Description
Sweet and savory honey butter skillet corn made with tender corn kernels, creamy butter, and honey. This quick side dish develops lightly caramelized edges and pairs perfectly with grilled meats, seafood, holiday dinners, and weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups corn kernels, fresh, frozen and thawed, or canned and well drained
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or chives, chopped, for garnish
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- ¼ cup heavy cream or half-and-half, optional for a creamy version
Instructions
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter.
- Allow the butter to melt completely, keeping the heat moderate to prevent it from burning.
- Add the honey and stir until the butter and honey are well combined.
- Add the corn kernels and toss to coat them evenly in the honey butter mixture.
- Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow the corn to sit undisturbed for a minute or two between stirs so it can develop lightly golden, caramelized edges.
- Season with salt and black pepper. Add red pepper flakes if desired.
- For a creamy variation, stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half during the final 1–2 minutes of cooking.
- Remove from the heat and taste, adjusting the seasoning or honey if needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or chives and serve hot.
Notes
- Fresh corn provides excellent flavor and texture, but frozen or well-drained canned corn works well too.
- If using frozen corn, thaw and drain it before cooking to prevent excess moisture.
- Keep the heat around medium to prevent the butter and honey from burning.
- For a spicy version, use hot honey, red pepper flakes, cayenne, or paprika.
- For a cheesy version, add shredded cheddar or grated Parmesan after cooking.
- To make it dairy-free, use plant-based butter. To make it vegan, replace the honey with maple syrup or agave.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
- Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave.
- Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the type of corn, butter, and optional ingredients used.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 245 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 330 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 23 mg
Keywords: honey butter skillet corn, honey butter corn, skillet corn, sweet corn side dish, easy corn recipe, buttery corn, Southern side dish,