Best Ever Creamed Corn (2024)

This Homemade Creamed Corn recipe is the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Creamy, buttery, super sweet corn is a delicious addition to your holiday table or Sunday supper. Don’t skimp on the fat, just embrace this indulgent dish for what it is!

I have to admit, until I made this homemade creamed corn with cream cheese for myself, I wasn’t really a big fan of this dish. Maybe that’s because I remember the canned version of cream-style corn from my childhood.

Trust me, the homemade version with cream cheese and real butter is infinitely better!

When cooked on the stovetop, the milk (or cream) that the corn cooks in slowly reduces down into the signature thick and creamy sauce. The addition of cream cheese in this creamed corn recipe helps to thicken the sauce quicker.

Cream cheese is a common addition when making creamed corn in the slow cooker because it helps to thicken the sauce in the closed environment (read: no evaporation). I also love the flavor that it adds!

What Is Creamed Corn?

Creamed corn is made by combining pieces of whole sweetcorn with the starchy, milky residue from pulped corn kernels scraped from the cob. It is commonly eaten in the Midwest and Southern states when corn is in season or around the holidays.

Easy Creamed Corn Ingredients

Homemade creamed corn is one of my favorite corn dishes for Thanksgiving or Christmas! Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy cream-style corn:

• Sweet corn
• Whole milk
• Cream cheese
• Unsalted butter
• Granulated sugar
• Salt and pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Green onions

How to Make Creamed Corn

1. Cube the cream cheese and butter, then add to a saucepan.
2. Add the milk and stir continuously until the mixture is smooth.
3. Reduce heat and add the sugar, spices, and corn.
4. Continue stirring until the corn is heated through, about 5 minutes.

Should I Use Canned, Fresh, or Frozen Corn?

This cream cheese corn can be made with frozen, fresh, or canned corn. I have only tried this recipe with frozen kernels. I prefer this method because the sweet corn is frozen at its peak and I don’t have to mess with shucking whole corn.

Can I Freeze Creamed Corn?

I’m not sure how well this Thanksgiving corn recipe will freeze. I worry that the dairy in it will separate once frozen. If you do freeze this homemade creamed corn, leave me a comment below letting me know how it turned out!

Tips for the Best Creamed Corn

• I like to use whole milk for this recipe because that is what we always keep on hand.You can substitute with 2% milk if that’s all you have, I haven’t personally tried this, and it may not be as creamy, but with the cream cheese the difference may be negligible.
• I recommend using full-fat cream cheese and real butter for best results!
• Some recipes separate and blend a portion (1/4 – 1/2) of the cooked creamed corn for added creaminess. I like the texture of this recipe with the bursts of corn so I don’t do this. (I also don’t want to dirty any more dishes or kitchen tools!)

More Holiday Side Dishes:

• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Southern Cornbread Dressing
• Sauteed Cinnamon Apples
• Four Cheese Bacon Mac and Cheese
• Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

This post was published November 11, 2016 and updated August 19, 2019.