4th of July is all about the fireworks and the motor boating and the picnics and barbecues, and all of that festive stuff. But who else is tired of hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages? We are, and that’s why we think it’s time to think outside the box and bring a little originality to this party with some killer grilled corn recipes. Corn on the cob in its traditional form is simply placed on the grill, turned a few times, buttered and salted before being devoured like a turkey leg. Despite what some may think, this is not the only way to cook corn, and it’s certainly not the best way. There are plenty of recipes that call for the corn to simply be eaten on the cob, but you can also slice the little yellow kernels off with your trusty knife and make a smorgasbord of deliciously golden side dishes with this most versatile vegetable. From our personal preferences, we have such heavy-hitters as a parmesan chive grilled corn on the cob to a spicy jalapeño grilled corn salad and the maybe-not-so-patriotic Mexican street corn on the cob, Elotes.
The Most Amazing Parmesan Chive Corn on the Cob from Must Love Home
For those of you who want a simple grilled corn recipe with the delicious flavors of melted Parmesan cheese but without all the hassle of food processors—like this Giada De Laurentiis cream corn—just use a topping for your corn on the cob like it’s a pizza. If you want an extra kick with this one, you can always add a spice like Tony Chachere’s to zip it up a little more.
Ingredients:
- 5 ears of corn, cleaned and husked
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Kosher salt and pepper
Topping:
- 1/2 stick or 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried or fresh chives, minced
Get the entire recipe from Must Love Home.
Jalapeño Popper Grilled Corn Salad from Wonky Wonderful
As soon as you add cream cheese and sour cream to a dish, everything’s going to taste better. Add bacon, cheddar cheese and jalapeños and you’ve got one fiesta of flavors for your taste buds. Grilled corn salad doesn’t get much better than this, and it’ll surely make you the go-to chef for future parties.
Ingredients:
- 8 ears of corn
- 2 jalapeños, seeds and stems removed, finely chopped
- 1 cup chopped, cooked bacon
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- Olive oil, salt and pepper
Get the entire recipe from Wonky Wonderful.
Grilled Cilantro, Lime + Paprika Corn on the Cob from Blissful Basil
Sometimes traditional grilled corn on the cob wins out, but with addition of lime, cilantro and smoked paprika, you’ll never go back to just salt and butter. Citrusy flavors blend with a smokiness that’ll fool people into thinking you slow roasted these babies.
Ingredients:
- 4 ears of corn
- 2 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- Smoked paprika, to taste
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- Handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Get the entire recipe from Blissful Basil.
Mexican Street Corn (Elotes) from Little Spice Jar
Maybe it’s not the most patriotic—or even American—grilled corn recipe on this list, but we think we can all agree that ‘foreign’ meals are better than most we could dish out. And with a chipotle chili powder, cotija cheese, mayo, garlic powder, lime and cilantro topping, it’s probably the most mouth-watering one here.
Ingredients:
- 3 ears sweet corn
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (ancho chile powder works too)
- 1 lime, quartered
Get the entire recipe from Little Spice Jar.
