Description
Hearty “Slow Cooker Cheddar Corn with Bacon” brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dining table. Creamy cheese, crispy bacon, and sweet corn mingle in this irresistible side dish that promises pure home-style deliciousness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Corn Ingredients:
- 4 cups (600 g / 21.16 ounces) frozen corn (or fresh corn kernels)
Dairy Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (180 g / 6.35 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4.06 fluid ounces) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2.03 fluid ounces) milk
- ½ cup (115 g / 4.06 ounces) unsalted butter, cubed
Seasoning and Garnish Ingredients:
- 4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Combine corn kernels with rich dairy components and aromatic seasonings in the slow cooker, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly integrated.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the mixture to gently simmer and develop deep, layered flavors for approximately 2-3 hours.
- Periodically stir the corn mixture to prevent any potential sticking and promote even heat distribution throughout the cooking process.
- While the corn is cooking, crisp up bacon in a skillet until golden brown and perfectly rendered, then drain on paper towels to remove excess grease.
- Crumble the cooked bacon into rustic, bite-sized pieces, preparing them as a savory garnish for the finished dish.
- Once the corn reaches a creamy, tender consistency and has absorbed the liquid, sprinkle generously with sharp cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt slowly into the warm mixture.
- Top the cheesy corn with the crispy bacon fragments, creating a delightful contrast of textures and a smoky, salty finish.
- Serve immediately while the dish is hot, ensuring the cheese remains melted and the bacon retains its crunch.
Notes
- Enhance the corn’s smoky flavor by using high-quality smoked paprika from specialty stores for a deeper, richer taste profile.
- Crisp bacon separately to maintain its crunch, then sprinkle on top just before serving to prevent sogginess and preserve textural contrast.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, and use turkey bacon to reduce overall fat content without sacrificing flavor.
- Accommodate vegetarian diets by replacing bacon with smoked almonds or roasted sunflower seeds, which provide a similar crunchy texture and smoky undertone.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg