This custardy creamed corn casserole recipe is SO good you'll want to scrape the dish clean to get every last bit of caramelized goodness... My favorite of all the corn casserole recipes I've tried, just like my grandma made it!
Creamed Corn Casserole Like Grandma Made
I'm not really sure where this creamed corn casserole recipe originated, but I can't recall a single holiday dinner growing up where it wasn't served...
It was the first dish on the buffet that I'd hit at every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meal. And it was the first container of leftovers I grabbed from the fridge - that is IF there were any.
Though I'm not certain where it came from, it's always been my Dad's specialty. So my best guess is it was passed on by my Grandma Russell. She called it custard corn (which is a pretty good description of it), but I've also heard people refer to it as corn pudding casserole and a corn soufflé recipe.
The texture and level of sweetness is VERY different from this Jiffy corn casserole or this Mexican corn cake recipe... Call it whatever you want, just know that this baked corn recipe is AMAZING!
Why is this baked cream corn casserole dish such a staple side dish? Partially because it's so darn easy to make, even in large quantities. But mainly because it's absolutely delicious whether it's hot, warm, or cold!
Seriously, my kids have been known to scrape the dish completely clean, getting every last bit of caramelized goodness from the corners. AND whether you're making a deep fried turkey or an Instant Pot ham, it's the perfect complement!
"Everyone was raving about it!"
Made a triple batch for a potluck and boy oh boy - everyone was raving about it! Recipe was shared many times over. YUMMY!
Easy Corn Casserole Recipe Ingredients
Chances are you already have all of the ingredients for this creamed corn casserole recipe in your pantry right now!
It's comprised of just 6 staple ingredients: canned whole kernel corn, canned creamed corn, sugar, flour, eggs, and butter, plus a touch of salt and pepper.
I'll warn you ahead of time that this recipe does contain a good amount of sugar... Please keep in mind: this is an heirloom recipe that's been passed down through my family. I always prepare it exactly as written, because it's a special occasion side dish.
Yes, it's a little decadent, and I'm perfectly okay with that - because "everything in moderation." Ya know?! But if you're truly concerned, decreasing the sugar shouldn't hurt the outcome.
How To Double Corn Casserole
There is a high probability that you'll want to double, or even triple, this corn casserole recipe at some point. The good news is, YES, you absolutely can! Just use a larger baking dish, and keep in mind that you'll need to increase your baking time slightly.
I should add that even when you're not increasing the recipe, the cooking time can vary by oven and/or the casserole dish you choose. Larger, shallow dishes will cook faster than smaller, deeper dishes.
The corn casserole is done when the center is set and the top has that great caramelized appearance. If it seems set but isn't caramelizing, you can just pop it under the broiler for a couple minutes to finish it off.
Go-To Side Dish Recipe
This sweet corn casserole is still on the menu for every single family gathering we host today. If it's potluck style, I can almost guarantee that the first question I get is: "Who's bringing the corn casserole?" followed by, "Who's bringing the pickles?"
If you don't know what pickles I'm referring to, check out these pickle wraps ASAP! Oh, and also this yummy layered cranberry salad if we're talking Thanksgiving...
Give this easy corn casserole recipe a try at your next family gathering. It just might become your go-to side dish recipe, as well!
Printable Recipe ↓
Creamed Corn Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, well beaten
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 (15.25-ounce) can whole kernel sweet corn, drained
- 1 (14.75-ounce) can cream-style sweet corn
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 350℉.
- In a sauce pan, heat the butter slowly over medium-low heat, swirling the pan until it's just melted. Set aside to cool slightly while measuring the remaining ingredients.
- Whisk the flour into the melted and cooled butter until well incorporated. Then whisk in the sugar, eggs and milk.
- Stir the creamed corn into the butter mixture, along with the drained whole kernel corn. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture to an 8x8" casserole dish.
- Bake at 350℉ uncovered for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the center is set and the corn casserole is brown and caramelized on top. Move casserole to top rack near the end of the cook time if more caramelization is desired. Let stand for 5 minutes; serve warm.
Recipe Notes
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Baked Corn Casserole FAQs
I've received a TON of questions about how to make corn casserole over the years. Though I've answered them all in the comments, it's getting to be quite a bit to wade through.
So I'm adding the most frequently asked questions for this baked corn casserole recipe below, and I will continue to update it with any new questions.
What type of baking dish do you use for this corn casserole?
I generally use a shallow 8x8" baking dish when I make this recipe. If I'm doubling or tripling it for a potluck or cookout, I'll size up to this 9x13" baking dish.
If you need to go even larger, I'd recommend something like this large roasting pan.
Note that I do not recommend using those large disposable aluminum trays. Aluminum is not a great conductor of heat, so it takes significantly longer to bake this recipe in them. And you probably won't achieve the same amount of caramelization - which is totally the best part!
Help, my corn casserole seems curdled! Where did I go wrong?
After many readers experienced this, I did some extensive research on what could be causing the custard-like quality of the corn casserole to break. A couple of things could be happening:
- Your oven may be running a little hot... This could cause the corn casserole to cook too fast, in turn causing the custard consistency to "break". You can check this with an inexpensive oven thermometer.
- It may be your milk... I've always purchased whole milk, so it never occurred to me that it could affect the consistency. But apparently the lower fat percentage in low fat and skim milk can also cause a custard to break.
Also, using real dairy butter is recommended for best results. Substituting margarine or another plant-based butter will definitely affect the finished consistency of this dish.
Do I *need* to use whole milk?
As I mentioned above, you do need the fat in the milk for a successful custard. That said, readers have reported using heavy cream and 2% milk successfully.
Can corn casserole be made ahead of time?
While it's best freshly made, you can definitely refrigerate it after baking and just warm it up again in the oven before serving. I typically make two batches for Thanksgiving, one for the "Big Meal" and one to reheat with the leftovers.
How to reheat corn casserole:
Warm the casserole in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. I do not recommend microwaving it.
Can corn casserole be frozen?
Again, freshly made is always best, but you can make it ahead and freeze if you'd like. After baking, let the corn casserole cool completely. Then wrap it tightly with aluminum foil, label, and freeze up to one month.
To reheat, bake covered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 more minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
If you have further questions, please ask in the comments below!
More Easy Casserole Recipes To Try
If you like this corn casserole recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious casserole recipes:
- Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Casserole Recipe
- Tuna Casserole With Egg Noodles
- 3-Ingredient Easy Green Bean Casserole
- 5-Ingredient Cheesy Meatball Casserole
- Baked Macaroni And Cheese Casserole
I'd love to see how your corn casserole turns out… Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check them out. Enjoy!
Jill B. says
I love this recipe & this casserole!!! Thank You...
This recipe is almost the same as our families that I grew up on (I'm 57) & yes, it never missed a holiday or potluck. This might sound weird, but the only difference with ours was we took a sleeve or two of Nabisco saltine crackers & "Squished" them into small pieces & added about 1/2 cup into the corn mixture itself & then melted butter & added it to the remaining crackers & covered the top of the casserole with that buttery yummy crackers that just added a different buttery, browned crunch to the casserole. Happy Holidays
Tara Kuczykowski says
Not weird, Jill! I've heard of this from others and keep meaning to try it. Do you add the topping part right away or later when it's almost done baking?
Nancy says
Can I use frozen whole kernel corn instead,ty
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yes, you can substitute frozen whole kernel corn for the canned whole kernel corn.
Bella says
I have a very large family and am making it for Thanksgiving, therefore I had planned on using an aluminum trays. How long would you suggest baking it for?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Bella - what size aluminum tray will you be using? And are you planning to double the recipe?
jennifer says
Purchase 10 dozen ears to can and after 4 canner loads.... Made a triple batch for a potluck and boy oh boy - everyone was raving about it! Of course I used fresh corn off of the cob instead of canned because well, that is what I was swimming in, but I am sure it is tasty even with store bought canned. Recipe was shared many times over. YUMMY!
Stephanie says
This recipe was a huge hit at my husbands birthday dinner party. I made steak, baked potatoes and this delicious creamed corn casserole. The only thing I changed up a bit (due to the comments) is I added just a bit less butter and for the milk I made it a skant cup instead of a level cup. I think any time you work with flour you should conscider the humidity. It was pretty humid and wet. The taste was perfect and I will be making this recipe again without a doubt. THANK YOU BIG BIG for this classic delicious recipe. :)
Kathryn says
I followed the directions almost exactly, but reduced the sugar by half. We both loved it and I'm making it again today! Delicious.
Marie says
Can this casserole be mixed together and sit overnight and baked the next day?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yes, you can! Just make sure to stir it well before baking. And obviously it will take longer to bake since you’re starting with it chilled.
Sharon says
Can this recipe be done in the crockpot? If so any suggestions on time and whether high or low?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Sharon – I've never actually made this corn casserole recipe in a slow cooker, so unfortunately I really can't speak to how it will turn out. My speculation is that it should set up, but I can't speak to the timing, and it definitely won’t develop that yummy caramelized top. If you’re not opposed to Jiffy Mix, I have another corn casserole version that definitely can be made in a crockpot: https://unsophisticook.com/jiffy-corn-casserole/
Susan says
Really enjoyed this but it was super sweet. I was using frozen corn from the summer so maybe that contributed to the high sugar but I will definitely reduce when making this again.
Florie Jimenez says
May I use olive oil instead of the melted butter? How much oil?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Florie! I've never tested this recipe with olive oil, so I can't speak to how it would turn out. If you decide to try it, I'd love it if you'd come back and share them to help other readers!
Barbara Miller says
I am making this for a funeral. I was going to 4times larger. Do you have any tips for me on how to make it?????? Our church always has a big dinner for the family. Because we are a church family. I want it to be good.
Thank you Barbara
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Barbara! I've never made a batch quite this large, so I'm not sure how well it would turn out if you're looking to just use one dish. My recommendation would be to prepare two double batches. Another tip I need to add to the post is that I've noticed this casserole seems to cook more evenly when placed on a middle oven rack. You can move them to the top rack later in the cooking process if you'd like the top to get more caramelized.
Melissa says
Can you prepare the mixture a day ahead, refrigerate, then bake the next day?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Yes, you can! Just make sure to stir it well before baking. And obviously it will take longer to bake since you're starting with it chilled.
Deborah says
My daughter's mother-in-law makes a corner casserole that's very similar to yours. She adds finely diced onion & bell pepper, then tops with a mixture of bread crumbs & cheese. Would this work using your recipe?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Deborah! I can't really say without having tried it. It seems like the onions and pepper would add some additional liquid, so I would think at minimum it would need to bake longer. Also, I'd wait to add the topping until it's almost done baking.
Jackie I. says
I'm assuming that you defrost casserole before heating.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Jackie! The instructions provided are for reheating from frozen. If you thaw it first, you can skip the heating covered part and just bake it uncovered until heated through.
Carmen D says
My son has made this for a few years and it is a real family favorite.
Lisa says
Love this but the last few times I’ve made it, it looks “curdled” and doesn’t hold together. It’s a gross wet mess for lack of better description. Maybe not cooking it long enough?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Lisa! Using a lower fat milk can cause this. Or it could also be that your oven is running too hot.
Sharon B. says
@Tara Kuczykowski, I don’t think it’s either of those. I had the same experience and it happened when I stirred in the eggs and milk. So it wasn’t the oven temp. I used whole milk, so it wasn’t that, either. After baking at 350 for 1 1/2 hours it was nicely caramelizad on top but when I cut into it, after allowing 10-15 minutes to cool, it was wet and curdled looking. It’s actually leaking watery liquid into the pan now that it’s been sitting for awhile. I make the Jiffy Corn Casserole all the time and it never fails.
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Sharon! It definitely should not have a curdled appearance when whisking in the eggs and milk. If that happened, it sounds like possibly the butter was too hot. I pull it off as soon as the last bit melts, so it's still a very opaque yellow. Then I whisk in the flour very well. Wondering if mixing in the sugar, eggs, and milk one by one makes any difference? I think I've started doing this subconsciously to make sure every is completely incorporated together. I'll add a note to the recipe instructions about this.
That said, this corn casserole recipe definitely will not have the same consistency as a Jiffy Corn Casserole. It does have a creamy, custardy texture that's slightly wet. For reference, the first photo in this post with the spoon shows the texture pretty well.
Debra Alvarado says
@Sharon B., same thing happened to me, it was delicious, but not appealing in appearance. The bottom seemed set, the top was nicely caramelized. It was set, but I think the butter must have been too much. I'll try this again, using less butter. I may lower my oven temp as well, and just cook longer. It seemed to be boiling, that may have caused the separation.