Creamed corn is one of the most delicious side dishes you could ask for. For something so tasty, you would think that it would be difficult to make, right?
Wrong! You only need a few simple ingredients to make it: sweet corn, milk, butter and seasoning.
You can choose to keep things simple and stick to salt and pepper for seasoning, or be a little more adventurous.
Some people like to throw in some chili powder, cumin, or paprika to spice things up.
The best part? This satisfying side dish can be made in advance with ease. That means that you don’t have to spend extra time in the kitchen preparing on the evening of a cookout.
With that being said, it’ll come as no surprise that creamed corn isn’t exactly the healthiest side dish option.
So, whether you’re just looking to try something new, or you want something a little healthier, why not try some creamed corn substitutes or alternatives?
What Is Creamed Corn?
Creamed corn is an incredibly popular side dish – especially in the United States. This dish is made using whole kernel corn that gets cooked in milk.
It is then either partially or fully blended until it’s the preferred consistency. Some people like their creamed corn silky smooth, while others like it a little chunky.
It can be served on its own, but it is usually a side dish.
Popular meals that creamed corn go with are things like soups and casseroles, but you can make anything work if you like it enough.
Although creamed corn is usually made with fresh corn, it is also possible to use frozen or canned corn to get the job done. When this is the case, it’s often referred to as “cream-style” corn.
We’re just glad that using frozen or canned corn is an option, because we want to enjoy this throughout the year!
Creamed Corn: Top 5 Substitutes
Okay, so everyone loved creamed corn, but sometimes we feel the need for something a little healthier.
The substitutes we’ve listed below aren’t substitutes in the usual sense, but more like alternatives.
These options are there for you to try out if you feel like creamed corn, but either have no corn on hand, or you want something a little more healthy.
1. Cream Soups
Looking for a side (or main) dish that’s full of flavor and a little less calorie-heavy? Try having cream soup instead of creamed corn.
Of course, you’ll need to check the label to make sure it’s a healthier brand.
These soups will give you that much-needed creaminess, and it will be full of nutrients, too. You can still get your corn in there, though!
Just add some corn (any will do), and let it warm up with the soup. Adding a little milk will also step up the creaminess game if that’s something you want.
You could also add delicious chicken broth to the soup instead of milk to give more flavor.
A broth-based soup would be even better, as you don’t have to worry about the calories from the cream.
2. Frozen Corn
This is a good one if you want to make your own creamed corn in just a couple of minutes. Frozen corn might not always be as tasty as fresh, but it gets the job done, right?
You can just get your frozen corn out, stick it in a pan, and add some milk and butter!
You can leave the corn whole and enjoy it as is, or cream it in a food processor to make your own creamed corn. It will probably be just as delicious as the creamed corn made from fresh corn.
You can play around with flavors and use some new or different spices that you don’t use often if you like!
If you want a healthier alternative than making creamed corn from frozen corn, you can do that, too!
You can steam your frozen corn and add just a little butter at the end and season it for a tasty and enjoy that as a treat.
Alternatively, you can find a healthier alternative to butter, like avocado, to create your creamed corn. Now that would be a truly delicious dish to try out!
3. Cream Sauce
This cream sauce can be used in lots of different ways. From soups to sandwiches, this cream sauce is incredibly versatile and so easy to make.
It can also be added to creamed corn to step it up a notch and make it a little more interesting.
Sure, plain creamed corn is delicious, but why not try something different? This will really bump up the flavor (and calories), and make it different.
To make this cream sauce, all you need is sour cream, milk and your favorite seasoning options.
Combine everything in a food processor and purée it until it’s perfectly smooth. Once smooth, simply add the mixture to a pan, and heat it up!
From there, you can use the sauce for dipping, spreads, or you can add some to your creamed corn. There’s really no reason not to try it – it’s a game-changer.
4. Whipped Creamed Potatoes
Looking for something a little different? Why not try whipped creamed potatoes?
If you really do want something different to do with your corn, you can make some seriously creamy mashed potato.
All you need to do is cream your corn and mashed potatoes together to make something out-of-this-world good!
We know – this is one of the weirder options on this menu, but don’t knock it until you try it!
You can bake a potato and make a mash of the fluffy white and mix your puréed corn in there. Keep the skins hot, and pipe the filling back into the potato for an unforgettable experience.
Top everything off with some cream cheese, or even yogurt, some chives, and you’re good to go! It’s something different and so delicious, you will wish you tried it so much sooner.
For the best results, use fresh corn for this one. Canned will work, but it won’t be the same.
We would recommend avoiding using frozen form for this, since you want all the rich flavors to come through.
5. Canned Corn
Chances are, you already have some tinned sweetcorn sitting in the pantry! This still will last ages, and it’s always handy to have on-hand.
If you’re desperate for some delicious creamed corn, then just use canned corn to get it done!
With how versatile canned corn is, this is a must-have for any home.
You can make the usual creamed corn with this by introducing it to a food processor with all the other delicious ingredients, or something else entirely!
You can eat canned sweetcorn straight out of the can, if you like! We don’t judge, it’s delicious. Alternatively, you can add it to soups and salads for some extra flavor.
You can also purée the corn and add it to lots of other recipes, like soups or pasta dishes as part of the sauce.
There are no limits when it comes to canned corn.
You May Also Like: Easy Sour Cream Cake Recipes
Final Thoughts
Creamed corn is so popular in places like the United States, but there are also plenty of other options to try!
If creamed corn is your ride or die, then you can gain comfort in knowing that you can use both frozen and canned corn to make this iconic dish.
If you want to find other uses for your corn, why not add it to soups, or make a specialty corn-potato mash?
You would even make bread with it, or create a delicious cream sauce to use in a variety of ways. You won’t regret it!
Creamed Corn: Top 5 Substitutes
Looking for creamed corn substitutes to use when you run out of the real thing? Lucky for you, there are plenty of great alternatives to try when you run out!
Ingredients
Cream Soups
Frozen Corn
Cream Sauce
Whipped Creamed Potatoes
Canned Corn
Directions
- Decided on what substitute you need
- Pick a substitute from the list above
- Read what you need to substitute with
- Create the recipe and enjoy
Recipe Video
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
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