It’s easy to go a little crazy loading up on corn this time of year, when you can buy a few ears for a buck seemingly anywhere you go. And as sweet as it tastes, fresh corn has a short shelf life, so if you’re in a hurry to use it up, look to one of these slow-cooker corn recipes. Even if a recipe calls for frozen or canned corn, just substitute an equal amount of fresh corn — it’ll only make the dish more delicious, recipe developers assured us. (A typical ear of corn yields about 3/4 cup of kernels.) Now, get shucking!
1. Corn and jalapeno dip: Spinach-artichoke dip is so… holiday party. But warm, gooey dips shouldn’t just be a winter joy — go for a summery version with this Slow Cooker Corn Jalapeno Dip from Chungah An of Damn Delicious. Serve it as a summer party appetizer, or file it away for early-season games come August.
Related: Make the best grilled corn ever with recipes and tips from Billy Dec
2. Creamed corn: For a (slightly) lighter alternative to mac and cheese at your next barbecue, consider this Best Ever Slow Cooker Creamed Corn from the Slow Roasted Italian’s Donna Elick. The dish even gets better as it sits, she says, noting she’d eat it every day if she could.
3. Corn enchilada casserole: Just because it’s summer, that doesn’t mean weeknight cooking gets any easier. Keep that Crock-Pot in use during the week with this Slow Cooker Enchilada Cornbread Casserole from Allison Ruth of Some the Wiser. She includes modern ingredients, like quinoa, to put a fresh twist on the casserole, and it’s all made in one pot.
4. Corn chowder: You know those occasional chilly, rainy days we get in the summer? The next time there’s one of those, break out this Crock-Pot Corn Chowder recipe from Deborah Harroun of Mama Loves Food. Freeze extra corn kernels, as Harroun does, so you can make the recipe again when you need a taste of summer come November.
5. Corn on the cob: Boiling corn cuts down on the veggie’s nutrients, but slowly steaming it in its own juices helps retain its minerals and vitamins, says Monica Matheny of The Yummy Life, who swears by the delicious results she gets from her Slow-Cooker Corn on the Cob. You can either wrap the cobs in foil or not, she says, and brush them in either olive oil or butter, and add choice of seasonings (like her chili and lime, or curry coconut) before steaming away in the slow cooker. Matheny says she can fit about 8 to 10 ears in a large slow cooker, freeing up precious stovetop or grill space in the process.