Best Southern Corn Pudding

My best Southern Corn Pudding is farm to table fare, accompanying everything from grilled steak to the Thanksgiving dinner turkey!
Holiday dinners are not the only meals deserved of a great side dish. Right now, seasonal ingredients like corn and tomatoes keep my summer dinner menu lively and fresh, and with only a few minutes of prep required to garner that perfect side dish!
The start of any solid southern corn pudding recipe is a combination of fresh corn, cream-style corn, sour cream, butter, and eggs. Flour, sugar, Kosher salt, and black pepper round out the ingredients.
Baked until gorgeously golden brown, spoonsful of ‘creamy corn pudding bliss’ grace the dinner table in this classic southern dish. If serving as part of a holiday meal, it compliments everything from holiday ham and turkey to squash casserole, to a swank sweet potato casserole!
For more amazing recipes with corn, browse my MSN Roundups where I share recipes from some of the BEST food bloggers out there!
Don’t Let Your BBQ Be Basic: 21 Grilled Corn Recipes You Need to Try This Summer
Ingredients for The Best Southern Corn Pudding
This sweet corn pudding recipe employs farm to table ingredients. Jot them down and place into your wallet or glove box for when you hit your farmers market. Simple ingredients are what make this easy recipe a repeat performer and a family favorite!
- Whole kernel corn – Fresh corn will lend additional sweetness to the finished dish, however it is fine to use canned or frozen corn if fresh is not in season. For frozen corn, thaw in advance and drain well.
- Creamed corn – Canned cream-style corn is a non-negotiable ingredient in this recipe as it creates a velvety texture, a sweeter pudding, and adds the necessary moisture to prevent any chance of the pudding drying or crumbling.
- Eggs and whole milk – Help the pudding achieve a custard-like texture.
- Sour cream – Adds unmatched richness while also imparting tangy notes.
- Butter – Always melt the butter before adding to the mix. I use salted, but unsalted works just as well.
- All-purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
Substitutions and Variations
- Shredded cheddar, white cheddar, Colby, pepper jack – or another flavor of cheese just levels this whole casserole up.
- Brown butter sauteed onion – the unmistakable flavor of brown butter gives this a pleasantly nutty and luxe taste.
- Jalapeños or Mild green chilis – if you ‘do’ heat, you know…and a pinch of cayenne will get you there, too!
- Chopped tomato – I almost always add for a pop of color and a touch of sweetness.
- Green onion – adds that charisma to the look of this dish by adding color.
- Cooked, crumbled chorizo or bacon – sprinkle on top just before putting in the oven to bake.
- Chives, thyme, or marjoram – garnish post-bake or stir them into the batter for the subtle earthiness they impart.
- Paprika
Best Southern Corn Pudding
Recipe details
Ingredients
- ▢ 2 cups (save out 1/4 cup for garnish if desired) whole kernel corn fresh is best; frozen or canned both fine as long as thoroughly thawed/very well drained; see my tips for grilling fresh corn also
- ▢ 1 (15-ounce) can cream-style corn
- ▢ 3 tablespoons butter divided, 2 tablespoon melted and cooled, 1 tablespoon softened
- ▢ 4 large eggs
- ▢ 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ▢ 1 heaping tablespoon sour cream
- ▢ 1/2 cup whole milk may substitute heavy cream
- ▢ 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher salt or to taste
- ▢ pinch black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 9-inch round souffle, 8 x 8-inch casserole dish, or 6 to 8 ramekins using the tablespoon of softened butter. Create step one of a bain marie by first laying a clean dish towel in the bottom of a roasting pan large enough to accommodate the one which will be used for the pudding. In the case of ramekins, ensure they are at least 1-inch apart. Set the souffle/casserole/ramekins being used for the pudding on top of the towel. The towel ensures nothing will slide while in the water.3 tablespoons butter
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Use a wire whisk to ensure all is incorporated very well. Optional: add half of the mixture into a blender, mixing on high 45 seconds or until very smooth. Return to bowl with remaining mixture, and re-whisk to incorporate. This step produces a very silky, custard-like pudding once fully baked.2 cups (save out 1/4 cup for garnish if desired) whole kernel corn, 1 (15-ounce) can cream-style corn, 4 large eggs, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 heaping tablespoon sour cream, ½ cup whole milk, 2-3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, pinch black pepper
- Pour into the prepared souffle/casserole/ramekins. Load into your preheated oven. If adding additional ingredients from the list of variations above, do so now. Complete the bain marie by pouring enough boiling water from the side to fill the roaster within 2-inches from the top(s) of the souffle/casserole/ramekins. Tip: I find this is easiest done by pulling the rack out halfway, placing the roaster on the rack, then pushing it back in SLOWLY after the water has been added.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Casserole is fully cooked when custard is mostly set and center is only somewhat jiggly. The pudding will continue to set even after it is removed from the bain marie. DO THIS CAREFULLY. A set of canning jar tongs or kitchen tongs with rubberized tips work well for ramekins, rubberized potholders for a casserole dish or souffle.
- Removed from the bain marie, allow the casserole to rest 5 to 10 minutes. If you set aside a handful of corn kernels to garnish the casserole, scatter them. Serve with freshly snipped chives or thyme leaves also scattered on top or other garnish if desired. See my suggestions above for variations to this method for ideas.2 cups (save out 1/4 cup for garnish if desired) whole kernel corn
Tips
- Make Ahead: up to 2 days. Combine all ingredients and pour into prepared baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Prior to baking, let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Storage and Re-Heating: store in airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. To reheat, microwave in 20-second intervals or warm in a 325˚F covered with foil until heated through, about 25 minutes.

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