My Meme's Southern Fried Corn recipe is easily one of my favorite corn recipes. It's a delicious summer side dish that has so much flavor. There are a few tips and tricks to this southern favorite so be sure to read the full recipe!
What is Southern Skillet Corn?
Southern fried corn is a delicious corn recipe and classic side dish made with simple ingredients.
As with most things in the South, it starts out with bacon grease and fresh produce. Fresh corn kernels get shaved off the corn cob and cooked up with bacon drippings, butter, a little sugar, and some salt and black pepper.
But even though it sounds straightforward, there is a trick to making it a truly great side dish. Authentic southern fried corn utilizes the corn milk that's inside the cob. This starchy mixture has a creamy texture that not only adds great sweetness to the dish, but it also yields the best flavor and texture.
The best way to do this is by shaving an ear of corn very deep with a sharp knife. Then press the back of the knife (or spoon) against the cob to essentially force out the extra starch liquid from within the corn cob.
You could also try a different method that I always saw my Grandma do when her hands were weak from arthritis. She would use a box grater on the corn cob after the fresh kernels were removed to get even more texture and corn milk out. There is no perfect way or specific way to do it but not a drop should be wasted in this easy recipe!
Depending on the time of year and if it's corn season or not, the sweetness of the corn may vary. Most of the time, fresh corn from the local farmer's market is much sweeter and fresher than what you find at your local grocery store. So if the fresh summer corn you've got has a super sweet flavor already, you won't really need to add any sugar. I recommend tasting the corn mixture as you're cooking and then adding salt, pepper and sugar as needed.
This easy side dish has been one of my absolute favorite vegetable sides ever since I was a little girl. I know you're going to love my Meme's southern fried corn recipe as much as I do!
Ingredients & Substittuions
- Fresh Ears of Corn: This delicious corn recipe is all about good corn! I recommend getting fresh sweet corn at your local farmers market if possible. I don't recommend using canned corn because fresh sweet corn has so much more flavor. You also won't be able to get any of that good corn milk for added texture and flavor.
- Bacon Grease: Bacon drippings add the perfect savory flavor to this classic southern side dish. If you don't have any bacon fat, you can use butter but you'll miss out on the meat-y, smoky amazing flavor that the bacon drippings contain.
- Butter: As with most southern foods, you'll need salty butter. This just adds to the richness of this easy recipe for southern fried corn.
- Sugar: Depending on the type of corn, you may or may not need sugar. But as my Meme would say, a little sugar never hurt anyone. And if anything, it'll help caramelize the corn mixture to get it a little crunch.
- Salt & Pepper: Feel free to measure these ingredients with your heart when making this easy side dish. I recommend using kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
- Optional Add-ins: If you want to give this southern style recipe your own spin, go for it! You can add green pepper, red peppers, scallions and fresh tomatoes. This is similar to my favorite skillet corn from 4Rivers. You could also add up to a half a stick of butter and half a cup of heavy cream if you want to go all Paula Dean on this delicious corn recipe. Or add hot honey and cream cheese like in my honey butter skillet corn.
How to Shave & Milk a Corn Cob
The first thing you'll want to do for this Southern fried corn recipe is to prep the corn. Once the husks and silk are moved from the cob, you'll want to use a sharp knife to cut the remaining kernels off.
I recommend putting a big ol' ear of corn in the middle of a bundt pan. Then use a sharp knife to cut into the cob at the tops of the kernels and cut downward. The fresh corn kernels will fall to the bottom of the pan. Not only does it make cleanup a breeze but you can pour the fresh kernels directly into the skillet. The less dishes -- the better!
If you don't have a bundt pan, just place the bottom of the corn cob on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut the kernels off. Then place the shaved corn in a large bowl.
Once the remaining kernels are removed, it's time to get the corn milk. Carefully hold the shaved cob over your bowl of corn. Use the back of a knife or a spoon and press down on the cob. You will see a white starchy liquid start to gather and drip from the corn. Repeat this process on all sides.
How to make it
Once the fresh sweet corn is shaved off the cob, and the corn milk has been released, it's time to get to cooking.
I recommend using a cast iron skillet, large nonstick skillet or your go-to frying pan. Personally, I always opt for a cast iron pan.
Begin by frying up 3 pieces of bacon over medium heat. This will yield about 2 tablespoon of bacon grease which is the perfect amount for this southern fried corn recipe. You could also swap this for butter if you had to. Once the fat has been rendered out of the bacon, remove the crispy bacon and set aside. You can either snack on it or crumble it back into the corn.
Add half of the butter to the greased up cast iron skillet - still over medium heat. Once it's melted, add the shaved corn and corn milk. Cook this mixture for 15 minutes then taste and season with salt, pepper and sugar.
Continue cooking until the corn is crisp yet cooked through to your liking. Stir in the remaining butter and season to taste once more before serving.
If you have any leftovers, you can keep them in an airtight container or small bowl with plastic wrap on top.
What goes with it
If you want to serve this easy southern fried corn recipe in a big southern spread, try one of these easy recipes!
- Easy Honey Butter Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich
- Easy BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe (Grilled or Oven Baked)
- Sauteed Cabbage with Onions (The Best Easy Southern Recipe)
- Southern Crockpot Collard Greens
- Old Fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon and Brown Sugar
- My Mother In Law's Cheesy Green Bean Casserole
- Southern Black Eyed Pea Dip
Recipe
Meme's Southern Fried Corn Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 slices Thick Cut Smoked Bacon or 2 tablespoon bacon fat or salted butter
- 6 ears Fresh Sweet Corn
- 4 tablespoon Salted Butter divided
- 1 teaspoon White Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- Fresh Cracked Pepper
Instructions
- Remove the husks and silk from the corn. Use a sharp knife to deeply shave the kernels off of the cob. Place them in a large bowl.
- Once the kernels are removed, hold one shaved cob at a time over the corn bowl and use a spoon (or the back of a knife) and push down on the cob to squeeze out the corn milk. Repeat this process on all the sides of the corn cobs until all the corn milk is in the bowl with the shaved corn kernels. Set aside.
- Add 3 slices of thick cut smoked bacon to a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook for a few minutes on each until crispy. Remove from the pan but leave the grease and renderings.
- Add half of the butter (2 tbsp) to the grease in the frying pan and melt it over medium heat.
- Once bubbling, add the shaved corn and corn milk. Cook this mixture for 15 minutes then taste and season with salt, pepper and sugar.
- Continue cooking until the corn is crisp yet cooked through to your liking. Stir in the remaining butter and season to taste once more before serving.
