Corn on the Cob, 11 Ways

Diversify the grilled grain with infused butters, flavorful spice mixes and more clever corn preparation tricks.

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Photo By: Tara Donne

Corn on the Cob, 11 Ways

How can you butter your corn? Let us count the ways. This summer, think outside the foil-wrapped box and introduce spices, cheeses and herbs to your cobs to discover the untapped potential of those ears.

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Lime Butter

Tyler's kicked-up take on Mexican corn calls for cobs to be coated in a lime-scented, herbed butter, rolled in traditional Cojita cheese and then sprinkled with a homemade eight-spice chile rub.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Lime Butter

Grilled Corn with Sriracha Mayo

Tiffani Thiessen's corn gets spicy flavor from Sriracha, and she suggests trying vegan mayonnaise for this recipe. With all of the spices mixed with the mayo, you probably won't taste the difference!

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn with Sriracha Mayo

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter

If you're grilling corn with husks on, remember to soak the ears in water first — this will keep them from drying up before the kernels are cooked. Bobby Flay tops his with a fiery habanero-garlic butter, a squeeze of lime and Cotija cheese for a more-savory take on Mexican-style corn.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter, Fresh Lime and Cotija Cheese

Iowa Grilled Sweet Corn on the Cob

Iowan corn is so naturally sweet and flavorful that it doesn’t require much attention. Simply grill it and brush with salted garlic butter.

Get the Recipe: Iowa Grilled Sweet Corn on the Cob

Mexican Street Corn

Sunny coats smoky ears of corn with a chili-infused mayo and a spritz of lime to make her version of elote, or Mexican street corn.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn

Corn on the Cob with Butter Rub

This smoky, spicy, onion-y butter adds dimension to sweet corn when slathered on the uncooked cobs. Replace the husks before grilling, to ensure that the butter stays on the corn –– not on your coals.

Get the Recipe: Corn on the Cob with Butter Rub

Grilled Corn Skewers with Chipotle-Cilantro Butter

Grill cobs of corn until they’ve softened, cut them into 1-inch rounds and thread them onto skewers for this bite-size interpretation of the summer classic. After grilling the kebabs for a couple more minutes, brush them with a smoky-sweet chipotle-honey butter.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn Skewers with Chipotle- Cilantro Butter

Corn on the Cob with Parmesan Cheese

For an Italian twist on corn, swap out the Cojita cheese for Parmesan and garlic. Giada's recipe channels that seaside-in-Capri vibe.

Get the Recipe: Corn on the Cob with Parmesan Cheese

Grilled Corn with Five-Spice and Lime

Roger takes grilling to the next level with Chinese five-spice powder — a flavorful blend of cinnamon, clove, fennel, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns — which he sprinkles on just about everything, including charred corn.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn with Five Spice and Lime

Mexican Grilled Corn

Slather freshly grilled corn with a mayo, sour cream and cilantro mixture and top with lime juice, Parmesan and chili powder for a popular summer side inspired by Mexican street food.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Grilled Corn

Grilled Picnic Corn

Kelsey's salty, tangy, spicy corn recipe will become your summer staple. She offers preparation instructions for both grilling and broiling, so this corn works as well for a weeknight dinner as it does for a backyard barbecue.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Picnic Corn