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Fresh corn combined with the wonderful flavors of spicy jalapenos, sweet peppers, cotija cheese, and rich butter make the easiest and most delicious corn recipe you’ll ever make. It is the perfect side to serve at cookouts and any gatherings when you want a show-stopping side dish that looks like you spent way more time on than you actually did.

I love making easy side dishes that can also compete with the main dish. This corn recipe is vibrant and fresh. It is pretty similar to Mexican street corn, but it is combined with some of my favorite ingredients including green onion, sweet peppers, and butter. Can you say yum!?!

RECIPES TO MAKE WITH SOUTHWEST CHEESY CORN

Are you asking yourself what to serve with this corn recipe? Southwest corn serves as the perfect side dish for almost anything! If you are looking for some inspiration, try some of these:

SOUTHWEST CHEESY CORN INGREDIENTS AKA MY MESS IN PLACE

Jump to the bottom of the recipe card below this post for full ingredient measurements and instructions.

Corn  – I recommend using fresh corn

Bell pepper – red, orange, or yellow.

Butter– unsalted butter

Green onions/chives – mild onions work best for this recipe

Cilantro – fresh, chopped cilantro

Jalapeno –  I use jalapeno, but serrano or habaneros can also be used

Cotija cheese – can be subbed with feta

HOW TO MAKE SOUTHWEST CORN

Follow these steps to make this recipe:

  1. Remove the cobbs – carefully remove the corn from the cob and place it in a large bowl. If you plan to grill the corn, do so before removing it from the cobb.
  2. Melt the butter – Heat a cast iron or non-stick skillet and melt the butter.
  3. Saute – Add the bell pepper, jalapeno, and green onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then saute for 3 to 5 minutes or until soft and translucent. Add the corn, then cook for another 5 minutes.
  4. Add the cheese and cilantro – Add the cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Stir well to combine. Once cheese has melted remove from the heat.
  5. Garnish with cotija and cilantro sprigs.

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

  1. Use fresh corn. Fresh corn will have the best flavor without added sugar, salt, or preservatives. However, if you do not have fresh corn, you can substitute with about 2 15 oz cans of corn, rinsed well.
  2. The cheese. Cotija cheese gives this recipe an authentic Mexican flavor, but if you can’t find cotija, feta cheese is a close
  3. Adjust the spice. If you are looking to make a mild version of this recipe, omit the peppers and proceed. If you want to amp up the spice level, toss in a few more jalapenos, serrano, or even habanero peppers!
  4. Grill the corn. Try grilling the corn outdoors or using an indoor grill before removing it from the cobb give this corn recipe delicious grilled flavor and color.

Southwest Cheesy Corn

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Jamie Tryon Course: SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Total time

25

minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 cups 6 8 to 10 ears of fresh corn, fresh corn, cobs removed

  • 1 1 red bell pepper, diced

  • 1/4 cup 1/4 cilantro, chopped

  • 1 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, diced

  • 1 bunch 1 green onion, chopped

  • 1 cup 1 cotija cheese plus more for garnish

  • 2 tbsp 2 butter

  • salt and pepper to taste

  • cilantro sprigs, garnish

Directions

  • Carefully remove the corn from the cob and place it in a large bowl. If you plan to grill the corn, do so before removing it from the cobb.
  • Heat a large cast iron or non-stick skillet and melt the butter.
  • Add the bell pepper, jalapeno, and green onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then saute for 3 to 5 minutes or until soft and translucent. Add the corn, then cook for another 5 minutes.
  • Add the cotija cheese and chopped cilantro. Stir well to combine. Once cheese has melted remove from the heat.
  • Garnish with cotija cheese and cilantro sprigs.

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet
  • Wooden Spoon

Recipe Video

Notes

  • To make a mild version of this recipe, omit the peppers, and proceed.
  • Grill the corn outdoors or using an indoor grill before removing it from the cobb give this corn recipe delicious grilled flavor and color.

Did you make this recipe?

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While I have you here… may I suggest a few for you to try next:

Until next time. Keep following and commenting. Join me on Youtube next week where I will be cooking up another recipe and maybe telling a few of my terrible jokes! Yes, that’s right.

Author

Thanks for stopping by! I'm Jamie Tryon, a Texas native, a French-trained chef, and a mom who enjoys the gift of cooking.

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