The Best Creamy & Easy Corn Casserole Recipe

What’s that one magical, can’t-miss side dish that you can bring to any potluck, holiday gathering, or family dinner and know with absolute certainty that the dish will be scraped clean every single time? For millions of us, it’s this incredible, easy, and unbelievably delicious Corn Casserole.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to mastering a true American comfort food classic. Often called corn pudding or spoonbread, this from-scratch version is the ultimate tribute to the sweet, savory goodness of corn. We’ll show you how to create a wonderfully moist, custardy, and cheesy casserole that is bursting with flavor, all with a brilliantly simple, one-bowl “dump-and-mix” method. Get ready to make the most requested side dish you’ve ever brought to a party.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Potluck Superstar

What makes this Corn Casserole a guaranteed hit is its incredible “dump-and-mix” simplicity and its irresistible sweet and savory flavor that appeals to everyone, from kids to adults. This recipe requires no complicated steps; you simply stir all the ingredients together in one bowl, pour it into a dish, and bake. The result is a wonderfully moist, tender, and pudding-like casserole with a beautiful golden-brown top and sweet bursts of whole corn kernels in every bite. It’s the perfect, stress-free, make-ahead side dish for any occasion.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	45 minutes
Active Prep Time	10 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	8-10

The Essential Ingredients for the Best Corn Casserole

This recipe uses a handful of simple, classic ingredients to create its signature creamy texture and sweet and savory flavor.

• The Corn Duo: The secret to the perfect corn flavor and texture is using two types of canned corn.
  • Whole Kernel Corn: Provides those wonderful, sweet pops of texture and a fresh corn taste.
  • Creamed Corn: This is the key to the casserole’s creamy, pudding-like consistency. It provides a sweet, starchy corn base that keeps the entire dish incredibly moist.
• The “Cornbread” Element: This is what gives our casserole its classic, comforting structure.
  • Yellow Cornmeal: Provides that signature, slightly gritty, and delicious cornbread flavor and texture.
  • Baking Soda: A little bit of baking soda reacts with the acidic sour cream to give the casserole a perfect, gentle lift so it’s not too dense.
• The Creamy & Rich Trio: This is what makes the casserole so decadent and delicious.
  • Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Adds a wonderful, savory, tangy, and cheesy flavor that perfectly balances the sweetness of the corn.
  • Sour Cream: Provides moisture and a lovely, bright tang.
  • Melted Butter: Adds a rich, savory, and buttery flavor throughout the entire casserole.
• Fresh Chives: A handful of fresh, chopped chives adds a delicate, fresh oniony bite and beautiful flecks of green color.

Step-by-Step to the Easiest Casserole Ever

This recipe is wonderfully simple. It’s a true one-bowl wonder!

Step 1: Combine All The Ingredients

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

In a single large mixing bowl, add the can of drained whole corn kernels, the can of creamed corn, the 1 large egg, the 1 1/2 cups of shredded sharp Cheddar, the 1 cup of yellow cornmeal, the 1 cup of sour cream, the 6 tablespoons of melted butter, the 1/4 cup of chopped fresh chives, the 1/4 cup of sugar, the 2 teaspoons of baking soda, the 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper.

Stir everything together with a large spoon or a spatula until it is all evenly and thoroughly combined.

Step 2: Bake to Golden, Set Perfection

Pour the mixture into a 2-quart (or an 8×8 or 9×9 inch) baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

Pro Tip (How to Tell When It’s Done): You’ll know the corn casserole is perfectly baked when the top and edges are a beautiful light golden brown, and the center is mostly set. If you gently nudge the pan, the center should have only a very slight jiggle to it. It will continue to set as it cools.

Step 3: Rest and Serve

Let the finished casserole rest on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before serving. This crucial step allows the hot, custardy center to set up properly, which makes for cleaner scoops and a better texture.

Serve the corn casserole warm.

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Serving Your Corn Casserole

This sweet and savory Corn Casserole is the ultimate comfort food side dish. It is a non-negotiable staple on any Southern or Midwestern holiday table, especially for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a roasted turkey, a holiday ham, or a classic pot roast. It is also a guaranteed superstar at any potluck, barbecue, or family gathering. Serve it warm, scooped directly from the casserole dish.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

This Corn Casserole is the absolute perfect make-ahead dish for a stress-free holiday or party.

• Make-Ahead (Best Method!): You can fully assemble the entire, unbaked casserole in your baking dish up to 2 days in advance. Simply cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil and store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, let it sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes, and then bake as directed. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time since it is starting from cold.
• Storage: Store any leftover casserole, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Reheating: The best way to reheat the casserole is in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, until it is hot and bubbly. Individual portions can also be easily reheated in the microwave.

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Creative Recipe Variations

This incredibly simple and delicious casserole is a fantastic base for your own creative and flavorful twists.

1. Add a Spicy, Southwestern Kick: For a delicious Tex-Mex version, you can fold in one 4-ounce can of drained, diced green chiles and/or 1/4 cup of finely chopped, pickled jalapeños into the batter before you bake it.
2. Add Some Savory Bacon: For a salty, smoky, and savory addition that is always a hit, you can stir 1/2 cup of crispy, crumbled cooked bacon into the mixture before you pour it into the baking dish.
3. Add a Crispy, Crunchy Topping: For a wonderful textural contrast, you can sprinkle the top of the casserole with 1/2 cup of crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz®) or crushed cornflakes that have been tossed with 2 tablespoons of melted butter before you bake it.

Enjoy The Ultimate Crowd-Pleasing Side Dish!

You’ve just created a truly special side dish that is a perfect harmony of sweet, savory, and cheesy flavors. This classic, from-scratch Corn Casserole is a foolproof, deeply satisfying, and nostalgic dish that is guaranteed to be a massive hit wherever you serve it. It’s the kind of simple, comforting food that brings everyone together.

We hope you enjoy every last, delicious spoonful!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, classic casserole!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)