Savory Instant Pot Bacon Creamed Corn

Instant Pot Creamed Corn is a beloved side dish, celebrated for its rich, cheesy, and incredibly creamy texture. This versatile recipe offers customization options, allowing you to add savory bacon bits, keep it vegetarian, or even prepare a dairy-free version. It’s the quintessential holiday side dish, perfect for enhancing your Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas feast, and can be effortlessly made in popular multi-cookers like the Ninja Foodi. Its irresistible flavor makes it a family favorite, enjoyed not just during festive seasons but throughout the entire year!

When the holidays roll around, my focus shifts to creating an array of mouth-watering side dishes that truly complete the meal. Among our family’s most cherished recipes is this phenomenal Instant Pot creamed corn. While many are familiar with the canned version, preparing creamed corn from scratch in your pressure cooker elevates it to an entirely different culinary experience. The depth of flavor, combined with the ability to add as much or as little cheese as you desire, transforms simple corn into a truly decadent bite of homemade goodness.

Why Choose Instant Pot Creamed Corn?

One of the greatest advantages of using an Instant Pot or a Ninja Foodi for this recipe is the incredible convenience it offers, especially during busy holiday preparations. You can use any brand of electric pressure cooker to achieve perfect results. The speed and efficiency of pressure cooking mean this delectable side dish comes together in minutes, freeing up valuable oven and stovetop space for other components of your meal. No more juggling multiple dishes or worrying about serving cold sides! This method ensures a consistently warm and ready-to-serve dish.

Beyond convenience, the Instant Pot excels at delivering exceptional texture. We specifically recommend using frozen corn for this recipe. Unlike fresh or canned corn which can quickly become mushy under pressure, frozen kernels maintain their integrity and provide a delightful, slightly firm bite, creating a far superior mouthfeel that canned versions simply cannot match. This attention to detail makes all the difference in achieving truly outstanding homemade creamed corn.

Essential Pressure Cooking Tips for Success

For those new to the world of pressure cooking, embarking on recipes like this creamy corn is a fantastic starting point. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable cooking experience, here are a few fundamental tips to keep in mind:

Customizing Your Creamed Corn: Endless Possibilities

One of the most enjoyable aspects of making creamed corn from scratch is the freedom to tailor it precisely to your taste. This recipe serves as an excellent base, allowing for a wide array of delicious additions and modifications:

Instant Pot Creamed Corn with Bacon or Ham

For a savory kick, consider adding diced pork like crispy bacon bits or cubed ham. These additions introduce a delightful textural contrast and a rich, smoky depth of flavor that complements the sweetness of the corn beautifully. Simply stir them in at the end, or if using bacon, crisp it up in the Instant Pot on the sauté function before starting the recipe for an extra layer of flavor.

Dairy-Free Creamed Corn

Yes, you can absolutely make this recipe dairy-free without sacrificing any of its creamy deliciousness! For the cream cheese component, allow your chosen dairy-free block to soften at room temperature before adding it. This ensures it melts smoothly and incorporates seamlessly into the corn mixture, preventing any clumping. Many excellent lactose-free cream cheese alternatives are available in stores today, and from my experience, the difference in taste is almost imperceptible. Similarly, dairy-free milk alternatives like cashew milk, which has a naturally creamy texture, work wonderfully to achieve the desired consistency.

The Cheesy Factor and Texture

When it comes to cheese, the sky’s the limit! Feel free to add as much cheese as your heart desires and experiment with different types. While sharp cheddar is a classic choice for its robust flavor, you could also try Monterey Jack for extra meltiness, or a blend of your favorite cheeses. The more cheese, the richer and more indulgent your creamed corn will be – but ultimately, it’s all about personal preference.

The Importance of Frozen Corn for Optimal Texture

When preparing this Instant Pot creamed corn, using frozen corn kernels is highly recommended for achieving the best possible texture. The reason is simple: frozen vegetables take slightly longer to tenderize under pressure compared to fresh or canned options. This extended cooking time helps them retain a bit more of their natural structure, resulting in a dish that isn’t overly mushy but still perfectly tender. For optimal results, ensure your corn goes directly from the freezer into the cooking pot – do not defrost it first.

While frozen corn is preferred, you could technically use fresh or canned kernels if that’s all you have on hand. However, be mindful that cooking times might need slight adjustment to prevent them from becoming too soft. The “Pot-in-Pot” (PIP) method described in this recipe is crucial, as it allows the corn to steam gently within a separate bowl inside the pressure cooker, preventing direct contact with the heating element which can lead to overcooking or burning.

Stovetop and Slow Cooker Alternatives

Don’t have a pressure cooker or prefer a different cooking method? This creamy corn recipe is adaptable! You can easily make it on the stovetop or even in a slow cooker:

• For the Stovetop: Combine the corn, butter, and sugar in a saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir consistently until the corn is tender. Then, add the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and milk. Continue to stir gently over low heat until all the cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth.
• For the Slow Cooker: Place all ingredients (except the milk for thinning) into your slow cooker. Cook on low for about 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the corn is tender and the cheese is melted into a creamy sauce. Add milk as needed to reach your desired consistency.

Instant Pot Creamed Corn Ingredients

• Pressure Cooker Safe Bowl: You’ll need a 32-ounce (or larger) oven/pressure cooker safe bowl that fits inside your Instant Pot. This specific bowl is perfect and will fit comfortably in both 6-quart and 8-quart pressure cookers.
• Frozen Corn: Approximately 16 oz (1 lb) of frozen corn kernels. As discussed, frozen is ideal for texture.
• Butter: 1.5 tbsp of salted butter. Butter adds rich flavor and helps the creaminess.
• Sugar: 1/2 tsp of granulated sugar. Just a pinch enhances the natural sweetness of the corn and provides that classic creamed corn flavor without making it overly sweet.
• Cream Cheese: 4 oz of full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature. Full-fat yields the creamiest results, and room temperature ensures smooth melting.
• Milk: 1 tbsp of milk (dairy or a dairy-free alternative like cashew milk). Use more or less to achieve your desired consistency.
• Cheddar Cheese: 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar is preferred for its distinct flavor, but any good melting cheese works.
• Water for Pot: 1.5 cups of water for the bottom of the Instant Pot for pressure cooking.

How to Make Cream Style Corn in Your Pressure Cooker

1. Pour 1.5 cups of water into the inner pot of your pressure cooker. Place a trivet (preferably one with handles) in the middle of the pot.
2. In your oven/pressure cooker safe bowl, combine the frozen corn kernels, 1 tbsp of water, butter, and sugar. Carefully place this bowl onto the trivet in the Instant Pot. Using a foil sling or a trivet with handles will make it easier to lift the hot bowl out later.
3. Secure the lid on your pressure cooker and ensure the steam release valve is set to the sealing position. Set the pressure cooker to High Pressure for 4 minutes of cooking time.
4. Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a Quick Release by carefully turning the steam release valve to the venting position. Allow all the steam to escape before opening the lid.
5. Carefully remove the bowl of corn and the trivet from the Instant Pot. Drain any water that might be left in the inner pot of the Instant Pot.
6. Pour the buttery corn mixture from the bowl directly into the now-empty inner pot of your pressure cooker. Set the pressure cooker to the “Sauté” function on “Low” heat.
7. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and the room-temperature cream cheese (cut into smaller blocks for easier melting) to the corn mixture. Stir slowly and continuously until both cheeses are completely melted and incorporated, creating a smooth, creamy sauce.
8. Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly, until you reach your desired consistency. You may add more or less milk depending on how thick or thin you prefer your creamed corn.
9. Turn off the pressure cooker. Transfer the warm, creamy, and cheesy corn to a serving dish. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions and More Corn Recipes

This Instant Pot creamed corn makes a fantastic accompaniment to a wide variety of main courses, from roasted chicken and turkey to ham and barbecue. It’s particularly popular during holiday spreads, complementing other rich flavors perfectly. For everyday meals, it pairs wonderfully with simple grilled meats or as a comforting vegetarian option.

If you’re looking to diversify your buffet table with other easy corn side dishes, we have plenty of ideas. After you’ve mastered this creamy corn, come back and explore these other delightful corn-centric recipes:

1. Our Instant Pot potato corn chowder is an incredibly hearty and flavorful meal that’s out of this world.
   1. Prefer a slower cook? You can also make a delicious crockpot corn chowder.
2. We adored our oven version, and then adapted it to create this amazing Instant Pot corn casserole for pressure cooker convenience.
3. For a perfect bread accompaniment, you can even make Instant Pot cornbread!

With its creamy texture, customizable flavors, and the sheer convenience of pressure cooking, Instant Pot Creamed Corn is a dish that truly stands out. Whether you’re preparing for a grand holiday feast or simply seeking a comforting side for a weeknight dinner, this recipe delivers exceptional taste with minimal effort. Enjoy the richness and simplicity of homemade creamed corn, a dish that’s sure to become a cherished addition to your culinary repertoire all year long.