This Bacon Fried Corn recipe is one of my family’s favorite side dishes to enjoy, especially when fresh corn is readily available.
Here in Colorado, when the local sweet corn arrives at the farmer’s markets and grocery stores it’s a race to eat as much of it as we can while it’s at its finest. (We also love it in our Old Fashioned Corn Chowder with Bacon.)
You can also make this recipe with frozen corn during the rest of the year!
This easy recipe is one that I developed for my cookbook 101 Things To Do With Bacon (Gibbs Smith, Publisher), and I think you’ll love the way the flavors of sautéed bell peppers and bacon enhance the sweet, tender fresh corn.
It’s a great dish to serve at a barbecue or potluck, and it can easily be multiplied for bigger groups.
Ingredients Notes
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Southern fried sweet corn with bacon:
6 ears fresh sweet corn, husked and cleaned – Fresh corn on the cob is best for this recipe, but you can substitute steamed frozen corn during the off-season.
2 tablespoons butter – You can use unsalted or salted butter, since you’ll be seasoning to taste at the end of the recipe preparation.
Half a large red bell pepper, seeded and diced – You can use green, yellow or orange bell pepper, or substitute a couple of jalapeños for more spicy flavor.
6 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled – Regular or thick-sliced bacon works equally well, and you can use smoked or unsmoked, cured or uncured bacon.
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
A Note About Making Bacon Crumbles
To make the perfect homemade bacon bits for this recipe, I recommend cooking the bacon strips in a large skillet.
Arrange the strips in the frying pan first, and then turn on the burner. Starting the bacon in a cold skillet will help it cook more evenly.
Cook over medium heat until the bottom of the bacon starts to brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the bacon strips over and continue cooking until they’re crispy and golden brown.
Transfer to paper towels to drain excess grease. When the strips are cooled, crumble or chop them in small pieces.
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Printable Recipe
Bacon Fried Corn
Equipment
- large skillet
- Large bowl
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
- 6 ears fresh sweet corn husked and cleaned
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 large red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 6 slices bacon cooked, drained and crumbled
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, slice the corn off of the cob and scrape each cob into the bowl to release the milk.
- Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add the bell pepper and cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crumbled bacon, salt, and pepper and cook 1 minute more. Makes 6 servings.
Notes
Nutrition
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Eliza Cross is the creator of Happy Simple Living, where she shares ideas to help busy people simplify cooking, gardening, holidays, home, and money. She is also the award-winning author of 17 cookbooks, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon.
Sounds yummy! My Mom used to scramble eggs with corn, and I sometimes do that with sauteed bell pepper and onions added – but, of course, everything’s better with bacon!
That sounds good, Aunt Lin. I’ll have to try it! Love you. xoxo
Corn with bacon?!? Oh dear heavens why have I never thought of this?? This recipe looks positively delicious and I think even the kids will eat it. Perfect summer food. Yum!