The perfect side dish for Thanksgiving is not a classic green bean casserole, nor is it a crock of ultra-creamy mashed potatoes. For me, Thanksgiving’s not Thanksgiving without this cheesy corn casserole recipe. Is it fancy? Nope. Is it comfort food you’ll want to reheat the next day and eat straight from the Pyrex? Absolutely. And it doesn’t require much prep time—or a box of regionally available cornbread mix—to put together.
Dubbed “that creamy, cheesy corn thing” by those in the know, this easy recipe starts with canned corn, making it decidedly simple to put together (you don’t even need a mixing bowl). Avoid cans labeled “creamed corn” or “cream-style corn”—you’re looking for plain canned sweet corn kernels. Heated with cream cheese, cheddar, and Parmesan (plus diced green chiles and garlic), the kernels add sweetness and pops of texture to the creamy, melty dish. You can assemble the corn casserole a few days ahead; top it with the breadcrumbs and more cheese before popping it in the oven for 15 minutes to warm up—just enough time to carve the turkey. It’s so make-ahead friendly, in fact, you can cook it all the way through and cart it along to a potluck since it’s even great at room temperature.
My “creamy, cheesy corn thing” isn’t the only corn casserole out there. If you’re in it for the version on the back of a box of Jiffy corn muffin mix, which one BA staffer thought was a treasured family secret, we’ve got the deets on that too. (Spoiler alert: Hers has a ton of extra melted butter.) We also have a hominy-bolstered corn pudding enriched with sour cream and laced with poblano chiles and Cotija cheese, and a creamed corn soufflé made with grated ears of fresh corn. All this to say: Options abound. Still, I keep coming back to this, IMHO, perfectly cheesy corn casserole.
Recipe information
Total Time
25 minutes
Yield
10–12 servings
Ingredients
2
1
2
2
8
¾
¾
½
½
Preparation
Step 1
Place rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 375°. Butter a 13x9" baking dish and set aside.
Step 2
Melt 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 jalapeño, finely chopped (seeded if desired), and 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped, and cook until fragrant and just starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add two 15-oz. cans whole-kernel corn, drained, 8 oz. cream cheese, ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, and ¼ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and corn is well coated, 2–3 minutes, then season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Step 3
Pour corn mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with ½ cup breadcrumbs (fresh or dried), ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese, and ½ cup roughly chopped tender fresh herbs such as thyme, sage, or parsley. Bake corn casserole until cheese is melted and bubbling and the breadcrumbs are a crispy golden brown, about 15 minutes. Garnish with more roughly chopped tender herbs and green onions or chives, sliced, (if using).
Do ahead: Corn casserole can be assembled without topping up to 3 days ahead of time. Cover casserole dish with a lid or wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Editor’s note: This corn casserole recipe was first printed as an article titled “This Insanely Cheesy Corn Casserole Will Get You Through Thanksgiving” in October 2016. Head this way for more of our best Thanksgiving recipes →
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Reviews (6)
Back to TopThis dish is insanely good. I’ve made it since the article came out in 2016. My family looks forward to it every Thanksgiving and tons of people have asked for the recipe. Not sure what Janna did wrong, but this recipe is outstanding. A must for any holiday!!!
Anna
Fairfax
11/23/2023
I have some chef training so I know my way around the kitchen. This casserole sounded like it should’ve turned out good and it was absolutely horrible. I even made it twice thinking perhaps I had done something wrong the first time, and my family begged me not to make it again
Janna
North Port, Florida
11/13/2023
So easy, very comforting. I did add a little more corn than required, and used frozen.
Anonymous
Detroiter in New Delhi
10/2/2023