Sweet Corn Salad with Bacon
Who doesn’t love summer sweet corn! It’s a favorite in our house for sure. And when corn is mixed into a creamy salad complete with Ranch dressing and crispy bacon bits, shredded cheddar cheese, green onions, and jalapeno, it’s even better. One of my favorite parts about this creamy corn and bacon salad, apart from just how creamy it is and how scrumptiously the bacon flavors the whole thing, is that this is such a fast and easy side salad. You’ll have it ready in 15 minutes! I’ve got a ton of corn recipes and corn salad recipes on my site (and make sure you check below the recipe card for more corn salad inspiration) but none is quite like this new family favorite recipe! It reminds me of creamed corn, but jazzed up and served either chilled or at room temp. Whether you want to serve this as a side dish for a weeknight family dinner, or bring it to a picnic or potluck, or make it for 4th of July or summer backyard barbecues, everyone will want seconds of this easy corn salad recipe.
Ingredients in Creamy Corn Salad
To make this easy creamy corn and bacon salad recipe, you’ll need the following easy to find and very common fridge and pantry ingredients including the following:
Bacon Corn Jalapeño Green onions or chives Mayonnaise Sour cream Ranch dressing Shredded cheddar cheese Lime juice Garlic powder Onion powder Salt Pepper Fresh parsley, for garnishing
Note: All ingredients amounts are listed in the recipe card section when you keep scrolling down.
How to Make Corn Salad
It truly does not get any easier than this cold corn salad recipe! You’re going to be a fan of how simplistic this easy side dish recipe is with very minimal prep time and total time. Step 1: Cook the bacon, drain, and place on a paper towel-lined plate to blot the grease. Step 2: While the bacon is cooking, add all the remaining ingredients into a large bowl and stir to combine. Step 3: Add the bacon and stir. Reserve a few bits for garnishing. Step 4: Cover and chill for about 1 hour in the fridge. Step 5: Garnish with parsley, the reserved bacon, and serve!
Make-Ahead Instructions
I recommend prepping this easy corn salad recipe at least 1 to 2 hours in advance and chilling it well in the fridge before you serve it. You can make it ahead of time, up to about 24 hours in advance, and leave it to chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it. Although it’s so fast to make, I’m not sure this is really necessary!
What’s the Best Corn to Use for Corn Salad?
For this easy bacon corn salad with jalapeno, you’ve got 5 options the way I see it. The options are listed in order of what I prefer to do or use with grilled fresh sweet corn as my top choice, and canned corn being my least favorite option. Although, even if you do use canned corn, it’s mixed into the lovely creamy sauce which helps “doctor it up”.
What to Serve with Creamy Corn Salad
This is just the best creamy corn and bacon salad recipe and is a perfect side dish for casual summer gatherings like a backyard bbq, picnics, and potlucks. Here’s looking at you Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, tailgating parties, and more. If you’re serving the corn salad as a side dish for family dinner or at a get-together or event, here are some of my other favorite sides that will pair well with this corn salad recipe:
BLT Pasta Salad – EASY, ready in 15 minutes, feeds a crowd, and PERFECT for potlucks and parties!! Creamy ranch dressing perfectly coats the pasta and BACON! Guaranteed family FAVORITE!! Classic Macaroni Salad – This fast and easy pasta salad recipe with tender elbow macaroni, bell peppers, carrots, celery, ham, and a super creamy dressing is a family FAVORITE! Amish Pasta Salad — A family-favorite classic pasta salad recipe with al dente pasta, bell peppers, celery, red onions, and hard-boiled eggs tossed in a creamy tangy-sweet dressing! Perfect for picnics, potlucks, backyard parties, and events! Everyone will go back for a second helping of this comforting side salad! Dill Pickle Pasta Salad — Calling all pickle fans, you’re going to love this creamy pasta salad with crunchy dill pickles in every bite! Along with cubes of cheese and crumbled bacon, this pasta salad will be the star of your next picnic, potluck, barbecue, or summer holiday! FAST, EASY, and IRRESISTIBLE! Bacon Potato Salad – This no mayo Potato Salad with Bacon is ready in just 30 minutes! It’s a vinegar potato salad the whole family will love! German Potato Salad – A classic potato salad made with tender red potatoes, bacon, onions, and a tangy vinegar dressing! This no-mayo potato salad is a family favorite side dish that’s perfect for parties, picnics, and potlucks! Borracho “Drunken” Baked Beans – These “drunken beans” are simmered with a can of BEER and can be made in your SLOW COOKER OR INSTANT POT! The bacon, sausage or chorizo, jalapenos, tomato, onion, garlic, herbs, and beer make these the BEST beans ever! Bourbon Maple Slow Cooker Baked Beans — The BEST baked beans ever! The flavors of bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, and BBQ sauce intensify and concentrate over time, and the resulting beans have incredible depth of flavor. Sweet with a bit of heat, robust yet smooth, and extremely satisfying!
Storing Leftover Creamy Corn Salad with Bacon
Extra bacon corn jalapeño salad will keep airtight in the fridge for about 4 days. Note that it will get a bit soupier as time passes. That’s just the nature of the creamy sauce. Unfortunately, this is not a recipe that I recommend freezing.
More Easy Corn Salad Recipes:
Creamy Corn and Zucchini Salad — A healthy EASY salad that’s ready in 15 minutes and so flavorful!! Corn, zucchini, cilantro, queso fresco and more are tossed in a DELISH creamy lime sauce! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Grilled Corn and Avocado Salad – An EASY and HEALTHY salad that’s ready in 10 minutes and you won’t be able to stop eating it! Juicy corn, creamy avocado, cilantro, and fresh lime juice is a FIESTA in your mouth! Grilled Corn and Black Bean Salad – An EASY Mexican-inspired corn salad with black beans, zucchini, red onions, cilantro, lime juice, and more! Mango Chickpea Corn Salad — An EASY salad that’s ready in 5 minutes, HEALTHY, and full of Mexican-inspired flavors!! Great as a meatless lunch, dinner side dish, or for picnics and potlucks. Mexican Bean Salad — Such a fast and easy recipe to make! Plus, it’s loaded with flavor and textures galore. Two kinds of beans, juicy corn and tomatoes, crisp peppers, and green onions are tossed in a lime-chili-cumin vinaigrette that’s perfectly light! Black Bean Corn Avocado Salad – Tossed with a tangy cumin lime vinaigrette. It’s incredibly filling thanks to the beans and avocado, and can easily be packed for lunch. Grilled Chicken and Corn Salad – An EASY salad that’s ready in 15 minutes and you won’t be able to stop eating it!! Tender chicken, juicy corn, crisp bell peppers and tomatoes, creamy avocado, cilantro, and fresh lime juice for the WIN!!
