Name: Southern Fried Skillet Corn
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 ears corn on the cob (shucked & hairs removed); 1 tbsp canola oil; 1 tsp sugar; 1/3 cup milk; 1 tsp coarse sea salt; 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

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Southern fried skillet corn updates the standard corn side dish. Rather than serving corn on the cob, this is cut off the cob, cast iron cooked with a little sugar and milk thrown in for good measure. It’s the best way to enjoy fresh corn!

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Being a good southern gal, I love corn.

In fact, corn season may be my very favorite season to check out the fresh produce.

Or at least it gives cherry season a run for its money!

Corn fresh on, or off, the cob will always be my favorite.

And during season when you can buy fresh corn, it’s always so much sweeter and more delicious!

While I love corn served almost any way, one of my favorite ways to enjoy it is this southern fried skillet corn.

What is southern fried skillet corn?

Southern fried skillet corn is a classic down home side dish.

It features sweet, fresh corn, cut off the cob and cooked in a skillet with milk and sugar.

The result is a fresh, and much tastier version, of creamed corn.

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need:

Corn on the cob– Shucked with all the corn silk removed
Oil– Canola or another light colored oil
Sugar– Granulated
Milk– Whole is best
Salt and pepper

How to Make

To make this fried skillet corn, start by cutting the kernels away from the cob with a sharp knife and collecting them on a waiting plate.

Flip the knife and rub the dull side down the cob to release and ‘milk’ onto the plate.

Then, heat the oil in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.

Once the oil is hot, stir the corn and sugar together in the skillet.

Continue cooking the corn over medium heat, without stirring, until the kernels are golden brown.

Once the kernels turn golden brown, stir the corn, scraping the pan and flipping it over as much as possible so it cooks on the other side.

Keep cooking for another 3-5 minutes.

Season the corn with salt and pepper and add the milk to the skillet.

Bring the mixture to a boil.

Once the mixture boils, turn the heat back down to medium and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, remove the skillet from heat and stir the corn, scraping the pan.

The corn is done at this point, and any liquid should be gone while the corn’s still moist.

Serve and enjoy!

Can I Use Frozen Corn?

Absolutely!

If you decide to use frozen corn make sure it’s thawed completely and drained very well.

Oil and water don’t mix well, and the excess moisture will result in a soggy dish.

One ear of corn yields roughly 1/2 cup of corn kernels, so you’ll need about 2 cups for the recipe as it’s written.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Variations

We’ve made this corn all Summer long for years, and overtime we’ve come up with some tasty ways to change it up.

A few of our favorites include:

Stirring honey in at the end with a pat of butter for a sweet version.
Saute some diced jalapeno and add bacon bits.
Adding cream cheese for a creamier texture.
Leftover ham, diced and some shredded cheddar turn this side dish into a light Summer supper.

Experiment and find out what flavor combination you love!

Tips and Tricks

Use sweet kernel corn if it’s an option. Any corn on the cob will ultimately work though.
While you can use any skillet for this recipe, I highly recommend a cast iron skillet. They heat more evenly, and maintain a more consistent temperature while cooking.
The recipe is delicious as is, but my husband swears by stirring in a pat of unsalted butter at the end for extra richness.
As written, the recipe serves four. It easily doubles, or triples to feed a crowd without getting any harder or sacrificing any flavor.

Other Fresh Corn Recipes

This southern fried skillet corn is fresh corn off the cob at its absolute finest.

Make this classic southern side and take advantage of all that corn goodness!

Looking for other things to do with fresh corn?

Try these recipes:

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