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These easy to make Cheesy Corn Fritters are loaded up with jalapeno, onion, cilantro, plenty of cheese and a flavorful seasoning blend. All fried in a small amount of oil to get a perfect golden crust. This easy vegetable side dish recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes and can also double as a light meal!
All about these corn fritters…
Fritters are small fried cakes, corn fritters are of course, made of corn! The corn and chopped vegetables are held together by a thick batter. They are fried in a small amount of oil, this makes the exterior crispy and the inside is soft, loaded with melty cheese, and fresh bits of juicy corn.
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is ready in under 30 minutes! Making this a great recipe for a side dish, or a light meal or lunch.
- Flavorful: thanks to loading these fritters up with diced jalapeño, green onion, chili powder, a bit of fresh lime juice, and cheese these fritters are bursting with flavor.
- Perfect side dish, appetizer, or light meal: this is a multi-purpose recipe that can fill many roles.
Ingredients Needed:
Notes on Some Ingredients:
- Corn: Fresh corn is always best just because it has the best flavor. However, this recipe can be made with canned or frozen corn also! Just be sure to have any corn thawed, and patted completely dry before continuing with the recipe.
- Jalapeño: this adds just a bit of heat to the fritters. To reduce the amount of heat remove the white membranes from the inside of the pepper. You can always substitute a poblano or green bell pepper if you are concerned about the heat. Or if you want more heat, try a serrano pepper instead.
- Oil: Use a high smoke point cooking oil to fry up the fritters in. We are just doing a shallow fry in a skillet, the oil ensures the fritters don’t stick. My favorites to use are avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil.
- Monterey Jack Cheese: this is a classic option for cooking Tex Mex thanks to it’s mild flavoring. If you would prefer to use a cheddar, or sharp cheddar cheese feel free to make that swap.
How to make (step by step)
- Step 1: prepare the corn, instructions are included below to include canned and frozen. For fresh corn cut the kernels off the cob.
- Step 2: add in the diced jalapeno, green onion and cilantro.
- Step 3 & 4: Add in the dry ingredients and stir together to coat the corn mixture.
- Step 5: Add in the cheese and beaten eggs.
- Step 6: Stir this together to create a thick batter.
- Step 7: Spoon the batter onto a hot skillet or pan that has been heated with oil. Fry until both sides are crisp and golden and the inside is warmed through.
Expert Tips:
- Hot oil: allow the oil to heat up before adding the fritter batter, this will help ensure a nice crispy exterior to the fritter.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: work in small batches of three or four fritters at a time when frying, this gives room for the fritters to cook in the oil, without steaming. Again, this gives a nice crispy outside to the fritters.
- Avoid over-mixing the batter: mix the wet ingredients into the corn mixture just until combined. As the batter sits it will thicken.
F.A.Q’s
Yes! Ensure any vegetables are thawed and thoroughly drained and patted dry before continuing with the recipe. Detailed instructions below.
Yes! This recipe freezes wonderfully. Store in a sealed freezer safe container or bag for 2-3 months. To thaw remove and allow to come to room temperature by setting on the counter for 1 hour or leaving in the refrigerator overnight.
The best way to reheat is to heat them up in a pan with a small amount of oil or butter over medium low heat until the crust is crisp and the insides are heated through.
No they are different. They’re similar in that they are both recipes that involve corn and frying. But hushpuppies are balls of cornmeal, or cornbread that have been fried.
More Recipes to Enjoy:
Cheesy Corn Fritters
Ingredients
- 3 cups corn kernels approximately 4 corn cobs
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
- ¼ cup green onion chopped
- 1 jalapeno deseeded, membranes removed, diced
- juice from 1/2 a lime 1 tablespoon
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp chili powder
- 2 large eggs beaten
- ¼ cup milk
- 1½ cup Monterey Jack Cheese shredded
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare Corn: Add the corn to a large bowl. If using fresh corn, cut all the kernels off the cob. If using canned or frozen check notes at bottom of recipe.
- Add in the diced green cilantro, green onion, diced jalapeno, and squeeze in the lime juice from 1/2 a lime.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl add the flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, chili powder and stir to combine.
- Combine: Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl with the corn. Stir to mix together.
- Mix Batter: Pour in the beaten eggs, milk, and cheese. Stir to combine. Will be a thick batter.
- Heat Oil: Heat a pan over medium high heat, add a drizzle of olive oil, we just need to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Fry Fritters: Place a scoop of the corn fritter batter, about a 1/4 cup amount into the hot oil. Press the batter down to compact it, and press the sides in to help create a patty shape using a rubber spatula.
- Let the batter cook in the oil for about 2-3 minutes, you will see the edges starting to turn golden. Then carefully flip using a spatula to cook the other side. Once both sides are golden brown then remove from the pan and set on a tray lined with a paper towel to absorb any extra oil.
- At this point you can sprinkle with any extra salt or pepper you may want. Serve warm.
Video
Equipment
Notes
- Canned: Strain and use paper towels to dry off as much as possible, then continue with the recipe as directed.
- Frozen: thaw the corn, then pat dry using a paper towel. Continue with the recipe as directed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe first published July 19, 2018. Updated June 29, 2022 with new images and information. Recipe is unchanged.
Photography by the talented @ModernFarmhouseEats.
Made the corn fritters tonight as a part of our family Christmas dinner. Delicious! Toppings were homemade avocado spread and Greek yogurt. Great recipe.
We made this for Thanksgiving and they were incredible! I substituted Manchego cheese and Thyme in place of the Monterey/Cilantro. I’m back to make them again 🙂
So glad you enjoyed them Whitney!
My family seemed to enjoy this recipe as a side to the barbeque we had for Thanksgiving. Thanks, I won major points with my mother-in-law
Awesome Bryan! Glad you were able to impress!
I made these tonight for dinner. They are amazing! I am a trained chef and I love these and ate more than I care to admit. It took 4 ears of corn to get the 3 cups. Also, I squeezed the left over lime half on my cooked fritters as I ate them. This recipe is a keeper and I can’t wait to share it with my adult children and friends. I will tell you Serene, it was the photo that sold me on making these! Thank you!!
Do you cook the corn first? Just cut the raw corn off the cob?
I just cut it right off the cob. It cooks when I fry up the fritters.
Loved this recipe! However I was forced to improvise when I realized I had no baking powder. “Hey Siri, what can I substitute? Ready…. molasses (1/4 C) and baking soda (1/2 tsp). I’m no chemist but not only did it work, it added a richness to the fritters that was out of this world! These are great!!!
Really?! Molasses? I have never heard of that substitute. But I’m so happy that they turned out for you!
A 1/4 cup?
This recipe is the best I have made. I did add a pinch of garlic powder. Will made again. Thank you.
Thanks Polly! I’m so glad you liked them!
Made this tonight to accompany grilled chicken, salad & cantelope. It was delicious & rounded out a perfect dinner! Thanks for sharing this recipe. Will definitely make again. ?
So glad you enjoyed them! Sounds like a delicious dinner 🙂
Do you cook the corn first?
Hi Ruth. Nope! I put the corn in fresh.
Thanks for this recipe!
Hunting for the “perfect” corn fritter. This one I have to try!!
I hope you like them! Let me know what you think!
Hii..I want to try these fritters but don’t know what to substitute for eggs as I m vegetarian.kindly suggest.
You could try a flax egg. I haven’t attempted this myself, so I can’t say the results will be the same, but it should work for you.