Love

My Southern fried corn recipe and Crock Pot Creamed Corn Recipe are family traditions, especially during the holidays. I also use fresh corn off the cob for Fried Corn Fritters. And for a quick and easy side dish, Air Fryer Corn On The Cob is super yummy.

What To Serve With Southern Fried Corn

If my family were to answer this question, they’d say, “everything!” While that’s not exactly true, I have a few favorites to serve with this easy side dish…

6-Ingredient Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Easy Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Easy Crock Pot Beef Roast Recipe
Easy Glazed Meatloaf

If you tried thisSouthern Fried Corn Recipeor any other recipe, please leave a 🌟star ratingand let me know how it went in thecommentsbelow. Thanks!

5 from 10 votes

Southern Fried Corn Recipe

Author: Donya Mullins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Equipment

▢
Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

▢ ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) butter
▢ 1 tablespoon bacon fat
▢ 4 cups (about 8 ears) fresh corn cut off the cob
▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
▢ ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

▢
In a cast iron or heavy bottom skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter along with bacon fat over medium-low heat. Add corn and cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes until liquid has become thick.
▢
Add salt and pepper and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and cook for 5 more minutes.
▢
Taste and adjust seasoning if desired, then serve immediately.

Notes

To store any leftovers, (lucky you!) place the corn in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove top or in the microwave.

Nutritional values provided are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used.

Nutrition

Did you make my Southern Fried Corn Recipe?I’d love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @asouthernsoul, and use the hashtag #asouthernsoul!

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Comments

Rate & Comment

Bobbie
November 30, 2023 at 10:38 pm

I’ve made this for 50 years!! Didn’t know there was any other way to cook corn other than on the cob..
Reply
Linda Palmer
November 27, 2023 at 11:25 pm
If you have time and patience, do as my mother did and cut the corn off the cob in two steps–about 1/3 of the kernels and then the lower part of the kernels. Then scrape as described to get all the juices out. Makes the creamiest corn!
See Also
Simple Tuscan Kale Soup Recipe - Delish Knowledge
Reply
Susie
November 5, 2023 at 9:17 pm

I used thawed white corn. I added a sweet onion & a jalapeño. Delicious!
I paired it with mashed red potatoes topped with creamy garlic shrimp.
Reply
Ethel Jean Forant
October 27, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Can the fried corn be canned?
Reply
Judy
August 28, 2023 at 5:47 pm

This recipe takes me way back to my childhood. My dad was a pastor at a small country church and boy could the ladies cook. After church we (there were 6 kids in my family) would go for lunch with different families and I remember loving this corn most of all. Thank you.
Reply
- Donya Mullins
  August 28, 2023 at 6:20 pm
  This is the BEST! Thank you, Judy.
  ~Donya
  Reply
ROSE LEAR
June 5, 2023 at 2:32 pm

Excellent!!!❤️
Reply
- Donya Mullins
  June 7, 2023 at 9:23 am
  Thanks for the outstanding rating!
  ~Donya
  Reply
Robert C DeCuir
February 2, 2023 at 11:13 am

Thank you for the idea! I live in Southern Louisiana and haven’t heard of this before but will be preparing this soon. My fallback for corn isn’t quite as simple (and doesn’t involve a stove) so I’m looking forward to the finished dish.
Reply
- Donya Mullins
  February 5, 2023 at 3:40 pm
  Thanks so much for the terrific rating!
  ~Donya
  Reply
Shirl
October 4, 2022 at 10:36 am
I am 83 and I grew up watching my mother make southern fried corn and I also made it as a young person. The only difference is we made it with field corn. We added sugar to taste and you would have to add water as it cooked because it would continue to thicken as it cooked.. As time went on, I have not been able to find field corn that is not GMO. I can tell you I have made it both ways and field corn is much better, but I would never use GMO corn. Thank you for posting your recipe. I remember fried corn with much joy!!!
Reply
- Donya
  October 5, 2022 at 7:49 am
  Hey there Shirl!
  Thank you so much for sharing, I am so happy to hear that this recipe brought back some happy memories! I totally agree with you that freshly harvested field corn is the absolute best way to make this dish, it’s hard to come by these days but it has such a delicious flavor. If you enjoyed this classic southern recipe, you should check out my Southern Pound Cake, it’s another one of those irresistible nostalgic recipes, I hope you’ll give it a try! Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help!
  ~Donya
  Reply
Marisa Skelton
August 26, 2022 at 7:45 pm
Definitely a true Southern love dish! At least by me for sure! TY for sharing this is awesome and some Southern recipes My Mom cooked I lost after she passed and many I can replicate but this was an unsure even tho simple that I could duplicate and yes your easy recipe is spot on and again TY
Reply
- Marisa Skelton
  August 26, 2022 at 7:47 pm
  I meant I haven’t been able to replicate to the classic taste I savored from Mom’s recipe. And yours is spot on& thx
  Reply
- Donya
  August 27, 2022 at 8:18 am
  Hey there Marisa!
  Wow! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, it’s definitely a true southern classic and I’m glad it helped you replicate your Mom’s recipe! Thank you so much for your kind words of support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe I’d be more than happy to help!
  ~Donya
  Reply
Donna Beasley
August 26, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Love this with ft back grease
Reply
- Donya
  August 27, 2022 at 8:12 am
  Hey there Donna!
  I’m with you on that, the Bacon Grease is definitely what puts this recipe over the top! I hope you enjoy the recipe, I’d love to hear what you think!
  ~Donya
  Reply
  - Dennis fisher
    September 17, 2022 at 11:43 am
    I made this exactly like the directions ,adding two ingredients, scallions and grilled red peppers. Awesome. Thank you. Dennis.
  - Donya
    September 18, 2022 at 9:07 am
    Hey there Dennis!
    Thank you so much for your kind words, I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! There are all kinds of great additions you can make to this dish, I bet adding peppers and scallions was delicious. I really appreciate your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe, please don’t hesitate to ask!
    ~Donya

FAQs

What is fried corn made of? ›

Southern fried corn is made with butter (and sometimes bacon drippings), yellow onion, garlic, yellow corn kernels, salt, and pepper. An optional garnish is chives. Can I use canned corn? You can use canned corn for fried corn, but the best flavor will come from summer-fresh corn right off the kernels.

How to make corn tastier? ›

Pan roast the corn until some is slightly browned and the liquid is gone. Season with salt and pepper. Even just pan roasting the corn will make it taste better than just heating it up in a saucepan.

Read The Full Story ›

Can you fry frozen sweet corn? ›

Frozen corn should become tender in a skillet in only a few minutes, however, you may need to continue cooking the corn, for about 10-12 minutes, if you would like to brown, or caramelize, the corn. Drain the corn on a paper towel.

Discover More Details ›

Can you mix cornstarch and cornmeal for frying? ›

Together, cornmeal, Wondra flour, and cornstarch create an earth-shatteringly crisp skin, and piping hot oil helps to create a crunchy shell around a succulent center.

Discover More Details ›

Why fry with cornstarch? ›

Corn Starch: Adding a thin coating of corn starch to the potato fries before frying can help create a crispier exterior. When the corn starch comes into contact with the hot oil, it forms a barrier that traps moisture within the potato while also developing a crunchy crust.

Know More ›

What are fried corn kernels called? ›

Corn nuts, also known as toasted corn, are a snack food made of roasted or deep-fried corn kernels.

Is corn fry healthy? ›

Don't let the sweet taste fool you. Choosing corn and whole-grain corn products -- rather than food that has processed white flour -- can be good for your health in many ways. Corn contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are carotenoids similar to vitamin A and are often found in yellow and dark green vegetables.

What enhances the flavor of corn? ›

Experiment with herbs and spices: Add extra flavor to your canned corn by incorporating herbs and spices. Some options include cajun seasoning, crushed garlic, chopped fresh herbs like parsley, and fresh black pepper [2].

Why does my corn have no flavor? ›

The most likely culprit of that blah, starchy, diluted chalk water flavor and hard, dense texture is that the corn is too old, and has had time to dry out and convert some of its sugars to starches.

Why is my frozen corn on the cob mushy? ›

The process of boiling and blanching the corn first is the absolute best way to prepare your corn for the freezer. That's because this method will preserve the bright color and sweet flavor. It only takes a couple of minutes, but the extra steps will prevent the corn from becoming chewy or mushy when you defrost it.

Learn More ›

Why is my frozen corn chewy? ›

Corn that has not been blanched before freezing can become chewy (and sometimes downright mushy) once it's thawed. This may be okay if you plan to puree it in something like a cream-based soup. It's better to have options for how you can use your frozen corn, though.

Discover More ›

Is canned or frozen corn better? ›

“For the other months, frozen or canned are great options, but check for added ingredients. Canned corn can be high in sodium, and frozen corn packed in sauces may have extra fat and sodium.” If cost is important, though, frozen corn may be the route to go, Vadiveloo says.

Tell Me More ›

Can you use cornstarch to fry with? ›

Cornstarch Slurry: It's the Only Way to Fry! For the occasional deep fat fried splurge, I vastly prefer slurry over breading or battering, though it is more similar to the latter: 1/4 cup each water and cornstarch + choice of seasoning coats a pound of tofu cubes (or cauliflower florets, etc.)

Why is my fried corn chewy? ›

👩‍🍳 DON'T OVER-COOK OUR SWEET CORN 🌽 Did you know that boiling or over-cooking the corn. turns the natural sugars to starch thus making the. corn chewy, gummy, and worst of all FLAVORLESS!

Can I use corn flour instead of cornstarch for fried chicken? ›

I've never used cornstarch to fry chicken. I suppose you could. I've used plain all purpose flour, cornflour, rice flour, oat flour, vital gluten flour, and lupin flour. Also different combinations of the above.