Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

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When it comes to comfort food, few dishes evoke the cozy, satisfying feeling like creamed corn. It’s rich, creamy, and the perfect side dish for any family gathering or holiday dinner. But what if you could make this beloved dish without spending hours in the kitchen? Enter slow cooker creamed corn – a simple, hands-off recipe that delivers all the indulgence of the classic dish with minimal effort. With just five ingredients and a few hours in the slow cooker, you can have a side dish that’s not only flavorful but also unbelievably easy to prepare.

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Why Slow Cooker Creamed Corn?

One of the best things about slow cooker recipes is their convenience. They allow you to set it and forget it, freeing you up to focus on other parts of your meal. This creamed corn recipe is the epitome of ease – with minimal prep time and a handful of pantry staples, you’ll have a crowd-pleasing dish without breaking a sweat. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld together perfectly, creating a dish that’s rich, velvety, and just the right balance of sweet and savory.

But beyond its simplicity, slow cooker creamed corn is incredibly versatile. Whether you’re serving it at a holiday meal, a backyard barbecue, or just a cozy dinner at home, it’s always a hit. The creamy texture, the subtle sweetness from the sugar, and the hint of pepper make it a side dish that can complement just about any main course. From roasted meats to grilled vegetables, this creamed corn pairs beautifully with almost anything.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

For this recipe, you’ll need just five simple ingredients, all of which you likely already have in your pantry or fridge:

• 3 (15.25-ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained: The star of the dish! Canned corn is incredibly convenient, and for this recipe, it delivers the perfect texture once cooked. You could also use frozen corn if that’s what you have on hand, but the canned variety makes it quick and easy.
• 1 cup whole milk: Whole milk adds richness to the dish. It helps create that smooth, creamy texture that’s characteristic of creamed corn. If you prefer, you can substitute it with a non-dairy milk like oat milk or almond milk, though it might change the flavor slightly.
• 1 tablespoon sugar: The sugar brings a subtle sweetness that enhances the natural sweetness of the corn. It’s not overpowering, but it adds that essential touch that makes creamed corn so irresistible. If you prefer a less sweet version, you can reduce the sugar or omit it entirely.
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper: Black pepper adds a mild spiciness and complexity to the dish, balancing the sweetness of the corn. It’s an essential ingredient for flavor depth, though you can experiment with other types of pepper, like white or cayenne, if you like a little extra kick.
• 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed: Cream cheese is the secret to the creamy texture that makes this dish so comforting. It melts beautifully into the corn, adding a luxurious richness. Make sure the cream cheese is softened for easier mixing and blending. You can substitute with a reduced-fat cream cheese for a lighter option, though it may not be as creamy.
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into thin slices: Butter is the finishing touch that ensures your creamed corn has the silky smooth texture and rich flavor everyone loves. It melts down and infuses the corn with a buttery taste. You can opt for salted butter if that’s what you have, but be sure to reduce the amount of additional salt you add to the dish.

Instructions for Making Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

Making this slow cooker creamed corn is a breeze! Follow these simple steps, and in just a few hours, you’ll have a dish that’s creamy, savory, and irresistibly delicious:

1. Prepare the corn: Start by draining the cans of whole kernel corn and transferring them to your slow cooker. This dish calls for a 6-quart slow cooker, which gives you enough room for the corn, milk, sugar, and cream cheese to cook down properly.
2. Add the milk, sugar, and pepper: Pour in the whole milk, sprinkle the sugar, and season with black pepper. Stir everything gently until the ingredients are well combined. This step ensures that the flavors start melding together from the get-go.
3. Top with butter and cream cheese: Without stirring the mixture, place the cubed cream cheese and thin slices of butter on top of the corn mixture. These two ingredients will melt down as the corn cooks, creating that irresistible creamy texture.
4. Cook on high for 2-3 hours: Cover your slow cooker and cook the corn on high for 2-3 hours. You’ll start to see the butter and cream cheese melt, blending with the corn to create a velvety, rich sauce.
5. Stir and finish cooking: Once the cooking time is up, uncover the slow cooker and give everything a good stir. The butter and cream cheese should be completely melted and incorporated, creating a smooth, creamy consistency. Stir everything together to make sure the flavors are evenly distributed. Cover the slow cooker again and cook on high for an additional 15 minutes to let everything meld together.
6. Serve and enjoy: Once the creamed corn is ready, it’s time to serve! Spoon it into bowls or directly onto your dinner plates and enjoy the creamy, comforting goodness. This dish pairs beautifully with everything from roast chicken to grilled steaks and is sure to be a hit with family and friends.

Flavor, Texture, and Aroma

From the moment you begin preparing this slow cooker creamed corn, your kitchen will be filled with the mouthwatering aroma of melting butter and cream cheese. As the corn cooks, the fragrance of sweet corn combined with the richness of cream cheese and butter will make your taste buds tingle in anticipation.

When it’s ready, the texture of the creamed corn is perfectly velvety – the whole kernel corn still has a slight bite to it, but the creamy sauce envelops each kernel in a luscious, smooth coating. The subtle sweetness from the sugar enhances the natural flavor of the corn, while the pepper adds a gentle hint of spice. It’s a delightful balance of flavors that makes each bite comforting and satisfying.

Tips for Ingredient Substitutions and Variations

While this slow cooker creamed corn recipe is delicious as-is, there’s always room for customization. Here are a few tips and variations to consider:

• Substitute with frozen corn: If you don’t have canned corn on hand, you can use frozen corn. Just make sure to thaw it before adding it to the slow cooker.
• Use different cheeses: If you prefer a different flavor profile, consider swapping the cream cheese for mascarpone cheese or even sour cream for a tangier twist.
• Spice it up: For a spicier version, add some diced jalapeños or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. You can also mix in some smoked paprika for a deeper, smoky flavor.
• Make it lighter: For a lighter version, you can substitute the whole milk with skim or almond milk, and use low-fat cream cheese or even Greek yogurt.
• Add fresh herbs: Fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary can be added after the creamed corn is finished cooking to provide a fresh, fragrant note.

Serving Suggestions

This slow cooker creamed corn is the perfect side dish for almost any meal. Here are some serving suggestions to make your meal even more special:

• Grilled meats: Serve it alongside grilled steak, chicken, or pork chops for a satisfying, hearty meal.
• Barbecues: It’s a great side for barbecue ribs, burgers, or pulled pork sandwiches.
• Holiday meals: This dish is a crowd-pleaser for Thanksgiving or Christmas, pairing perfectly with roasted turkey or ham.
• Comfort food: For a cozy, comfort-food dinner, serve it with roasted potatoes and a simple green salad.

Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner, preparing a weeknight meal, or looking for a dish to bring to a potluck, this slow cooker creamed corn will undoubtedly become a family favorite. It’s the epitome of effortless indulgence, with its creamy texture and rich flavor that’s sure to satisfy every time.