Dive into the bold flavors of our Jalapeno Corn Casserole Cream Cheese recipe – a tantalizing fusion of sweet corn and fiery jalapeno peppers embraced by a rich, creamy cheesy sauce.
This spicy sensation serves as a perfect side dish, promising to add a kick to your holiday dinner or any meal, making it a simple yet unforgettable experience.
Recipe Highlights
- Quick Preparation: Needs just 5 minutes of prep work
- Ease of Preparation: The recipe is relatively straightforward and doesn't require extensive culinary skills.
- Perfect Harmony: Creamy textures, sweet corn, and spicy jalapeños combine for a harmonious and delightful flavor balance.
What Type of Corn to Use?
For the Cheesy Jalapeno Corn Casserole recipe, you can use either fresh, frozen, or canned corn kernels, depending on your preference and availability.
- Fresh Corn: If corn is in season and readily available, using fresh whole kernel corn cut off the cob can provide a vibrant and sweet flavor. Ensure the corn kernels are cooked or blanched before adding them to the casserole.
- Frozen Corn: Frozen corn is a convenient option, especially when fresh corn is not in season. It's usually picked at its peak freshness and can be easily added to the casserole without the need for cooking beforehand.
- Canned Corn: Canned corn is a convenient pantry staple. Make sure to drain and rinse canned corn before using it in the casserole. While it may not have the same fresh flavor as fresh or frozen, it can still work well in the recipe.
Ultimately, the choice depends on what's available and convenient for you.
Ingredients
- Corn - I have used frozen corn for this recipe
- Jalapeño peppers - Fresh jalapenos are not easily available where I live and hence I have used canned ones for this recipe. But fresh and spicy jalapenos would make this creamy jalapeno corn casserole taste even better. And if nothing is available one can also use green chiles or green chillies.
- Cream Cheese - make sure it is at room temperature. Softened cream cheese would blend well with the rest of the ingredients.
- Milk - In place of milk you can also use heavy cream.
Step by Step Tutorial
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
Mix softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese until smooth (image 1).
Adjust the consistency with milk (image 2.)
Then add all the spices, jalapeño, and 2 cups of corn.
Transfer the mixture to the greased casserole dish.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes until hot and golden brown.
Allow to cool briefly before serving.
Garnish with fresh herbs of choice.
This cheesy corn casserole tastes best when served warm. Can be enjoyed on its own or along with a slice of bread.
And be honest wasn't this one of the easy side dish recipe that you can prepare?
Storage Instructions
Here are the storage instructions for the Jalapeno Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese:
- Refrigerator Storage: Allow the casserole to cool completely after baking. Once cooled, cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Store the casserole in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer Storage: If you want to freeze the casserole for longer-term storage, ensure that it has cooled completely. Wrap the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Alternatively, transfer individual portions of the casserole to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Label the containers with the date and store them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
- Reheating: To reheat the refrigerated casserole, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Reheat the covered casserole dish for about 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave individual portions until heated.
- Thawing and Reheating Frozen Casserole: If you froze the casserole, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Once thawed, follow the same reheating instructions as for refrigerated leftovers.
Ensure that leftovers are reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before serving to ensure food safety.
Make Ahead Option
When preparing for special occasions like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even game day gatherings like the Super Bowl, it's a relief to know that some dishes can be made ahead of time, saving you precious time and stress on the big day.
The Cream Cheese Corn Casserole is one such versatile dish that can be conveniently assembled ahead of time, allowing you to focus on other preparations or enjoy the festivities with your guests.
- Begin by spreading the creamy corn mixture into a casserole dish, ensuring it's evenly distributed.
- Once the casserole is assembled, allow it to cool to room temperature. This step ensures that condensation won't form inside the dish when it's covered, preventing any potential sogginess.
- On the day you plan to serve the casserole, take it out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. This helps ensure even baking.
- Preheat your oven to the specified temperature in the recipe while the casserole adjusts to room temperature.
- Once the casserole has reached room temperature, remove the covering and place it in the preheated oven.
- Bake the casserole (uncovered) according to the recipe instructions. If needed, add an extra 5 to 10 minutes of baking time to ensure it's hot and bubbly throughout.
By preparing the creamy corn casserole ahead of time, you'll have one less thing to worry about on the day of your holiday meal or game day gathering, allowing you to enjoy a great side dish with your loved ones or focus on other dishes for your festive spread.
Adaptable Cooking Instructions
Instead of baking this easy corn casserole, you can also choose to use other forms of cooking like
- Slow Cooker Method:
- Spread the corn mixture in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours, until hot and bubbly.
- Optionally, add cheese on top during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Instant Pot Method:
- Place the corn mixture in the Instant Pot.
- Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes with a quick release.
- Optionally, transfer to a baking dish, top with cheese, and broil until golden.
- Stovetop Method:
- Spread the corn mixture in a large skillet or pot.
- Cover and cook over low to medium heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Top with cheese, cover, and cook for an additional 5 minutes until melted.
What to serve with this?
Nothing can beat the combination of garlic bread with this creamy jalapeno corn recipe.
But this spicy corn casserole pairs well with:
- Main Dishes: Roast turkey, baked ham, grilled steak, or vegetarian options.
- Other Side Dishes: Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, or dinner rolls.
- Salads: Mixed greens, cranberry pecan salad, or Caesar salad.
- Appetizers: Cheese platter, vegetable crudites, or deviled eggs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The spiciness of the Cream Corn Casserole can be adjusted based on personal preference. The recipe includes diced jalapeños, which add a mild to moderate level of heat depending on the amount used and whether the seeds and membranes are included. If you prefer a milder dish, you can reduce the amount of jalapeños or remove the seeds and membranes before adding them to the casserole. Conversely, if you enjoy more heat, you can increase the amount of jalapeños or leave the seeds and membranes intact. Overall, the spiciness can be tailored to suit individual tastes. The amount shared in this recipe would give you a moderate spice level.
The jalapeno cheddar corn casserole is done baking when it's hot and bubbly, and the top is golden brown. You can also use a toothpick or knife to check the center of the casserole for doneness. If it comes out clean, the casserole is ready.
While mayonnaise adds creaminess and flavor to the casserole, you can omit it if desired. Alternatively, you can use sour cream or Greek yogurt as a substitute for mayonnaise. Check out the recipe instructions at the end of the page for more information on substitutions of each ingredient.
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Easy Jalapeno Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz (1 cup or 226 gms) Cream Cheese softened
- 1/3 cup (100 gms) Mayonnaise refer notes
- 1 cup (200 gms) Cheddar Cheese
- 1/4 cup (35 gms) Parmesan Cheese
- 3/4 cup (180 gms) Milk
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper powder
- 2 tbsp diced Jalapeno
- 2 cups Corn Kernels
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Adjust the consistency with milk, then add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, diced jalapeño, and corn kernels. Taste-test and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Transfer the mixture to the greased casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30-35 minutes, until hot and golden brown.
- Allow to cool briefly before serving.Garnish with fresh herbs of choice, if desired.
Video
Notes
- The quantities in the provided recipe should serve approximately 6 to 8 people as a side dish for a Thanksgiving or New Year celebration. If you're serving it alongside other dishes, it should be enough to serve as a delicious complement to your meal. If you have a larger number of guests or want to ensure leftovers, you can double the recipe.
- Do a taste test before baking to adjust the spice levels.
- Use all the ingredients at room temperature so that they blend easily.
- The amount of milk added to the mixture can vary based on personal preference. Start with a smaller amount and gradually add more if needed to achieve the desired consistency.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the casserole dish to ensure uniform cooking and consistent flavor throughout the casserole.
- The casserole is ready when it's hot, golden brown, and bubbly. Use a toothpick or knife to check the center for doneness if unsure.
- Let the casserole cool briefly before serving to allow it to set and firm up slightly, making it easier to serve.
- Get creative with garnishes by adding fresh herbs or extra cheese for visual appeal and added flavor.
- Mayonnaise can be substituted with yogurt or sour cream. Milk can be substituted with cream.
Margaret says
This recipe looks delicious. I'm going to try it with tortilla chips as a side for a Mexican dinner.
Thank you!
sushma iyer says
Hi Margaret.. that sounds like a plan.. please do share your feedback if you happen to try.. thank you 🙂