Easy Cream Cheese Corn Casserole with Bacon and Ham

This cream cheese corn casserole recipe is always a winner. Cream cheese corn casserole is filled with cheese, ham, and bacon. Mmmmm. This casserole is loaded with flavor and extra creamy thanks to the addition of cream cheese. This cheesy corn casserole is a delicious crowd-pleaser that everyone will love. 

Cream Cheese Corn Casserole 

Cool days signify fall has arrived and the hallmarks are displayed in the falling leaves as they turn scarlet red, fiery orange, and golden yellow. The season brings us edible delights like pumpkin, squash, and corn.

Corn is a bright and beautiful vegetable that’s also considered a cereal grain. Originally from Mexico, the plant is sacred to Native Americans and they showed the settlers how to plant and harvest it.

Without a doubt, corn is the underpinning of our food chain and is in literally thousands of products we use and consume today. We owe a lot to corn and I’m grateful for it.

To say that corn has been a big part of my life is an understatement. My love of corn stems from my childhood when my sister and I would run and play through grandfather’s corn field. When fall arrived, the corn came calling. The coolness in the air indicated harvesting was not far off and when the time arrived, we took great pleasure in husking it as we knew what was coming.

Cream cheese is another ingredient I have a deep appreciation for thanks to a dairy guy by the name of William A. Lawrence. In the 1800s, he began mass producing it and cream cheese became another way of enjoying dairy. Thousands of sweet and savory recipes have been created from this smooth, silky cheese and corn casserole with cream cheese is one shining example!

During the fall, corn made a regular appearance on my grandparent’s kitchen table and one of the first things grandma made was her corn casserole with cream cheese. Our eyes lit up with anticipation. We’d been down this road before and knew full well how good it was going to be.   

Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese from Scratch

My sister and I weren’t the only ones who loved this dish. Grandpa’s one eyed cocker spaniel, Zeus, had a sixth sense when this easy corn casserole was about to appear on the table.

When the Thanksgiving feast was on display, Zeus wouldn’t leave grandma’s side as he knew he would get a serving of this wonderful casserole. Zeus was very much a part of the festivities. He had a steel stomach and nothing phased him in more ways than one.

Grandpa figured Zeus was hit by a car and left for dead. Miraculously, gramps nurtured him back to health. 

Zeus was born with only one eye and that only added to his character as it gave him a permanent wink. Zeus definitely had personality and this was just one of the many stories about his antics on the farm and his relationship with food.   

Adopting this easy corn casserole recipe from grandma was something I never regretted. Both my husband and son adore this casserole and come Thanksgiving, my family expects it to be part of the food celebration.

Like Zeus, Biggie and Lucille also get to indulge a small sampling of this easy corn casserole. They’re family after all.  

Made with fresh kernel corn or frozen corn, this one tasty casserole includes bacon and ham for a flavor boost like no other.

Cheesy Corn Bake

Corn casserole with cheese incorporates the sharpness of cheddar with the creaminess of cream cheese. Both are vital to making this dish the success it is. 

Besides chicken, corn, cheese and bacon are at the top of Renate’s favorite foods. As many of you know, Renate is my physically disabled neighbor and personal food critic. She fell in love with this casserole from the very first bite.

Knowing Renate doesn’t mince words, I knew she was sincere and both my son and husband wholeheartedly concur. 

Over the years, Renate’s feedback about my recipes has been critical to only making them better. Given that she has only positive things to say about my corn casserole with cheese speaks volumes.  

Cheesy Corn Recipe

Creating this cream cheese corn casserole recipe from scratch is well worth the effort and can be ready in under 40 minutes. Dairy and pork’s contribution to this dish enriches it indeed!

Bacon really does make everything taste better and this cheesy corn casserole from scratch is no exception. And what would Thanksgiving look like without ham being in the picture somehow? Mixed in with other delightful ingredients, ham lets you know it’s there. 

Pork supercharges the flavor making this one quality dish you’ll want to serve many times over. 

Finding good corn casserole recipes can be challenging at times. If you’re a fan of corn, pork, and cheese, then this recipe has your name on it.

Cheesy corn bake is complementary to any Thanksgiving table. So warm and bubbly, the expressions of appreciation will be loud and clear.

If this picture doesn’t do it justice, your mouth will. Try not to wolf it down in the process. Instead, take the time to savor every bite. Your digestive system will not only thank you but so will your friends and family around the table.

When you slow down, the environment becomes more relaxing and invites conversation. This connection makes the memory more meaningful.    

If heaven exists, let there be corn and cheese, please! Every once in a while, I pull out this cheesy corn recipe and wonder why I don’t make it more often than I do. 

With a combination of cheddar cheese bubbling and the velvety, smooth texture of cream cheese, this is one corn recipe you’ll want to make time and time again.

Swap the cheddar for Swiss, Parmesan, Colby or Gouda, Havarti or Monterey Jack and you’ve got a corn casserole with a cheesy twist.  Even feta can be a delicious alternative and puts a different spin on this recipe.

Cheddar cheese is the gold standard in this recipe though and no one can argue just how fabulous it really is! Nothing browns this easy cheesy corn like cheddar.   

Sweet and crunchy, corn is fundamental to this dish. Each kernel of corn defines sweetness making this sweet corn casserole shine. This easy cheesy corn casserole will put a smile on all the corn lovers’ faces out there.

My husband and son can attest to that. They can never get enough of it. Ditto goes for the dogs. But then, that’s not surprising as there’s not much they don’t like. 

True Story. Mine are garbage disposals!

Baked Corn Casserole

Baked corn casserole makes a wonderful Thanksgiving side and can complement any meal, any occasion. This baked corn casserole is so warming and soothing, you’ll want fall to never end!

So let this comfort filled baked corn casserole carry you through the cool seasons. 

Thanksgiving or not, this easy cheesy corn can be just the change you’re looking for from your normal recipe routine. Easy, cheesy corn casserole is a dish that pleases.

So make it a priority and put it at the top of your recipe list. Your corn and cheese fans are waiting or as my husband points out “there’s bacon and ham in it, who won’t love it?!”

Truer words were never spoken!

How to make Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

Making this cream cheese corn casserole recipe is extremely easy. The bull of the work with this corn casserole with cream cheese is stirring and baking. It doesn’t get easier than that!

All you need are a few ingredients and a little time in the oven to make one of the most delicious corn casseroles you’ve ever had.

Ingredients in Cheesy Corn Bake

As you can see, there are very few ingredients involved in this dish. Everything you need is probably already in your pantry and refrigerator, so you probably won’t even need to make a run to the store to whip up this fabulous casserole dish.

• bacon
• ham
• corn
• whole milk
• cream cheese
• granulated garlic
• salt
• pepper
• shredded cheddar cheese

How to Make Corn Casserole

In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp, less than 10 minutes.

Once cooked, make a ball of paper towel and remove some of the bacon grease before proceeding with the recipe. You only need a few tablespoons to make this recipe taste great.

I never measure the bacon grease. I simply CAREFULLY tilt the pan and judge from there. Some brands of bacon will leave more grease than others. Ultimately, an extra tablespoon of bacon grease one way or the other will not ruin this amazing cream cheese corn casserole.

Add corn, ham, milk, cream cheese, garlic, salt, pepper or cayenne to your saucepan. Stirring until cream cheese is melted and incorporated with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Wait for mixture to start to gently bubble up around the edges, about 10 minutes.

Remove corn mixture from heat and add in shredded cheese until you reach your desired consistency. I find adding a cup of cheese at this point is perfect for us.

Turn on your broiler.

Prepare oven safe casserole dish or 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 inch pan with cooking spray and pour corn mixture inside. Cover top with more shredded cheese.

Broil until cheese is melted and starts to show dark or brown spots, just a few minutes.

Remove from oven and serve while hot and that is it.

Other Ingredients to consider

This is an extremely versatile casserole. You can add a variety of vegetables and spices to it to change the flavor. The same goes for cheese.

While I pair the cream cheese with cheddar, you can use a variety of cheeses to change things up. That’s what makes this cream cheese corn casserole so much fun. You can do so much with it!

• Alternative cheeses (Parmesan, American, Mozzarella, Colby, Cheddar, Fontina, Swiss, Feta, Havarti, Monterey Jack, etc.)
• Instead of Ham and Bacon try other cooked meats like ground sausage or sausage links sliced, ground beef, rotisserie or leftover chicken
• Half and half (instead of whole milk)
• Black beans (drained)
• Mushrooms
• Broccoli
• Bell peppers (chopped)
• Zucchini (chopped)
• Tomatoes (chopped)
• Onions
• Jalapeno (finely chopped)
• Breadcrumbs (for topping)
• Sage (dried)
• Thyme (dried)
• Parsley (dried)

How to Store Cream Cheese Corn Casserole

This casserole will keep well for up to 4 days when stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

For longer storage, you can freeze this casserole for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or in a freezer-safe dish, ideally without the cheese already melted on top.

To thaw the casserole, simply take it out of the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

 

FAQ

Before you dive headfirst into this simple corn casserole recipe, let’s hit all the important points. Just a quick glance at this FAQ will have you ready to start baking up this delicious, cheesy corn casserole. 

Q: Can I use other cheese with this casserole?
A: Yes! There are all kinds of cheese that will work well with this dish. Some of my favorites are Colby, Swiss, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella.

Q: Can I add other vegetables to this casserole?
A: You sure can. You can add in almost any vegetable you’d like to this casserole. Make it as heavy or light on extra vegetables as you’d like. You can also give this casserole a southwest flair with sliced jalapenos and black beans. 

Q: How long does this casserole last?
A: This casserole will last for up to 5 days in the fridge in an air-tight container. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or tightly covered in a freezer-safe dish. 

Try This Cream Cheese Corn Casserole for Yourself

With so much cheesy goodness and such an easy recipe, you owe it to yourself to give this cream cheese corn casserole a try. It’s so good and so easy, it’s perfect for a weeknight side or your next potluck.

Give it a whirl, and I think you’ll find that your family will be asking for this casserole dish again and again.