Sweet, salty, and creamy. There’s maybe no better way to enjoy fresh summer corn than Country-Fried Corn. It’s the perfect accompaniment to fried chicken or pork chops and has long been a southern favorite.
The secret to this delicious side dish is to cut the kernels from the cob and then scrape all that milk and pulp off the cob. It helps flavor and thicken the fried corn.
Of course, bacon doesn’t hurt either.
Once you cut the kernels off, you’ll go back over the cobs multiple times with a knife scraping all that you can off the cob. No waste here.
Type of Corn To Use
I typically use a sweet white corn like the fan favorite Silver Queen. But any corn can be used. The fresher the better though.
This recipe is based off of Miss Mary Bobo’s recipe found in Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Cookbook: A Celebration of Traditional Southern Dishes that Made Miss Mary Bobo’s an American Legend
. Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House has been serving up delicious homestyle southern food in Lynchburg Tennessee for over 100 years. This cookbook is one I turn to again and again for the simple southern comfort food that I grew up eating.
What To Serve Country-Fried Skillet Corn With
This cream corn dish goes well with so many southern foods. I especially love it with fried chicken or Southern Fried Pork Chops. It also goes well with Southern Baked Chicken or Pulled Pork.
Other Ingredients
Country Fried Corn is cooked in hot bacon drippings with a little sugar, milk, cornstarch, butter, and black pepper. I like to add a few red pepper flakes too.
Just plain simple ingredients is really all you need to turn fresh produce into mouthwatering food.
Cast Iron Skillet
This recipe is best made in a cast iron skillet. There are so many things to love about cast iron. Not only does it conduct heat really well, it will last for generations so it is a great investment.
Recipe Tips
Corn can vary quite a bit in sweetness. If your corn isn’t that sweet, add extra sugar. This corn recipe should be pretty sweet. It’s what makes it hard to stop eating.
For extra richness, add a splash of heavy cream at the end.
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More Corn Recipes
- The BEST Way to Cook Corn on the Cob
- Jalapeno Honey Butter Corn
- Grilled Garlic Parmesan Corn
- Chipotle Corn Salad
- Corn Maque Choux
- Jalapeno Popper Grilled Corn Salad
Country-Fried Corn
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 ears corn
- 3 slices bacon
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch red pepper flakes,, optional
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Use a sharp knife to cut off the tips of the kernels (cut about halfway down the kernel.)
- Then cut the bottom part of the kernels off. Place all corn kernels in a large bowl.
- With the back of a knife scrape the cobs to get all of the “milk”. Place in bowl with kernels.
- In a heavy skillet (9 to 10-inch works well and preferably cast iron) cook bacon until crisp. Remove cooked bacon from skillet and place on paper towels.
- Add all corn kernels to the bacon fat and cook over medium heat for 1 minute. Add water and sugar and stir continuously until mixture begins to thicken. (May take about 5 minutes.)
- Place cornstarch in a small bowl, and gradually stir in milk.
- Add cornstarch mixture to corn. Continue to cook until thickened.
- Stir in butter, both peppers, and salt to taste. Crumble bacon and sprinkle on top.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe slightly adapted from Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Cookbook: A Celebration of Traditional Southern Dishes that Made Miss Mary Bobo’s an American Legend
Sharing this recipe with The Weekend Potluck.
Originally posted Jully 22, 2015.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
I had to repost. I forgot the rating. 5 stars!
Being from the south I’ve eaten fresh corn many ways. I just tried this recipe and it is Delicious! A new favorite! Thanks for sharing!
Add a Lil thinly sliced hit pepper from the garden and make home made cornbread. Delicious
Add a Lil thinly sliced fresh pepper from the garden and homemade cornbread . Delish
My mother always used salt pork instead of bacon and lots of pepper.And this is the way we were raised. Add fried okra and fresh peas. Nothing better.
Tastes awesome
Fried corn has been a family favorite for many years. I have never added bacon to mine but I am sure it would be good. With or without it makes a yummy dish with fried potatoes, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and onion in vinegar. Totally country!!
Thank you! So cool to see this recipe!! It was a family favorite at my house growing up. I was always the first to get a bowl of corn and it was always served with a slice of juicy tomato and hungry jack butter biscuits!!
Looks so good! And I love corn fritters, those look really yummy too! 🙂
I love fresh corn this time of year! This looks like a delicious way to make it. Butter and bacon make everything better, so I can’t imagine this wouldn’t be great!
I love visiting Spicy Southern Kitchen and coming across new dishes and Southern ways of eating.. so different from living in Australia. This skillet corn looks delicious and I will be trying it.