If you’re looking for an ultra craveable, creamy, and colorful side dish that’s always the first bowl to disappear at the party, Crack Corn Salad is your answer. This irresistible combo of sweet corn, crispy bacon, tangy ranch, and a kick of jalapeño is so delicious, you’ll want to sneak seconds before it even hits the table!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Burst of Flavors: Every bite delivers sweet corn, smoky bacon, creamy ranch, and just a hint of heat—pure summer in a bowl!
- Crowd-Pleasing: Crack Corn Salad disappears quickly at picnics, barbecues, and potlucks, so you know you’re bringing a tried-and-true party winner.
- Quick & Easy: The whole salad comes together in about 15 minutes, including a homemade ranch dressing—no fancy techniques required!
- Totally Customizable: You can tweak the add-ins to adjust the spice, richness, or brightness to make it your own signature dish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This salad shines with simple, vibrant ingredients that all pull their weight—bringing sweet crunch, savory depth, fresh color, and creamy comfort to every spoonful. Each one is easy to find and makes a serious impact on the final dish.
- Sweet Corn: The star of Crack Corn Salad! Use fresh, frozen, or canned corn for juicy pop and sweet flavor. No need to cook frozen or canned—just thaw or drain well.
- Bacon: Cooked until crisp, then chopped finely for the ultimate smoky, salty bite in every forkful.
- Green Onions: These lend a gentle onion zing and pretty color contrast against the golden corn.
- Jalapeño: For just the right kick of heat. Remove seeds for milder flavor, or leave a few in if you love spice!
- Ranch Salad Dressing: Creamy, zesty ranch coats everything in deliciousness. Go homemade for next-level flavor (recipe included below)!
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar adds rich, melty tang and irresistible cheesiness.
- Lime Juice: A squeeze of fresh lime brightens and balances the creamy elements.
- Garlic Powder, Salt & Black Pepper: These finish the salad with a boost of savory and seasoning.
- For Homemade Ranch: Mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, buttermilk, onion powder, garlic, lemon juice, fresh dill, salt, and pepper—a classic, creamy blend made from scratch!
Variations
One of the best things about Crack Corn Salad is how easy it is to riff on the recipe. Personalize it to match your mood, your fridge, or your guests’ tastes—you can swap, tweak, or add new flavors in a snap!
- Spicy Kick: Swap the jalapeño for a chopped chipotle in adobo or hot sauce for more smoke and heat.
- Extra Veggies: Fold in diced red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, or fresh cilantro for a pop of freshness and color.
- Cheese Swap: Substitute pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or feta cheese for a cheesy twist and new personality.
- Lighter Version: Use half Greek yogurt in the ranch or try turkey bacon for a slimmed-down but still flavor-packed salad.
- Vegan Friendly: Skip the bacon and cheese, and use vegan ranch—vegan Crack Corn Salad is still creamy and fabulous!
How to Make Crack Corn Salad
Step 1: Make the Ranch Dressing
Start by whisking together mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, buttermilk, onion powder, minced garlic, lemon juice, dill, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. This homemade ranch is so dreamy and fresh that you’ll never want store-bought again. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning as you like—make it your gold standard!
Step 2: Prep All Salad Components
If you haven’t already, cook the bacon until deeply crisp (the crunchier, the better!), and chop it up finely. Dice the green onions and jalapeño, shred the cheddar, juice the lime, and measure out your corn. Everything is ready for assembly!
Step 3: Combine and Toss
Add the corn, bacon, green onions, jalapeño, cheddar cheese, lime juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a spacious mixing bowl. Pour in your luscious ranch dressing, and gently toss everything together so every kernel and crumble is perfectly coated in flavor.
Step 4: Chill and Serve
If you have a few extra minutes, let the Crack Corn Salad rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes—this melds all the flavors together and makes it extra refreshing. Just before serving, give it a quick stir and garnish as your heart desires!
Pro Tips for Making Crack Corn Salad
- Corn Choice Magic: If sweet corn is in season, grill fresh cobs for a boost of smoky char. Otherwise, thawed frozen corn works beautifully for year-round flavor!
- Super Crispy Bacon: Bake your bacon in the oven—layer the slices on a rack over a sheet pan for evenly browned, ultra-crunchy bacon with no messy splatters.
- Flavor Meld: Whenever possible, give the salad a chill in the fridge before serving. The flavors intensify and the texture becomes even more irresistible.
- Customize the Heat: Remove the jalapeño seeds and membrane for mild heat, or add a dash of cayenne if you want to set taste buds dancing!
How to Serve Crack Corn Salad
Garnishes
For a polished, fresh finish, scatter more chopped green onion, a handful of chopped cilantro, or some reserved crumbled bacon right on top. A few extra jalapeño slices look gorgeous, too—use them if you love the zing!
Side Dishes
Crack Corn Salad is the ultimate sidekick for grilled meats like chicken or steak, but it’s equally delicious beside classic barbecue, burgers, or even a pot of chili. It’s a picnic favorite that pairs happily with potato chips, crusty bread, and all sorts of summer fare.
Creative Ways to Present
Spoon Crack Corn Salad into lettuce cups for a fresh, hand-held twist, or heap it onto a platter lined with tortilla chips for the world’s easiest (and tastiest) party dip. It’s also fantastic stuffed into tacos or as a colorful bed underneath grilled shrimp skewers!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Pop any leftover Crack Corn Salad into an airtight container and stash it in the fridge. It keeps its flavor for up to 3 days, though the bacon will slowly soften—if you want all crunch, reserve some bacon to sprinkle on just before serving!
Freezing
Since Crack Corn Salad is dairy-based and has lots of fresh ingredients, freezing isn’t recommended—the texture and dressing just won’t be the same once thawed. Enjoy it fresh for the best creamy-crunchy experience!
Reheating
This fun salad is meant to be served cold or at room temperature—no reheating needed. If the dressing thickens up, just stir in a splash of milk or buttermilk right before serving to bring back its creamy texture.
FAQs
-
Can I use canned corn instead of fresh or frozen?
Absolutely! For Crack Corn Salad, canned corn is a time-saving alternative—just be sure to drain it well and pat dry with a paper towel to avoid sogginess. Fresh or grilled corn will give a little extra sweetness and crunch, but all three options are delicious.
-
Is Crack Corn Salad spicy?
It has a gentle heat from the diced jalapeño, but the spice can easily be customized. Remove the seeds and ribs from your jalapeño for just a hint of warmth, or skip it entirely if you prefer a mild, kid-friendly dish.
-
Can I make Crack Corn Salad ahead of time?
Definitely. In fact, Crack Corn Salad tastes even better after a short rest in the fridge—just prepare as instructed, cover, and chill for up to 24 hours. If you want maximum crunch, reserve the bacon and mix it in just before serving.
-
What’s the best substitute if I don’t have buttermilk for the ranch?
No buttermilk? No problem! Mix regular milk with a squeeze of lemon juice or white vinegar, let it sit for a few minutes, and use it in both the ranch dressing and any spot buttermilk is called for in Crack Corn Salad. You’ll barely taste the difference!
Final Thoughts
This Crack Corn Salad is pure comfort and excitement in every bite—bright, creamy, savory, and a touch spicy all at once. I hope it becomes a star at your next gathering, and that you love it enough to pass the bowl with a secret smile, knowing you made everyone’s new favorite! Enjoy!
PrintMujadara Recipe
A delightful Crack Corn Salad recipe that combines the sweetness of corn, savory bacon, and creamy ranch dressing for a flavorful side dish that is perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Salad:
- 4 cups sweet corn
- 12 slices cooked bacon, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, finely diced
- 1/2 cup Ranch salad dressing
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Ranch Dressing:
- 1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Ranch Dressing: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for the dressing, stir, and set aside.
- Salad: In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients. Add the dressing. Stir until ingredients are thoroughly mixed and coated in dressing. If you have time, chill it for 30 minutes. Garnish with herbs, if desired, then serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
