Name: Kansas City–Style Cheesy Corn
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: MidwestAmericanUS & Canada
Ingredients: 2 slices bacon , cut into ½-inch pieces; 4 ears corn , kernels cut from cobs (3 cups); 4 ounces ham steak , cut into ½-inch pieces; 1 cup whole milk; 8 ounces cream cheese; 1 teaspoon granulated garlic; 1/2 teaspoon table salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 6 ounces yellow cheddar cheese , shredded (1½ cups), divided

Why This Recipe Works

For this more-cheese-than-corn BBQ side, we turned to cream cheese for a rich, tangy base and combined it in a saucepan with corn, milk (to smooth the mixture out), granulated garlic, and a pinch of cayenne pepper for savoriness and a gentle kick. Once the cheese melted and the mixture heated through, the corn kernels softened to give the dish pleasant pops of sweetness. Stirring in shredded yellow cheddar gave our version the right look and kicked up the cheesy flavor. Lastly, we studded the mixture with juicy cubes of ham steak and chewy bits of salty bacon (a nod to the bits of leftover smoked meats that BBQ joints stir into theirs) and then popped it under the broiler for attractive spotty-brown color.

Before You Begin

Frozen corn can be substituted for the fresh corn, if desired. A 14-ounce bag of frozen kernels will yield 3 cups. You will need a broiler-safe 1½-quart baking dish for this recipe. Do not use a Pyrex dish; it is not broiler-safe.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Cook bacon in large saucepan over medium heat until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add corn, ham, milk, cream cheese, granulated garlic, salt, pepper, and cayenne to saucepan, breaking up cream cheese with rubber spatula. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cream cheese is melted and mixture just begins to bubble at edges of saucepan, 8 to 10 minutes (mixture will be liquid-y).

Off heat, stir in 1 cup cheddar until melted, about 30 seconds. Transfer corn mixture to 1½-quart broiler-safe baking dish and top with remaining ½ cup cheddar. Broil until cheese is spotty brown, about 3 minutes. Serve immediately.