Crack Corn Salad Recipe: A Refreshing Delight Recipe
This Crack Corn Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that combines sweet corn, sharp cheddar cheese, and a creamy ranch dressing for a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Ideal as a side dish or light meal, this salad is quick to prepare and can be enhanced with a homemade ranch dressing for extra freshness and creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups sweet corn (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, finely diced
- ½ cup Ranch salad dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Homemade Ranch Dressing (Optional)
- 1½ cups mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Homemade Ranch Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, whole milk, buttermilk, onion powder, minced garlic, lemon juice, fresh dill, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the sweet corn, chopped green onions, diced jalapeño, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, lime juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix gently to combine evenly.
- Add Dressing: Pour ½ cup of ranch dressing over the corn mixture. Stir well until all the ingredients are coated thoroughly. For a creamier salad, add more ranch dressing to your preferred consistency.
- Chill and Serve: Optionally, cover the salad and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully. Before serving, garnish with fresh herbs such as parsley or dill if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh or high-quality canned corn for best flavor and texture.
- Adjust the jalapeño quantity to control the heat level of the salad.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon or substitute with smoked tempeh or mushrooms.
- Chilling the salad before serving enhances the melding of flavors but can be served immediately if preferred.
- Homemade ranch dressing adds fresh flavor but store-bought is a convenient substitute.
Keywords: corn salad, crack corn salad, bacon corn salad, ranch dressing salad, cheddar cheese salad, quick salad recipe, summer salad
