33 perfect ways to make corn on the cob

by Cora L. Diekman

grilled corn on the cob with herb butter

It’s all about the flavored butter, and this version won’t disappoint.  While it relies heavily on parsley, be sure to use plenty of fresh herb flavor that you like best – basil, dill, and cilantro are all excellent alternatives.

Find the recipe here.

grilled bacon-wrapped corn on the cob

Is there anything we won’t wrap in bacon?  Wrap, grill (or oven roast), and done.

Find the recipe here.

classic low country boil

Make corn on the cob part of the main dish with a pot of Low Country Boil.  Shrimp, sausage, potatoes, and chunks of corn are boiled together with seafood seasoning (like Old Bay) until tender and juicy.  Keep this dish on file as the perfect one-pot summertime meal.  Tip: Serve the traditional way for easy cleanup – layer a table with newspaper and dump the entire pot on top for buffet-style eating, then just toss the newspaper when the party’s over.

Find the recipe here.

roasted corn on the cob with chipotle honey lime butter

The ingredient list is in the name, and they cover all of the flavor bases – sweet, savory, smoky, and sour.

Find the recipe here.

spicy garlic and cheese grilled corn

Surprise guests with this unique take on corn.  And yes, we promise there’s corn under all of that deliciousness.

Find the recipe here.

southern milk and honey corn on the cob

This recipe is great for apartment dwellers since there’s no grill required.  It’s also a clever way to cook corn in the summer because you can skip turning on a hot oven.  A deliciously creamy broth of milk, cream, honey, and Cajun spices creates this flavorful take on corn.

Find the recipe here.

mexican corn on the cob

Elote, or Mexican street corn, is having a serious moment right now in the food scene.  It’s perfect summer fare, and can be made on the grill or in the oven.  While most versions call for mayo, this recipe takes a simpler approach and uses a small amount of butter to adhere the rest of the tasty Mexican-inspired ingredients to the cob.

Find the recipe here.

grilled corn with smokey peach butter

You’ll want to make extra peach butter to use on everything, from biscuits to pancakes to grilled chicken.  Yum!

Find the recipe here.

corn on the cob with sumac butter

Sumac butter is simple enough to make yourself – once you locate sumac, that is.  Can’t find it in your local market?  No worries.  It’s available from Amazon here.

Find the recipe here.

grilled corn with coconut lime cream

Coconut Lime Cream sauce gives this corn a tropical flair, and would pair perfectly with any grilled summertime main.

Find the recipe here.

jamie oliver’s bad-ass cheesy corn on the cob

This is Jamie Oliver’s version of Parmesan-coated corn.  The ingredient list is short, but there are a few keys to achieving its amazing flavor.  As the recipe states, “If you can’t find cobs with the husks intact, you don’t need to do this.”

Find the recipe here.

bacon, ranch, and dill grilled corn on the cob

Ranch lovers will swoon over this take on corn, that’s made even better with bits of crispy bacon.

Find the recipe here.

parmesan chipotle corn on the cob

These ingredients would make for a simple DIY corn station at a barbecue.  Set out bowls of softened butter, chipotle seasoning, grated parmesan cheese, and any other toppers you crave, and allow guests to dress their own cobs.

Find the recipe here.

basil-parmesan corn on the cob

This Italian-inspired flavor combo is ideal for summertime when basil is at its freshest.

Find the recipe here.

asian grilled corn

If you crave heat, this Asian take on corn packs plenty of fire thanks to Asian chili garlic sauce, red pepper flakes, and dijon mustard.

Find the recipe here.

fire roasted sweet corn with vegetable medley

Corn topped with even more veg?  When it looks this tempting, YES!

Find the recipe here.

roasted corn with harissa butter

If you’re not familiar with this tasty condiment, harissa is a spicy roasted pepper paste used widely in North Africa and the Middle East. Combine with butter for a tasty flavor combination perfect for slathering hot corn on the cob. Look for harissa in the international aisle in the supermarket, specialty food shops, or online.

Find the recipe here.

shrimp-boil kabobs

This twist on a Low Country Boil ups the flavor quotient with hot pepper sauce, and also makes it possible to nosh with one hand and sip with the other.  Genius!

Find the recipe here.

cheesy roasted garlic corn on the cob

With complete instructions on roasting a whole head of garlic and creating this delicious corn, there’s no reason not to upgrade your average corn on the cob side.  And, you can never go wrong with coating ANYTHING in parmesan cheese.

Find the recipe here.

creamy taco-grilled corn on the cob

Tempt picky eaters with this fun twist on Mexican corn, made by mixing taco seasoning with sour cream.

Find the recipe here.

caribbean-style corn on the cob

We all know about Mexican corn, but this takes flavors in a different direction thanks to a savory aioli that is spread generously over top.

Find the recipe here.

grilled vegetable skewers

Yes, you can add corn on the cob to your veggie skewers.  Cut cobs into 1-2 inch pieces, and skewer with the rest of your veggie favs.

Find the recipe here.

corn on the cob with cilantro chimichurri

Chimichurri is one of those sauces that can be used on practically anything – meat, veg, and of course corn.

Find the recipe here.

grilled corn on the cob with sriracha-mayo sauce

Anything coated with sriracha-mayo is a good thing.

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mexican street corn

This version is closer to the original, and uses a sauce made with mayo and sour cream to adhere all of those yummy toppers, like Cotija cheese – a must.

Find the recipe here.

batter fried corn on the cob

Yes, this is real.  And we can’t wait to try it.

Find the recipe here.

chili lime grilled corn on the cob

When you want the shortest route to amazing corn, this recipe does the trick. All you need is a little butter, a little spice, and some lime. Simple and seriously tasty.  

Find the recipe here.

corn on the cob with lemon basil pesto

For an Italian take on corn, basil pesto gives yours an unexpectedly delicious punch of bold flavor.

Find the recipe here.

grilled corn with ancho chili butter and fresh lime

This recipe sounds simple, but the ingredient list calls for a few surprises like agave nectar and onion powder.  And while many recipes suggest grilling with the husks on, this version calls for shucked corn.  Don’t skip the fresh cilantro, which adds a tasty punch of freshness.

Find the recipe here.

meat and potato steak kabobs with homemade steak sauce

It’s not always about veggies.  Create a one-kabob-meal with these steak and veggie skewers, complete with a homemade fresh herb steak sauce.

Find the recipe here.