Get ready to learn how make roasted corn the easy way! Quickly caramelize whole corn kernels alongside onions and garlic for a side dish on the stovetop that is fast enough for weeknights. Plus it uses frozen corn which means this can be ready to eat in just 20 minutes all year long!
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When life gets on the crazy side my meal planning can get a little shoddy. I can't be the only mother that plans the main dish but forgets about the sides, right? Since I know this about myself, I try to keep ingredients around for some simple side dishes, like this Moist Buttermilk Cornbread or this Oven Roasted Broccoli.
This Roasted Corn recipe is one of the sides I turn to a lot. It's the best way to eat sweet summer corn. Better than a fresh ear of corn, better than oven roasted corn, better than Mexican Street Corn... and yes, better than that store bought version from Trader Joe's. It's a frozen corn recipe that will steal the show!
🏅 Why this recipe is great
- Flavorful! There is absolutely nothing boring about roasted corn. It takes on all the caramelized flavors of the onion and garlic.
- Fast and easy. Just keep frozen corn kernels on hand and you have a delicious, quick side dish ready in 20 minutes.
- Fits every occasion. Roasted corn is easy enough for a weeknight, delicious enough to serve to guests, and simple enough to feed to a crowd.
- Better than your corn on the cob recipe. Whole corn kernels are faster to cook on the stovetop and easier to eat than a corn cob. Plus no need to shuck fresh corn.
- Saves space in the oven. Oven-roasted corn is good, but cooking it on the stovetop saves space in the oven for everything else.
- Any time of year. Fresh summer corn-on-the-cob is delicious, but frozen corn can be made all year long! Plus it's a great alternative to grilling.
🌽 Ingredients for roasted corn
This roasted corn recipe only calls for 5 simple ingredients, most of which you probably have on hand already.
Onion: Yellow, brown, or sweet onion.
Garlic: I prefer buying minced garlic because it's easier and faster than mincing your own. I suggest using real garlic over garlic powder.
Butter: We use regular salted butter, but unsalted will work as well. Adjust the seasoning at the end to your liking.
Olive oil: Virgin or extra virgin will work, but EVOO will impart a better flavor. Feel free to substitute with vegetable oil or canola oil.
Whole corn kernels: This recipe uses frozen corn kernels (yellow, white or sweet corn). White kernels are usually a bit more tender while the yellow have a slightly more corny flavor. Yellow are the easiest to find in the grocery store.
🔪 How to make roasted corn
Cooking frozen corn on the stove top is as easy as three steps! It is my favorite way of cooking corn. There are several methods, but for the best results, read my tips below each step.
Sauté aromatics: Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and oil, then sauté the onions and garlic until they are fragrant and translucent, 2-3 minutes.
- I prefer using a cast iron skillet (affiliate) over a non-stick skillet because it holds heat better, resulting in more caramelized corn kernels.
- Make sure the skillet is 12 inches in order to not overcrowd the pan.
Add frozen corn: Get the pan super hot before adding the corn. Then add the frozen corn kernels and roast in a single layer, stirring occasionally.
- If the pan isn't hot enough, the corn will steam instead of caramelizing. So don't be afraid to get it screaming hot!
- Only stir the corn occasionally. If you stir too often it won't have the chance to caramelize.
Cook for about 10-15 minutes: You can tell the roasted corn is done when the kernels are soft and speckled with dark golden brown spots throughout. Season with salt and black pepper.
🌿 Variations
- Use fresh herbs during the last 5-10 minutes of cooking time. They accentuate the true flavor of corn. My favorite herbs are thyme, parley, and cilantro.
- Ia great addition in place of just butter is using your favorite herb butter, also known as compound butters. Try a savory flavored butter using softened butter.
- For an easy Mexican corn salad, sprinkle in cilantro and cotija cheese once the corn is fully cool.
👨👩👧👦 For a crowd
Roasted corn is definitely an option for a crowd, but when doubling the recipe it is best to use two separate skillets to avoid overcrowding the pan. Or use one skillet and make the recipe twice. If you choose to use one skillet, hold the first finished batch in a covered heatproof serving dish while making the second batch.
We use whole corn kernels because they are faster to cook on a gas stove and easier to eat than a cob. Plus frozen corn can be made all year long!
🙋 Questions & Answers
Cast iron skillets are most likely going to get you the best results, but you are welcome to use whatever skillet you have on hand. Just make sure that your skillet is large and gets hot enough to ensure the beautiful caramelizing that makes this corn so flavorful.
If you don't have a cast iron skillet yet, check out this post about Why You Should Buy a Cast Iron Skillet + 15 Recipes to Try.
Removing corn husks and cutting it off the cob is a lot of extra work.... The easiest way to go is frozen corn, so that's our first choice. However, you can also make this recipe with fresh corn kernels or canned corn that has been thoroughly drained.
Yes, no matter the type of corn you can roast it without boiling it first. However, roasting corn kernels (instead of a whole cob) will get you the best results.
My favorite seasonings are just the onion and garlic sautéed in melted butter. They add tons of flavor! For a different flavor profile, you could also try a little bit of chili powder, chili lime seasoning, fresh herbs, feta cheese, parmesan cheese or even chopped red or green bell peppers.
Store roasted corn in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove.
👨🏼🍳 Tips & Tricks
- Use a cast iron skillet (affiliate) to produce the most color on the corn.
- After sautéing the onions and garlic, make sure the pan is really hot before adding the corn. This will ensure that the kernels roast and don't steam.
- Do not overcrowd the pan (use a 12-inch skillet). If the pan is too crowded the corn won't be able to caramelize.
- Stir the corn occasionally, but allow plenty of time without stirring to help the dark brown spots to develop.
📖 More favorite side dishes
- Red Skinned Mashed Potatoes are creamy, fluffy, and buttery every time! The perfect side dish.
- These Baked Beans Using Canned Beans is a shortcut method to get thick, bubbly, "from scratch" beans for every summer bbq!
- These Fresh Green Beans with Bacon are one of those healthy recipes that you actually want to eat. Perfect for the summer months!
- This Pull Apart Bread is slathered with homemade garlic butter and baked until perfectly golden!
👋🏻 Connect with us!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food!
📋 Recipe
Easy Skillet Roasted Corn (Simple Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen corn kernels
- ½ onion diced (yellow, brown, or sweet onion)
- 1½ tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- kosher salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat (I prefer cast iron skillets, but any skillet will work).
- Once hot, add in butter and oil until melted. Add in diced onion and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and translucent. The pan should stay very hot, but not so hot that they burn.½ onion, 2 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoon olive oil, 1½ tablespoon garlic
- With the pan very hot, add in frozen corn kernels. Continue to cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. It is done when the kernels are soft and are spotted with deep shades of brown. Finish with salt and pepper to taste.2 pounds frozen corn kernels, kosher salt, pepper
- We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you've tried this recipe.
Notes
- Use a cast iron skillet to produce the most color on the corn.
- After sautéing the onions and garlic, make sure the pan is really hot before adding the corn. This will ensure that the kernels roast and don't steam.
- Do not overcrowd the pan (use a 12-inch skillet). If the pan is too crowded the corn won't be able to caramelize.
- Stir the corn occasionally, but allow plenty of time without stirring to help the dark brown spots to develop.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Mary says
I used a 12 inch skillet but there was no way I was going to be able to fit the 2 lbs of corn in it! And, by the time the corn was roasted the onions and garlic had burned :'( Otherwise, it tasted great! I will definitely be trying this again!
Danielle says
So sorry that it didn't quite fit! I own a Lodge 12-inch skillet and a Walmart brand 12-inch skillet and two pounds fits in both of those - although it is a little tight in the beginning until the corn cooks down. I will look at the instructions and make sure they are correct. My one tip would be to make sure the skillet is hot without being too hot. The onions and garlic should carmalize and not burn. Hope that helps but feel free to ask any other questions.
Beverly says
Delicious! Made this tonight & it turned out excellent. Everyone enjoyed it, there was none left. Thanks for another yummy way to make corn.
Misty says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to share, it makes our day!
Dave says
Hello. I made this the way you said but had a problem. While the flavor was awesome it kept sticking to my teeth and was very tough to chew. (Real teeth not dentures) The crazy thing was that the flavor was so good I kept eating it! Did I do something wrong or is it supposed to be tough like that?
Misty says
Hi Dave! Yes, the flavor really is amazing. Corn tends to get tough when it is overcooked. My suggestion would be to try cooking it just a few minutes less, until the kernels are soft and just golden brown. Let us know how it goes!
Dave says
Okay I'll try that. The flavor is really good so I'll give it another try maybe a hotter pan and less time than I cooked it last time. Thanks
Bubba says
Made this tonight since I had no asparagus.
Best decision in months. Lol
Washed it down with a Med Rare 18oz NY prime steak.
Sous Vide at 133 for 2 1/2 hours seasoned with Smokey Cajun.
Then Pan Seared in same pan that made the Corn.
Great recipe.
Look forward to trying more.
Best meal in ages.
Misty says
So glad you liked it! Great to pair with steak.
Jess H says
I made this to add into a carnitas bowl and it was delicious! Added in some cotija cheese after the corn chilled. Simply delicious!
Danielle says
That sounds delicious! Great idea! And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
Scarlet says
Loved this recipe, will make again, flavorful and quick!
Danielle says
So glad to hear that! We really appreciate you taking the time to comment! Have a great day!
Ashley says
Crowd-pleaser! Just took it to a Friendsgiving and got lots of compliments 🙂
Danielle says
That makes our day! Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know! Happy Thanksgiving
Rosie Swindell says
I want to make charred corn salsa. I don't have a grill so this sounds like it will do the trick. Will let you know how it worked. Thanks for the tip.
Misty says
Let us know how it turns out!
Michele says
This was awesome! Made skillet corn tonight and everyone loved it!
Misty says
We're so happy you all loved it!
Dave says
I have made this and added cooked crumbled bacon.
Danielle says
What a marvelous suggestion! We will have to give that a try! Thanks for taking a minute to comment!
Debi Bartoli says
Add some cojita cheese and chopped cilantro. Yum! 😋
Danielle says
Yum! Great idea!
Susan says
Can this be made ahead of time? We are having Thanksgiving in our motorhome so stovetop space can be an issue.
Danielle says
Definitely! If I make this ahead I like to warm it in the oven when it is time to serve. Although, I assume a microwave would be successful as well. If you try either method let us know how it turns out! Hope your Thanksgiving is delicious!
Kathy says
Can you use canned corn??
Danielle says
I have not tried that before, but as long as you drain them very well I think it would work. Please let us know if you give it a try.
Aspen says
Whoa, this is delicious! Perfect for fall... even thought it’s still hot where I live, haha.
Misty says
Yes, it's delicious even when it's warm haha! Glad you liked it.
Sue says
Can you use fresh corn and get the same steam effect?
Danielle says
So sorry this took us a day! A technical glitch on this end. I have never tried fresh corn, but I think it should work. If you give it a try, please let us know how it turned out.
Jana says
This was SO good! I really made sure to get the pan super hot and keep the layer of corn thin. It browned really nicely and made the whole house smell amazing!
Misty says
I'm so glad it turned out well!