Creamy, Cheesy Corn
A deliciously creamy, cheesy side dish full of corn, ham, bacon, and cheese sauce, then topped with crunchy french fried onions!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp. Unsalted Butter
- 3 tbsp. All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/2 cups Whole Milk
- 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp. Cayenne optional
- 1/2 tsp. Salt plus more to taste
- 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper plus more to taste
- 1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese or smoked cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Shredded Smoked Gouda Cheese or any smoked cheese
- 20 ounces Frozen Corn or fresh corn
- 1 cup cubed Smoked Ham cut into small cubes
- 1/3 cup chopped Crispy Bacon
- 1/3 cup chopped French Fried Onions
- 1/3 cup chopped Green Onions
Instructions
- Make the Roux. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a 2 quart or 8x8 baking dish and set aside. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbsp. Unsalted Butter. Whisk 3 tbsp. All-Purpose Flour into the melted butter and cook for two minutes, stirring often.
- Build the Sauce. Slowly whisk in 1 1/2 cups Whole Milk, 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder, 1/4 tsp. Cayenne, 1/2 tsp. Salt, and 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper. Simmer for about five minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Add the Cheese. Stir 1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese and 1 cup Shredded Smoked Gouda Cheese in, one handful at a time, until melted and smooth.
- Add the mix-ins. Stir in 20 ounces Frozen Corn, 1 cup cubed Smoked Ham, and half of the bacon. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if desired. (Corn LOVES salt and pepper, so don’t be shy!)
- Transfer + Bake. Transfer the cheesy corn into your prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes.
- Uncover + Bake More. Remove the foil, scatter 1/3 cup chopped French Fried Onions over the top, and bake for another 10-12 minutes.
- Garnish + Serve. Top with 1/3 cup chopped Green Onions and the remaining bacon. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
If you can't find smoked ham, use any ham you love! If you want to add a smoky flavor, add 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika along with the garlic powder in the sauce.
If using a smaller baking dish, set it on a rimmed baking sheet before placing it in the oven. This will help catch anything that may bubble over the top.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 365kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 16gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 806mgPotassium: 444mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 622IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 220mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!