With this easy canned corn recipe, you'll always have a tasty side dish to serve up with your meal. Made with basic ingredients, this recipe is as frugal as it is tasty!
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I love keeping canned veggies on hand because they're Frugal Pantry Staples to Keep on Hand, and great for Making a Healthy Grocery List On a Budget.
Using canned veggies to stretch meals, add to cornbread like this Cornbread Bundt Cake, and of course, to add some color to our dinner plates.
Canned corn is an incredible side dish as-is, but heating it up with some butter and seasonings really helps to elevate the dish. From the sweet, crunchy corn to the rich added tastes, this is one side dish everyone can agree on!
We use canned corn a lot around here because keeping it on hand is so easy. It's also one of the Foods to Stockpile On a Budget. Corn is one of our go-to veggies, and it's not hard to see why. It's versatile, filling and delicious, just like our Air Fryer Corn on the Cob.
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Buzz From Readers
"I haven't bought canned corn in years but just made this as written. So good! I needed some comfort food so I just had this with macaroni and cheese and I feel better already!"
- Susan
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's simple. From a can of corn to some basic seasonings, this dish is easy to throw together. You may even be pleasantly surprised to find most (if not all) of the ingredients are already in your home!
- It's really cheap to make. Canned veggies are known for their frugal affordability. Whether you pay for them at the store or get them free from food drives or handouts, they are always easy to add to the meal plan.
- It's quick! You'll only need a skillet and a few minutes of your time to make this quick side dish. Add it to any meal as a last-minute side dish, and be thankful that you did. Once you've mastered this Easy Canned Corn Recipe, move on to The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe next.
🛒 Ingredients
Canned corn- Use a can of whole-kernel sweet corn for the base of this recipe. Any brand will be fine. If you still have more cans of corn on hand, try our Air Fryer Canned Corn Recipe.
Seasonings- You will want to use a combination of garlic powder, salt, black pepper, paprika, and parsley. You can even add in some red pepper flakes for a nice kick of heat.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Paprika. You can use regular paprika for this recipe or (my personal favorite) smoked paprika. Both taste incredible and give a nice touch of color to the corn.
Parsley. Using fresh parsley is convenient, but for added freshness, you can use fresh parsley at the end as a nice garnish. You will need more fresh parsley than dried as it's not as concentrated in flavor.
Water. If desired, you can use reserved corn juice from the can, but I prefer to use water as it's a little less sodium.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy store-brand corn. Generic canned corn is usually identical in taste and quality but significantly cheaper. Canned veggies often go on sale for under $0.50 a can. They store well and are perfect for budget meal planning.
Stretch it into a bigger side. Add a can of drained potatoes, green beans, or mixed veggies to bulk it up for pennies more.
Repurpose leftovers. Stir leftover corn into casseroles, cornbread mix, ramen, rice bowls, or soups to reduce waste and add flavor.
🥄 Instructions for Easy Canned Corn Recipe
Step 1: Drain the liquid from the can of corn. I recommend rinsing the corn off in a colander under cool water, but that step is optional. Set aside for now.
Step 2: Add your butter to a small saucepan over medium heat.
Step 3: Cook until melted but not browned.
Step 4: Add in the water and dry seasonings.
Step 5: Mix to combine.
Step 6: Stir in the drained corn.
Step 7: Simmer and cook until the liquid has almost completely evaporated from the pan. This will take up to 5 minutes or so.
Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.
If using fresh parsley, add it in now.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
Sodium Reduction Tips:
- Check Labels: Be cautious of sodium levels by reading labels on canned veggies at the store. "Organic" varieties may have higher sodium content than regular ones.
- Rinse Corn: To reduce sodium, drain and rinse canned corn with water. Most of the sodium is in the liquid, so this helps remove some of it.
❄️ Storage and Reheating
Storage: Leftover Easy Canned Corn Recipe will last up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Reheat again before serving.
Reheating: You can reheat this corn in a skillet on the stove over medium heat or simply place a serving or two of it on a plate and microwave for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This simple canned corn pairs well with almost anything. Serve it alongside pork chops, roasted chicken, meatloaf, baked brats, or burgers. It's also great with mashed potatoes, rice, cornbread, or simple salads for a complete and budget-friendly meal.
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❓ Easy Canned Corn Recipe FAQs
Corn is a great source of many vitamins and nutrients, as well as fiber. Canned veggies are just as healthy as fresh or frozen because canning helps to preserve a lot of the nutrients. Not only that, but they're shelf stable and affordable too!
According to research published by the USDA, rinsing canned vegetables can remove up to 9%-23% of the added sodium in the can. Other nutrients decreased a little as well, but not in significant amounts.
Canned corn is technically already cooked and could be eaten directly from the can if desired, but heating it always makes it taste better. Cook this corn until it is fully heated and there is no more liquid in the pan.
Enhancing canned corn with just one or two of these choices significantly boosts its flavor profile, transforming the dish into a culinary delight. From salt and soy sauce to butter and bacon grease, olive oil, garlic, herbs, spices, and cheese each option offers a unique and delicious twist.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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- Old Fashioned Creamed CornRecipe $2.75 / Serving $0.34
- Roasted Frozen Green BeansRecipe $1.37 / Serving $0.27
🐝 If you tried this Easy Canned Corn Recipe, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Easy Canned Corn Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can (15 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained - ($0.64)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - ($0.25)
- ¼ cup water - ($0.00)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder - ($0.04)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley or 2 teaspoons fresh parsley - ($0.08)
- ½ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper - ($0.02)
- ¼ teaspoon paprika, regular or smoked - ($0.02)
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes, optional - ($0.02)
Instructions
- Prep the corn. Drain the liquid from the canned corn. Rinsing under cool water is optional but recommended to reduce sodium. Set aside.
- Melt the butter. Add the butter to a medium-sized skillet over medium heat and allow it to melt.
- Season and simmer. Add the water and all dry seasonings except fresh parsley. Stir to combine, then add the drained corn.
- Cook down. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the corn is heated through, about 5 minutes.
- Finish. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If using fresh parsley, stir it in at the end and serve warm.
Notes
- Corn Juice. You may substitute reserved corn liquid for the water, but water is preferred for a lighter option.
- Draining and Rinsing. Rinsing canned corn helps remove excess sodium from the packing liquid.
- Reheating. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Storage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat before serving.
Nutritional Information
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Rose says
Definitely would make again. I rinsed and drained the corn, used only 1 tbsp of butter and no red pepper flakes. Tasted very sweet.
Nicole Durham says
Glad you liked it!
Susan says
I haven’t bought canned corn in years but just made this as written. So good! I needed some comfort food so I just had this with macaroni and cheese and I feel better already!
Nicole Durham says
I'm so glad you liked it! I hope the rest of your day continues to bring you comfort as well. Thanks so much for trying this recipe.