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Corn Casserole With Green Chilies And Cream Cheese

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This delicious corn casserole with Green Chilies And Cream Cheese will soon become a favorite side dish for any holiday dinner or gathering!


Ready to bake in less than 10 minutes, this super easy recipe is packed with sweet corn, tons of cheese, mild green chiles, and a little bit of seasoning. 

There is a small brown bowl with corn kernels in a white cream sauce. There is crumbled white cheese and chopped green onions on top. There is a white cloth napkin in the back ground. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

The rich cream cheese sauce bakes up to make a thick and creamy corn casserole that is seriously hard to resist!

Ingredients For This Great Side Dish

There is a large white bowl with yellow corn kernels in it, a medium white bowl with yellow shredded cheese in it. There are two small white bowls. One has chopped green chilies in it, the other has milk in it. There are two small clear ramekins in front of the other bowls. One has black ground pepper in it and the other has red ground pepper in it. There are six green long stemmed onions and a garlic clove laying next to the bowls. There is a white rectangular plate with a block of white cream cheese and a small stick of butter on it next to the bowls. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

What You Will Need For This Delicious Recipe

  • Frozen whole kernel corn (see Top Tips)
  • Butter
  • Green onions
  • Fresh garlic
  • Cream cheese (see Top Tips)
  • Milk
  • Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Salt – to taste
  • Nonstick cooking spray

Helpful Tools / Equipment

  • 2 quart casserole dish
  • Large skillet
  • Cutting board
  • Large knife
  • Wooden spoon
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups
  • Oven Mitts

Let’s Talk Ingredients For This Cheesy Corn Casserole

Corn – I love to use frozen sweet corn for this recipe. Canned corn (yellow or white corn) can be used. Make sure you drain it really well.


If you wanted to take the time to remove the husks and cut the kernels off the cob, fresh corn would taste great in this recipe!

Butter – Salted or unsalted will work.

Green onions – I like the mild flavor scallions give to this dish. However, you can substitute them with a little white onion or shallots. 

Fresh garlic clove – If you don’t have any fresh garlic in the kitchen, jarred minced garlic or garlic powder can be used.

Cream cheese – You can use full-fat cream cheese or reduced-fat Neufchatel.

Milk – To keep this a creamy corn casserole, whole milk or half-and-half is preferable. Lower fat content milk tends to make the casserole a little runny.

Green chiles – Store bought canned diced chilies are great for the casserole. 

Sharp cheddar cheese – Pre packaged shredded cheese is very convenient but you can shred a block of cheese if you prefer.

Black pepper – Adds a little depth and spice to any dish.

Cayenne pepper – Just a bit of spicy ground chile peppers compliments the sweetness of the corn.  It’s completely optional!

Salt – I serve salt on the side of my dishes.

How To Make This Easy Corn Casserole Recipe

There is a large gray skillet with melted butter, chopped green onions and garlic cooking. The skillet is on a white and gray terrazzo surface.
  • Lightly spray baking dish with non stick cooking spray
  • Melt butter in a large skillet pan over medium high heat.
  • Add the chopped onions and minced garlic to the melted butter and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. 
There is a large gray skillet with melted butter, milk, and cream cheese. There is a wooded spoon resting in the skillet. The skillet is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Reduce to medium heat. 
  • Add the cream cheese and milk and stir until smooth.
There is a large gray skillet with a white cream sauce in it. There is a mound of chopped green chiles, a mound of shredded yellow cheese, a small spoonful of black pepper, and a small spoonful of red cayenne pepper on top of the sauce. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet. The skillet is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Add the chiles, seasonings, and cheese (keep 1/4 cup of the shredded cheese for the top of the casserole).
  • Stir to combine everything.
There is a large gray skillet with a creamy corn mixture in it. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet. Skillet is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Add the corn and stir until blended.
There is a round white baking dish with creamy corn sauce and shredded yellow cheese on top of it. The dish is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Pour into greased baking dish and sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  • Optional – sprinkle the top with cotija cheese and chopped green onions.
There is a round white baking dish with creamy corn sauce and melted yellow cheese on top of it. The dish is on a white and black terrazzo surface.

Top Tips

  • The best way to speed up the thawing process of frozen corn is to place it in a strainer and run warm water over it for a few minutes. Throughly drain before using.
  • If you can’t wait for the cream cheese to come to room temperature, you can soften it in the microwave.  Cut it up into chunks and place it in a microwaveable dish. Most microwaves have a soften/melt option. If not, soften the cream cheese at 50% power level.

Serving Suggestions

This tasty side dish is packed with flavor and completes any main dish. For everyday meals, try pairing it with Shrimp Tacos, Pork Chops, or Zinger Burgers, delicious!

This corn casserole is also the perfect side dish on special occasions like turkey day and Christmas dinners.

It’s a great addition to your holiday table that always gets rave reviews!

There is a small brown bowl and a large white round baking dish with corn kernels in a cream sauce. There is white crumbled cheese and chopped green onions on top of both. There is a metal serving spoon in the white baking dish. There is a white cloth napkin laying next to the bowls. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Corn Casserole Be Made Ahead?

Yes, you can make the casserole 1 to 2 days ahead of time which is great when preparing holiday meals.

Allow it to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.

Sprinkle the cheese on top just before baking.

What Other Cheese Can Be Used?

I love the flavor of sharp cheddar cheese but you can substitute Monterey jack cheese or Colby jack.

Add a little heat to the casserole by using pepper jack cheese.

Here are more side dish ideas that the entire family will love from Join Me In The Kitchen!

Yield: 8 servings

Corn Casserole With Green Chilies And Cream Cheese

There is a small brown bowl with corn kernels in a white cream sauce. There is crumbled white cheese and chopped green onions on top. There is a white cloth napkin in the back ground. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

This delicious corn casserole will soon become a favorite side dish for any holiday dinner or gathering. 

Ready to bake in less than 10 minutes, this super easy recipe is packed with sweet corn, tons of cheese, mild green chiles and a little bit of seasoning. 

The rich cream cheese sauce bakes up to make a thick and creamy corn casserole that is seriously hard to resist.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 24 ounces (2 -12 ounce bags) frozen corn kernels (see Top Tips)
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 6 to 8 green scallions - chopped
  • 1 fresh garlic clove - minced
  • 1 package (8 ounce) of cream cheese (see Top Tips)
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1 can (4 ounce) diced green chilies - drained
  • 3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese - shredded
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt - to taste
  • Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Lightly spray baking dish with non stick cooking spray
  3. Drain green chiles
  4. Chop green onions - about 1/3 cup.
  5. Mince the garlic.
  6. Melt the butter, cook the onions and garlic in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat until soft.
  7. Lower the heat to medium.
  8. Add the cream cheese and milk and stir until smooth.
  9. Add 1/2 cup of the cheese, green chili, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to the cream cheese mixture. Stir to combine everything.
  10. Add the corn and stir until blended.
  11. Pour into baking dish, sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
  12. Optional - Before serving sprinkle with chopped green onions and crumbled cotija cheese.

Notes

Top Tips

  • The best way to speed up the thawing process of frozen corn is to place it in a strainer and run warm water over it for a few minutes. Throughly drain before using.
  • If you can't wait for the cream cheese to come to room temperature, you can soften it in the microwave.  Cut it up into chunks and place it in a microwaveable dish. Most microwaves have a soften/melt option. If not, soften the cream cheese at 50% power level.

Did you make this recipe?

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© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Casseroles

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