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During the holidays, my family really enjoys the “once a year recipes” like pumpkin pie, cornbread dressing, turkey, and mashed potatoes with gravy. They don’t often let me change it up and new recipes are out of the question. One of our favorite holiday side dishes is corn pudding. I love it but find it too sweet for a vegetable dish. So year after year, I quietly cut down the amount of sugar but still think there is room for improvement. This summer I tested and tweaked a few recipes trying to find a good corn casserole that was flavored with sweet corn instead of sugar. While this Cheesy Corn Casserole with Jalapeños is not exactly corn pudding, it is a delicious and satisfying side dish that’s easily adapted to your taste.
Served hot from the oven or cold from the refrigerator, this is a delicious side that’s great for more than just the holidays. It keeps well and makes a great addition to the breakfast table after being rewarmed for a minute in the microwave.
This dish is backyard BBQ ready, brunch, church picnic and pot-luck approved.
For a more traditional flavored corn casserole, leave out the cayenne and jalapeños. Looking for a smoky flavor? Go wild and add some apple smoked bacon.
Finally, my taste testers loved it as-is but I wonder if they will let me make it for Thanksgiving this year? We’ll have to see about that … change is hard when it comes to family traditions.
Be sure to PIN to your favorite “Cheesy Corn Casserole” board!
Cheesy Corn Casserole with Jalapeños
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack Cheese cut into 1/2" cubes
- 4 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese grated divided
- ⅓ cup cornmeal
- ⅔ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 5 ½ to 6 cups fresh or frozen sweet corn thawed (about 8-10 cobs)
- 4 scallions sliced thin, white and green parts separated
- 1 Jalapeno pepper seeds removed then minced (more or less to taste)
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
- 3 large eggs lightly whisked
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Lightly grease or spray a 13x9 inch baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, pepper, sugar and cayenne.
- In the bowl of a food processor, add ½ the corn and the scallion whites. Pulse 8-10 times to make a coarse puree. Add the pureed corn and scallion mixture to the flour mixture.
- Fold in the sour cream, ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, eggs, melted butter, the remaining corn, ½ the shredded cheddar cheese, all of the cubed Monterey Jack cheese, and the minced jalapeños.
- Pour the corn mixture into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan and cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake until the casserole is puffy and golden brown, about 45 minutes. Cool for about 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with the scallion greens and fresh sliced jalapeños if desired.
Recipe Notes
- Inspired by a recipe in Cook's Country Magazine
Nutrition
Busy week ahead! I can’t imagine how busy it is for you all that have little ones at home or in school. I don’t know how we did it but can’t wait until our grandkids start with the sports and school plays, all that fun stuff! And this time, there’s no homework for me 🙂 Have a lovely week and thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Sylvia
Could this dish be prepped the day prior to cooking? Or is it better to prepare, bake and just re-heat the day of using?
Tricia Buice
I think it would be fine to prepare the day before and baking the day of. However, we had leftover rewarmed in the microwave for several days and it was still great. I think a long reheating of a cooked casserole may cause it to be a bit dry. I hope you love it Sylvia – it’s so good! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Sylvia
Thanks, I’ll prepare the night before and bake on Thursday. It’s sounds amazing. I did extensive research, and this recipe looks the best to me. Happy Thanksgiving!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Sylvia – Happy Thanksgiving.
Monica
I eat corn almost everyday (often frozen, admittedly) so this is calling out to me. And I love a little kick so it’s all kind of irresistible!
Tricia Buice
This is a keeper Monica – hope you give it a try! Have a lovely Labor Day weekend 🙂
Ashley Matsko
Hello Tricia!
I saw your comment on Sue’s Hatch Green Chile dip recipe with our Hatch Green Chile. I also enjoy football season and anything Hatch Green Chile! We would love to send you a free box of our Hatch Green Chile to use in your recipes. If you are interested, please send me an email.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Ashley
Sarah Easom
Just wondering.. could this recipe be made ahead and frozen. I made it for a church pot luck but would like to have it for our small family. I could bake in two smaller casseroles and freeze one if it will freeze..
Tricia Buice
Hi Sarah – I think this casserole will freeze very well but I have not tried it yet. Thanks for the great question.
Susan
Even though I’m not cooking much yet (tried last weekend and my hand and wrist paid the price), I am saving this great recipe for when I can! I love corn season in Wisconsin – just too hard to shuck these days 🙁 I’m happy to see frozen corn can be substituted. Pinning!
Tricia Buice
I have been thinking about you Susan – I hope you are healing quickly. That must be awful 🙁 Thanks for pinning!
Katherine | Omnivore's Cookbook
This is inviting me and the sweet corn and Jalapeno kick are just so hard to resist! Making soon!
John/Kitchen Riffs
We all get attached to traditional foods! And some of them are things that if we were coming to them for the first time, we’d turn up our noses! This looks wonderful — hope your family lets you serve it at Thanksgiving! I’d vote for it!
Tricia Buice
They already tried it so maybe I can talk them into it – we already have plenty of sweets at the holidays, because somebody loves to bake, so a more savory version of a corn casserole is a good idea. Thanks for stopping by!
Sylvia
I found this recipe in 2016 and am delighted with the results. I have been making it for Thanksgiving ever since with rave reviews from my family. It’s delicious and a great addition to the menu. Thanks for the wonderful recipe. I’m wondering if I can make it ahead and freeze? Then bake Thanksgiving day?
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Sylvia! If you’re going to freeze it, I would bake it first. Then just thaw and gently rewarm. Or, make it one day ahead and then bake the day it’s needed. I’ve never tried freezing before baking so I’m not sure how it will turn out. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thanks so much for the feedback and for trying the recipe.
Dom
oh Tricia… what are you doing to me? I’ve been on site on a job for a week now and I haven’t eaten properly and this is just too much!! Cheesy Corn… god yes!
Tricia Buice
Cheesy corn is right Dom – this stuff is tasty! Don’t work too hard 🙂
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
What a great dish, Tricia!
I know what you mean about tradition though. I have found a way around that by introducing a new dish each year but it’s an extra. Then everyone votes on whether they want it included in the next holiday, lol. It seemed the only way to avoid a mutiny!
This beautiful recipe has reminded me that I need to go get more corn. Loving the sweet corn right now – ohhh, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have it for a few more months!
Hope your birthday is a blast!
Tricia Buice
Adding one new recipe each year sounds like a good way to go Robyn. We love the corn pudding but it’s just so sweet. We already have sweets for the holidays so I would rather go with this savory version. Have a lovely week and thanks!
Sara
Corn is even better covered with cheese, this look fabulous!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Sara – isn’t everything better with cheese – haha!
Abbe@This is How I Cook
Well if they don’t want it for Thanksgiving just bring it on over to my house! This sounds fabulous, Tricia!
Tricia Buice
I hear you Abbe – and I will! Be careful what you wish for – I have a brother near you!
cakespy
My crave-o-meter is on high right now! This looks awesome.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Jessie!
Dana
Wonder if you could use a box of Jiffy?
Tricia Buice
I bet you could use a job of Jiffy but I actually developed this recipe to get away from using the box mix 🙂 We love that stuff – I was just looking for a homemade version without canned cream corn and the prepackaged cornbread mixture. Let me know if you try it with Jiffy – I would be curious to know how it turns out. Thanks for the great question and for reading the blog!
Larry
By cutting back on the sweet, you have a dish I know I would enjoy – it looks delicious.
Tricia Buice
Yes I think you would Larry! Hope you give it a try when you get home.
All That I'm Eating
This sounds delicious! I love the yellow colour. I didn’t know it was worth trying cold either!
Tricia Buice
It’s good cold, hot or room temperature – hope you’ll give it a try!
Beth
That sounds delicious – and the bacon version is calling my name! Thanks for sharing.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Beth – I think we could add bacon and call it a meal 🙂
Gerlinde @Sunnycovechef
What a great combination Tricia, especially adding the jalapeños. Thanks for sharing and I think I have fun playing with this.
Tricia Buice
Cheese and corn and jalapeños – a wonderful combination for sure!
Chris Scheuer
This looks amazing Tricia. I love the addition of a little heat with the jalapeños. I think your family could get used to this as a tradition very quickly!
Tricia Buice
I love the heat too Chris – have a great week and thanks!
Monique
Sunshine casserole:) Corn is on the menu tonight..it is a meal in itself to me..but not to Jacques..so he adds a protein.I just love corn!
Looks great Tricia!
Tricia Buice
This is a meal by itself Monique – and I believe I had it for lunch one day and breakfast the next. Hope you enjoy your fresh corn tonight!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I’m loving all things corn these days. Our local corn is great this year! Can’t wait to try this. Looks delicious 🙂
Tricia Buice
I wish our season extended just a little longer – there is nothing like fresh sweet summer corn! Thanks Jennifer.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
A fantastic casserole recipe, Tricia. Spicy and sweet…definitely a favourite combo.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Angie – hope you have a wonderful week.
Shelly
Flour not in ingredient list but is in directions to be mixed with cornmeal, etc.????
Tricia Buice
Oops! Thank you so much Shelly – adding the 2/3 cup flour to the ingredient list 🙂 Sorry!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
This is right up my alley, I just can’t get enough corn these days, and jalapenos, heck yes — the more the merrier!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Sue! I could go a little hotter myself – love it 🙂