Grilled Cajun Corn
This Grilled Cajun Corn features Cajun butter rubbed on grilled corn. This makes for an excellent side dish next to juicy hamburgers or grilled hot dogs!
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I was reading a magazine article about compound butter the other day. It sounds so fancy, but yet compound butters are so easy to make. I thought to myself, “I really should make compound butters more often.” I stumbled across some local corn on sale the next day, and the two ideas came together. Compound butter + corn on the cob + grill = amazing summer side dish!
What is Compound Butter?
Compound butter is a technique where softened butter is mixed with other ingredients to create a flavored butter. The other ingredients can be either savory (herbs, spices, garlic or cheese) or sweet (citrus zest, sugar, cinnamon). Compound butter can be used in various ways, but the most common uses are with vegetable dishes, on top of steaks or simply on bread. Compound butter is a simple way to add a lot of flavor to recipes!
Whenever we make corn, we typically add butter, salt and maybe a bit of Parmesan cheese. (If you’ve never sprinkled Parmesan cheese on corn, then give it a try!) But that’s when I got to thinking. What if instead of ‘regular’ butter, I made an easy compound butter for that corn? A short time later, ears of this Grilled Cajun Corn were sitting on our plates.
What is Cajun Butter?
We love Cajun flavors around here, so it was a no-brainer to try rubbing that grilled corn with a Cajun butter. And while it might sound fancy, Cajun Butter takes all of about 1 minute to make! I started with room temperature butter, added the spices associated with Cajun seasoning and mixed it all together. *boom – Cajun butter*.
How to Grill Corn?
When we grill corn, I typically peel the corn and place the ears directly on the grill grates. Then once the corn is cooked, I brush on the butter and add a pinch of salt. That’s the easy way to grill corn. But the best way to grill corn? Leave the husks on. It takes a bit longer, but the result is definitely better.
Start by soaking the corn (husks and all) in water for ~30 minutes. This helps ensure that the corn doesn’t get dried out on the grill. Once the corn has soaked, just peel back the outer layers of the corn husks. Then remove the corn silk and rub the softened butter all over the ears of corn. Finally, pull the husks back up around the ears and tie them shut with kitchen string.
As the corn grills, the husks protect the kernels from drying out or burning. The husks will turn crispy and black, but that’s ok – they get discarded before you serve the corn anyways. The result is tender, flavorful corn that basically steams inside the husks while the ears are on the grill. The kernels come off the cob quite easily, too, which makes this grilled corn on the cob easier to eat.
Variations
While I do highly recommend this Grilled Cajun Corn, you could use this exact same technique but with other flavor profiles:
- Garlic and Herb Grilled Corn using a compound butter with minced garlic, rosemary and thyme.
- Spicy Jalapeno Grilled Corn using butter mixed with diced jalapenos and a bit of lime juice.
- Truffle Grilled Corn. Truffles can be a polarizing flavor, but I bet it would still be fun to make a compound butter with truffle oil and sea salt. Just remember: a little truffle oil goes a long way!
- Blue Cheese Grilled Corn. Just mix room temperature butter with crumbled blue cheese and spread that on the ears of corn before grilling ’em. Talk about flavor explosion!
The list goes on and on here. Just be creative and think about what flavors you like – then turn ’em into a compound butter!
If you’re looking for a fun summer grilling idea, then this Grilled Cajun Corn deserves a spot on the menu! It’s not overly spicy (although you could always add more cayenne pepper), but it is packed with flavor. These grilled ears of corn are great next to a juicy hamburger or perfectly grilled hot dog. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do – Happy Grilling!
Did you make this Grilled Cajun Corn recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Grilled Cajun Corn
Ingredients
- 4 ears fresh corn on the cob husks on
- 4 Tbsp butter room temperature
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Instructions
- Using a large bowl, soak the ears of corn (husks on) for at least 30 minutes. (Note: If needed, use cans from pantry to weigh the corn down so it stays submerged.)
- Using a small bowl, combine the softened butter and seasonings; stir until well combined.
- Preheat grill to medium heat (~350°-375°F).
- Pull the husks back on each ear of corn, but do not entirely remove husks. Remove and discard silk from each ear.
- Rub ~1 Tbsp of Cajun butter mixture evenly over kernels of each ear.
- Pull the husks back into place and tie closed with string.
- Grill the corn for 25-30 minutes, turning every ~5-6 minutes. (Note: The husks will turn brown and burnt, but that’s ok!)
- Remove corn from grill and allow ears to cool slightly.
- Pull back husks from each ear and discard.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and green onions on top of corn before serving.
Looking for more fun grilling recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
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