As the wise Corn Kid once said, "It's corn!" and "I can't imagine a more beautiful thing... A big lump with knobs." And we can't help but agree, topping some grilled corn with all the toppings (or even just butter) is what makes summer all the more magical. So since we also really, really love corn, we took it on ourselves to find all the best ways (15, to be exact) to top all that grilled corn you've got on your summer eating bucket list.
Butter + grilled corn = always a good time. But why stop there? Our basic rule of thumb for topping corn leaves lots of room for improvising (making it ideal if you want to do a DIY corn bar!). First things first, you're going to want something to anchor any of our more elaborate topping ideas (like Flamin' Hot corn on the cob and elote (Mexican street corn). Mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and compound butters are all-time BFFs with corn and its many toppers, but we also love adding sticky-sweet BBQ sauce to our BBQ grilled corn (that then gets sprinkled with plenty of crunchy potato chips). From there, the sky is the only limit. Mix and match all your favorite toppings, like cowboy butter, shredded Parm or feta, or pesto!
If you're lucky enough to have leftover grilled corn, we've got a few delicious ideas on what to make with your bounty. For max capacity summer vibes, you'll definitely want to consider mixing it into a grilled corn salsa, topping your next batch of elote (Mexican street corn) nachos, or pureeing it to make our creamy corn pasta recipe. You'll be so glad you did. 😉
Grilled Corn
First things first, you gotta grill before you can get to the topping part. This is our simplest, easiest recipe, and the flavor combo options are endless from here on out!
Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.
Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
This side is perfect for any cookout staple—try it with BBQ chicken or grilled steak—or, at a party, you could set up all of the toppings (adding a few wildcards, like scallions, crumbled bacon, and sriracha) and create a Build Your Own Elote Bar. 😱
Get the Mexican Street Corn (Elote) recipe.
Bang Bang Grilled Corn
Bang bang shrimp gets all the hype, but we're here to tell you that flavor-packed grilled corn deserves a little more time in the spotlight. The sweet-spicy sauce is perfect over almost anything!
Get the Bang Bang Corn recipe.
Smoked Corn On The Cob
This flavorful and healthy way to grill corn on the cob doesn't require a smoker. Instead, you'll infuse the corn with wood smoke using a clever foil packet of wood chips and a grill.
Get the Smoked Corn On The Cob recipe.
Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Corn
We've bacon-wrapped pretty much everything, and we think it's time corn got the same treatment, this time on our grills with a ranch-y spin just before wrapping. Just wrap each ear in two to three strips, then grill until charred. (If you're worried about a grease fire from the fatty bacon, you can wrap in foil first.)
Get the Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Corn recipe.
Air Fryer Corn On The Cob
Don't want to mess with your grill? No sweat! Because seriously, what can't the air fryer do? After air frying until the cobs turn bright yellow and the kernels are tender, you'll stir up a tangy feta topping to make Greek-inspired street corn (kind of like Mexican elote, but with Greek yogurt instead of cotija).
Get the Air Fryer Corn On The Cob recipe.
Steamed Corn On The Cob
With a large pot and steamer in hand, sweet and juicy corn can be yours in under 10 minutes. (And slathered with a spicy-sweet compound butter in 15!) Keep this speedy summer side in your back pocket and swap out compound butters as desired. (We’re trying cowboy butter next.)
Get the Steamed Corn On The Cob recipe.
BBQ Grilled Corn
Barbecue sauce and crushed potato chips are an iconic topper for smoky grilled corn, because a little crunch is always a good thing.
Get the BBQ Grilled Corn recipe.
Honey Lime Grilled Corn
Nothing says summertime like the smell of corn on the grill. It also happens to be the easiest side you’ll make all season. After getting some char on a hot grill, juicy ears of corn get brushed with an irresistible honey-lime butter that you can also slather on grilled sweet potatoes, cornbread, or even grilled skirt steak.
Get the Honey Lime Grilled Corn recipe.
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Corn
For this spin, we go with the MVPs: melty cheddar, crisp bacon, and a ranch drizzle. When corn lives its best life, it's no surprise that typically means we are too.
Get the Cheddar Bacon Ranch Corn recipe.
Flamin' Hot Corn On The Cob
Believe us, we were skeptical about this one. It's SO GOOD though! It's salty, sweet, soft, and crunchy. Surprisingly complex for Cheeto crumbs! Basically, you gotta try it.
Get the Flamin' Hot Corn On The Cob recipe.
Pesto 'n Parm Grilled Corn
Is there anything that pesto doesn't make better? Corn is definitely our new favorite proof that pesto does, in fact, make everything better!
Get the Pesto 'n Parm Grilled Corn recipe.
Old Bay Grilled Corn
Here at Delish, we think Old Bay deserves a place in all summer foods. And that's absolutely the case with this grilled corn that makes us feel like we're feasting at a good old fashioned shrimp boil.
Get the Old Bay Grilled Corn recipe.
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Corn
This sweet and spicy sauce will really make your grilled corn better than all the rest. The cayenne provides a good kick, but can be adjusted if you want a little less heat.
Get the Sweet & Spicy Grilled Corn recipe.
Buffalo Grilled Corn
Frank's Red Hot + butter = HEAVEN. It's simple math, really.
Get the Buffalo Grilled Corn recipe.
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