This 15-minute side dish is savory, satisfying, and full of flavor! Blackened Corn is made in a cast iron skillet using frozen corn, a homemade seasoning blend, and optional toppings like fresh cilantro and cotija cheese!
All you need to make this recipe is frozen corn (fresh also works), blackening seasoning blend, salted butter, and optional toppings like fresh cilantro, freshly squeezed lime juice, and cotija cheese (or feta cheese).
Make the seasoning blend by mixing the paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Melt butter in your cast iron skillet over low heat. Pour the frozen corn into the hot skillet. Spread the corn out into an even layer in the skillet. Cook the corn on medium-low for 5 minutes, without moving the corn around.
Increase the heat to medium, and start to blacken the corn for another 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, use a spatula to move the corn around to see if it has started to blacken. If the corn is black on the side that was touching the skillet, then you can mix the corn around the pan and continue cooking for a few more minutes.
Turn off the heat and mix the seasoning blend into the corn. Blackening blends can vary. Feel free to add cayenne pepper (if you like the heat), chili powder, dried basil, dried thyme, and ground cumin to your seasoning blend. You can also purchase a blackening blend or a cajun seasoning blend.
Add any additional optional toppings! I like to add feta or cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, and freshly squeezed lime juice. In addition to these toppings, you could try adding cooked and crumbled, bacon, diced bell peppers, sour cream or crema, fresh parsley, fresh green onions, fresh chives, or hot sauce.