Cheesy Southern Corn Fritters

These Cheesy Corn Fritters are lightly fried in healthy oil until perfectly crisp, fluffy, and lightly golden.  Learn how to easily make this appetizer or side dish recipe with frozen, fresh, or canned corn, cheddar cheese, and a ton of Southern flavor!

Easy Fried Corn Fritters

Perfectly crispy on the outside, full of sweet Southern corn, and lightly fried until cooked through and fluffy…

These cheesy corn fritters are what summer dreams are made of!!  (And are pretty much a tie with these Crispy Zucchini Fritters!)

Seriously, they’re like perfectly sweet and savory corn pancakes that you’re allowed to eat for dinner.

And the best part, you can use fresh corn on the cob, previously frozen, OR even canned corn if you want to easily make them in a jiffy.

Serve them up with a dollop of sour cream (or dairy-free sour cream!) and enjoy them as a tasty side dish or appetizer bite.

Ingredients

The ingredients you will need to make this cheesy corn fritters recipe are easy to find at your local grocery store and include:

• Corn – You can use fresh cut corn on the cob, frozen, or canned corn interchangeably in this recipe.
• Flour – All purpose flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend can be used.
• Eggs – Two whisked eggs act as the binding agent of the ingredients so the fritters do not fall apart.
• Milk – Regular milk or a nut-based milk can be used. (Cashew milk is my personal preference.)
• Cheese – Finely shredded cheese is best since it will evenly disperse throughout the fritter batter.  While cheddar cheese was used to test this recipe, you can switch it up with some Monterrey Jack, a Mexican blend, or even mozzarella cheese.
  • Feel free to substitute the cheese for a vegan variety if you’re dairy-free.
• Cilantro – Chopped cilantro is mixed in for a burst of fresh herb flavor and gives these corn fritters a slightly Mexican flavor.  Finely chopped basil would also taste delicious.
• Seasonings – Paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper are used as the simple seasoning ingredients.
• Oil – A few different types of oil can be used with varying results.  (Read more about these below.)

Fresh, Frozen, or Canned Corn

As mentioned previously, you can use either fresh corn-on-the-cob, previously frozen, or sweet kernel canned corn.

Fresh: Use a sharp knife and remove the corn kernels from the ear of corn to get 3 cups of corn.

Previously frozen:  Place frozen corn in a fine mesh strainer and run under warm water until completely thawed.  Pat dry with a paper towel.  You can also set it out at room temperature and let it thaw on its own.

Canned:  Add the corn and juice to a fine mesh strainer and rinse with water.  Pat dry with a paper towel before using.

It’s also you’re choice whether you use white or yellow corn.  There’s no difference in taste, only a preference of color.

Best Oil for Lightly Frying

There are a few different oils you can use when lightly pan-frying fritters.  Here are my recommendations in order of best to worst:

• Avocado Oil – Not only is it relatively healthy for you, it also has a mild flavor and has a high smoke point of 520°F.  (This means you reduce the amount of burnt bits in your skillet while frying!)
• Safflower Oil – Another mildly flavor oil with a smoke point of 510°F that will work well for this recipe.
• Grapeseed Oil – Has a relatively similar smoke point to olive oil of 420°F, but is mild in flavor.
• Olive Oil – This oil has both a strong flavor and a relatively low smoke point of 410°F.  If this is all you have on hand, you can definitely use it, but be sure to keep a close eye on the oil so it does not burn!

How to Make

Since this recipe makes enough batter to make roughly 10 4-5-inch fritters, you’ll want to make sure and cook them in a large skillet in two batches.

Here are the step-by-step instructions that show you how to make corn fritters:

1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, paprika, salt, pepper and sugar in a large bowl.

2. Add corn, cilantro, whisked eggs, milk, and cheese. (Step 1 above)

3. Stir until mixture is well combined. (Step 2 above)

4. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet.   Heat oil until it begins to sizzle.

5. Measure out ~⅓ cup of batter for each fritter. (Step 3 above)

6. Place batter for 4-5 fritters evenly spaced into the skillet.  Press each one down lightly with the back of a spatula and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. (Step 4 above)

You’ll know the corn fritters are done cooking when they fluff up and turn lightly browned and crispy.

Serving

There are so many ways you can serve these homemade corn fritters.  A few of the best pairings include:

• With a bit of homemade aioli or flavored mayonnaise.
• Add a dollop of sour cream, or even dairy-free and vegan sour cream.
• Sprinkle some finely chopped green onions or cilantro on top.
• Make a breakfast dish out of it with a fried egg and avocado.

Storing and Reheating

If you’re lucky enough to have some leftover corn fritters you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

They also freeze extremely well.  Place a piece of wax or parchment paper between each fritter before storing in a freezer safe container or storage bag for up to 4-6 months.

Much like other fried foods, it’s best to reheat them by the method they were originally cooked.

To reheat leftover fritters add a bit of oil or butter to a skillet over medium-low heat.  Cook them on both sides for 2 minutes or until heated through.

FAQs

Are these corn fritters healthy?

While this easy corn recipe is already vegetarian, you can also easily make it gluten-free by using a 1-to-1 flour blend.  You can also make them healthier by using a better quality oil such as avocado or safflower oil instead of vegetable oil.

What other seasonings can I use?

The fresh cilantro can be substituted for basil or parsley, while the paprika can either be left out or replaced with cayenne pepper for a kick or smoked paprika for some smokiness.

What if I want to make zucchini corn fritters?

That’s super easy to do!  Simply substitute 1 cup of corn for 1 cup of shredded zucchini that has been squeezed to remove the liquid.

4.67 from 3 votes

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Cheesy Southern Corn Fritters Recipe

These Cheesy Corn Fritters are lightly fried in healthy oil until perfectly crisp, fluffy, and lightly golden.  Learn how to easily make this appetizer or side dish recipe with frozen, fresh, or canned corn, cheddar cheese, and a ton of Southern flavor!

Course Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican, Southern

Keyword cheesy, easy, fried, Mexican, Southern

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 10 fritters

Calories 165 kcal

Author London

Ingredients

• 3 cups sweet kernel corn fresh, previously frozen, or canned
• 1 cup flour gluten-free 1-to-1 blend
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp. paprika
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• 1- 1 ¼ tsp. salt to taste
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. sugar optional
• ⅓ cup cilantro finely chopped
• 2 eggs whisked
• ⅓ cup milk cashew or almond milk
• 1 cup shredded cheese cheddar or Monterrey jack
• 2-3 Tbsp. avocado oil
• Green onions optional
• Sour cream* optional

Instructions

1. If using previously frozen corn, either rinse it until warm water until thawed or thaw at room temperature. Dab with a paper towel until completely dried.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, paprika, salt, pepper and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Add corn, cilantro, whisked eggs, milk, and cheese.
4. Stir until mixture is well combined.
5. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet. Heat oil until it begins to sizzle.
6. Measure out ~⅓ cup of batter for each fritter.
7. Place batter for 4-5 fritters evenly spaced into the skillet. Press each one down lightly with the back of a spatula and cook for 3-4 minutes per side.
8. You’ll know the corn fritters are done cooking when they fluff up and turn lightly browned and crispy.
9. Serve corn fritters with a dollop of sour cream* or some homemade aioli with a sprinkle of green onions.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

*Use vegan sour cream if vegetarian or dairy-free.

Nutrition Facts

Cheesy Southern Corn Fritters Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 165 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 42mg14%

Sodium 525mg23%

Potassium 171mg5%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 6g12%

Vitamin A 341IU7%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 102mg10%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.