Name: Sweet and Buttery Basil Corn
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 28 ounces frozen corn; 1 stick (1/2 cup butter or margarine); 1 tablespoon dried basil; 1 tablespoon corn starch; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon sugar

This Basil Corn is my favorite way to turn a “nothing in the pantry” kind of night into a side you’ll wanna have with every meal. It’s a 15-minute wonder you can whip up right quick that takes a plain old bag of frozen corn and smothers it in a rich, herb-infused butter sauce that’s thickened just enough to stick to your ribs!

A Quick Look At The Recipe

✅ Recipe Name: Sweet and Buttery Basil Corn
🕐 Ready In: 15 minutes
👥 Serves: 6
🥣 Main Ingredients: Frozen corn, Butter or margarine, Dried basil, Corn starch, Salt, Sugar
⭐ Why You'll Love It: This Basil Corn is my favorite way to turn a "nothing in the pantry" kind of night into a side you’ll wanna have with every meal. It’s a 15-minute wonder!

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Garden-Fresh Flavor Without the Garden Work

I’ve spent plenty of summers shucking ears of corn until my thumbs were sore, and while nothing beats fresh sweet corn off the cob, life doesn’t always give us the time for that. This basil corn recipe is my little secret for getting that “farmer’s market” taste using a bag from the freezer!

Most folks think of Italian recipes or a complex pesto recipe when they hear basil, but when you add it to sweet corn with a pinch of sugar, it creates a savory-sweet profile fine as frog’s hair! It’s buttery, it’s aromatic, and it’s a great recipe when you need a side dish that’s more than veggies in a bowl.

I’m very much a corn gal, so it feels like my duty to let you know about my Easy Creamed Corn, Summer Corn Salad, and Baked Corn on the Cob With Herb Butter recipes!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Frozen corn
Butter or margarine
Dried basil
Corn starch
Salt
Sugar

Tips for the Perfect Basil Corn

Don’t Overcook: When you bring the corn to a boil, remove it from the heat immediately. You want the corn to be tender-crisp, not mushy!
The Whisk is Your Friend: When you heat butter and cornstarch in your sauce pot, keep it moving. You’re essentially making a quick herb-filled roux, and you want it to be bubbly and smooth before it hits the corn.
Fresh vs. Dried: This recipe calls for dried basil because it stands up well to the heat of the butter sauce. However, if you have fresh basil in your garden, you can stir in some thin strips (chiffonade) of basil leaves right before serving for a bright pop of green.
Check the Grocery Stores: If you can’t find frozen corn, drained canned corn works too! Just skip the boiling step and go straight to the sauce!

Side view of a bowl of Basil Corn with a spoon

How to Make Basil Corn

1. Prep the Corn

Pour your frozen corn into a large pot and cover it with water. Set it over medium-high heat. As soon as that water hits a rolling boil, take the pot off the stove. Drain the corn thoroughly in a colander.

2. Make the Basil Butter Sauce

In a separate small sauce pot over medium heat, add your stick of butter, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and dried basil.

Butter, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and dried basil in a pot.

3. Simmer and Blend

Stir the mixture constantly as the butter melts. You’re looking for it to become well-blended and just start to get “bubbly.” This ensures the cornstarch is activated so your sauce will be silky, not watery.

Melted and simmered butter sauce for Basil Corn

4. Toss and Coat

Pour that warm, fragrant basil mixture over your drained corn. Give it a good stir until every kernel is glistening.

Tossing the frozen corn in with the butter sauce

5. Season and Serve

Taste a spoonful (carefully!). If it needs a little kick, a crack of black pepper or a tiny pinch of pepper adds a nice depth.

Taking a spoonful of Basil Corn from a plate

Serve it warm!

Storing and Reheating

This corn is easy as pie to store. Put any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, I recommend putting it back in a small pan over medium heat with a tiny splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce back up. A quick zap in the microwave works too, but the stovetop keeps that “buttery-smooth” texture best.

Serving Ideas

Basil corn plays just as well with a fancy holiday spread as it does with a paper plate. I love serving it alongside Butter Roasted Chicken or Maple Glazed Pork Chops, but it’s also the perfect “something green” (well, herby green!) to tuck next to Southern Dressing With Cornbread and Homemade Mashed Potatoes With Evaporated Milk come Thanksgiving.

If you’re heading to a cookout, try it with a Smoked Burger Recipe or some Crock Pot Pulled Pork, and if you’re just looking for a well-rounded plate, you can’t go wrong pairing it with Easy Roasted Potatoes or Grilled Asparagus.