Scalloped Corn Recipe

Corn is one of the most prominent, locally grown ingredients in the Midwest. It is a part of every traditional Midwestern meal and has made its way to all parts of the country in some form or another. Scalloped corn originates from New England because of its similarity to scalloped oysters, however oysters are harder to find in the Midwest, so Midwesterners substituted corn! This dish is creamy and comforting with a rich texture and sweet corn flavor and will quickly become a family favorite. Enjoy the midwestern version of scalloped oysters.

How to make Scalloped Corn

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 ¾ cup coarsely crushed saltine crackers
• 1 cup of onion, finely chopped
• 2 cups corn kernels, either thawed or fresh
• 75-ounce can of cream-style corn
• 1 cup milk, or half-and-half, or light cream
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 14-ounce jar of diced pimiento, drained
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon paprika (optional)
• ½ cup shredded Swiss, or cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Grease a 2-quart oval baking dish, 2-quart round casserole dish or 8x8x2-inch square baking dish and set it aside.
2. In a 12-inch skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add 3/4 cup crushed crackers. Cook and stir until crackers are light brown; remove from skillet and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add onion. Cook onion until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in corn, cream-style corn, the remaining 1 cup crushed crackers, milk, drained pimiento, eggs, black pepper and, if you like, paprika.
4. Transfer corn mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle on topping (made in step 2).
5. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 to 40 minutes or until center is set and a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Remove from oven.
6. If desired, sprinkle with cheese.
7. Then, let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Variations:

Considering scalloped corn is already a variation of scalloped oysters, it is understandable that there are many versions of scalloped corn. If you are looking to jazz up your dish, try adding different cheeses to gain fun flavors such as sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack cheese. You can also choose to add chopped green onions or chives to add a mild onion flavor which pairs well with thyme, rosemary or sage to create a more savory flavor. Finally, if this dish is a little bland for your taste, give it a zing by adding jalapeños, hot sauce, or chili powder.