If you ask us, grilled corn is one of the single greatest joys of late summer, right there next to fresh tomato salads and an endless parade of frozen treats. Served up elote-style or simply slathered in honey butter, grilled corn on the cob is pure, unadulterated corn pleasure. Charred corn kernels bring tiny bits of smoky corn magic to all kinds of dishes, from incredible salads to seasonal tartines and flatbread. This collection of grilled corn recipes is here to help you put as many ears on the grates as possible before summer ends, so grab your corn cob holders and get grilling.
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Coconut-Peanut Corn Salad
Make sure you grill corn for this salad before summer ends. Bursting with flavor and texture, it combines lightly charred fresh corn with a make-ahead chaat featuring roasted peanuts laced with garlic and ginger. It’s salty, nutty, crunchy, juicy, sweet, savory, and crisp all at once.
New Mexican Street Corn
Food & Wine / Photo by Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Breanna Ghazali
2000 F&W Best New Chef Joseph Wrede, who’s based in Santa Fe, puts a Southwestern spin on elotes, the delicious Mexican street corn, with the smoky addition of chipotles in adobo. If you want corn on the cob with something more than classic butter and salt, this one’s for you.
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Calamansi Mayo
Chef Sheldon Simeon reimagines Mexican elote through the lens of Hawai’i, layering creamy calamansi mayo, seaweed flakes, and Japanese chile onto grilled corn. The island-style side is ready in 25 minutes.
Charred Corn and Tomato Tartines with Tofu Aïoli
Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
Enhanced by smoked paprika, our eggless, tofu-based aïoli — inspired by the plant-based innovations of 2022 F&W Best New Chef Rob Rubba — has all the assertive garlic flavor and creamy texture you expect from the condiment. Here, it’s generously slathered on rustic sourdough slices piled high with grilled corn, peppers, and tomatoes.
Corn Husk–Grilled Goat Cheese with Corn Relish and Honey
Grill corn alongside corn husks filled with goat cheese, ultimately spooning corn relish on top of the hot molten cheese infused with smokiness. Drizzle honey on top for a unique and flavorful summer starter from Andrea Slonecker.
Grilled Corn Ribs with Honey Butter
Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Amp up the sweetness of juicy grilled corn with a dry spice rub for a smoky-sweet vegetable side that tastes like a cross between buttery corn on the cob and barbecue ribs. Finish the corn ribs with a silky honey-butter drizzle.
Soy-Lime Grilled Chicken Thighs with Corn and Cucumber Salad
Food & Wine / Photo by Fred Hardy / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood
In this knockout summer meal, grilled corn and scallions team up with crisp cucumber slices in a sesame-lime dressing for a refreshing salad that perfectly complements juicy grilled chicken thighs.
Grilled Okra, Corn, and Tomato Salad
Vishwesh Bhatt’s summer-centric grilled vegetable salad showcases a melange of okra, corn, cucumbers, tomato, and onions in a punchy dressing made from lime juice, basil, cilantro, and charred jalapeños.
Masala Grilled Vegetables with Spicy Mint Chutney
This vibrant grilled veggie dish with a chile-spiked herb dressing makes for a stunning side or light main course. It can be served either warm or at room temperature, so it’s a great option if you’d like to cook the vegetables in advance.
Grilled Scallops with Miso-Corn Salad
Top Chef judge Gail Simmons grills corn, scallions, and sea scallops for this 30-minute, summery salad with seafood skewers.
Grilled Gulf Shrimp with Sweet Corn Coulis
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Make a creamy coulis from grilled corn to pair with skewers of tender Gulf shrimp and a crunchy salad of sweet peas and more grilled corn. It’s summery, light, and refreshing.
Zucchini, Corn, and Shrimp Flatbread
Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver
Grill store-bought naan and heap summer’s bounty on top: sweet corn, tender shrimp, fresh mascarpone cheese, and delicate ribbons of zucchini. Don’t forget the smoked paprika, which helps enhance this dish’s smoky flavor.
Grilled Corn Salad with Blistered Tomato Vinaigrette
William Hereford
Grilled corn and tomatoes are practically synonymous with summer. Here, chef Devin Finigan gets his char on, first grilling ears of corn until they begin to blacken, then using a grill basket for the cherry tomatoes to make his smoky vinaigrette. He throws garlic scapes on the oiled grates too, then adds fresh chopped cucumber and red bell pepper into the salad mix. Salty feta and a shower of fresh herbs round it all out.
Grilled Squash, Corn, and Kale Salad with Sunflower Seed Vinaigrette
Grilled squash and corn mingle with kale and sprouts for a wonderfully hearty salad tossed in a creamy, za’atar-spiked dressing that’s rich with sunflower seeds and blitzes up quickly in a blender.
Grilled Sweet Corn with Coconut Glaze
Los Angeles chef Kris Yenbamroong infuses a hint of sweet coconut flavor into his grilled corn by basting it with a quick, simple sauce made of coconut milk, coconut sugar, salt, and turmeric. He calls this a “high pleasure, low hassle” way to cook corn.
Honey-Buttered Grilled Corn
© Marcus Nilsson
Blend butter with honey and a touch of cayenne, then spread it on ears of corn before grilling until tender for just the right amount of sweet heat.
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Roasted Garlic and Herbs
Chef Michel Nischan roasts two entire heads of garlic, then combines the soft cloves with lemon zest, butter, cilantro, tarragon, and olive oil to make a rich, creamy spread that gets slathered onto the corn before it’s grilled in the husk.
Kalbi Ribs and Grilled Corn with Kalbi Butter
Charred corn is the ideal accompaniment to Stephanie Izard’s Korean beef kalbi ribs, rounding out the plate for a perfect summer dish.
Corn and Zucchini Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese
Sweet grilled corn, zucchini, and a chile-spiked lime dressing bring big summer flavor to this punchy pasta salad. A generous amount of chopped cilantro ties it all together, while a topping of shaved fresh goat cheese echoes the creamy, tangy notes within.
Grilled Skirt Steak with Poblano-Corn Sauce and Salsa
© Con Poulos
Made from just six ingredients including salt and pepper, this ingenious recipe features grilled fresh corn and poblano served two ways: Half is blended into a sauce to cradle the steak, while the rest serves as a simple, smoky salsa to spoon on top.
