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Published: Nov 9, 2020 · Updated: Nov 18, 2021. Post contains affiliate links. See full disclosure page for details.

Make-Ahead Corn Casserole From Scratch

Healthy corn casserole from scratch is easy & the best Thanksgiving side! It’s made without jiffy mix, & uses cornmeal & cream corn instead.

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Healthy corn casserole from scratch is easy & the best Thanksgiving side! It's made without jiffy mix, & uses cornmeal & cream corn instead.

For the first time this year, I’m actually thinking about the holidays. My family and my husband’s family always start thinking about the holidays around September, but this year things are just not the same.

Even though things are different for everyone this year, Thanksgiving is probably what everyone needs right now. Comfort foods and family have never been needed so much!

With that being said, I made a delicious Thanksgiving side dish that’s actually pretty healthy, and I want to share it with you.

Make-ahead corn casserole from scratch is sweet, creamy, cheesy, and savory with just a hint of spice. Plus, it can be made in advance, saving you lots of work on the actual day.

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    Historically, this dish has never made it to my family’s dinner table on turkey day, but I think it will from now on!

    Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dish

    One of the great things about this recipe is that it can be made ahead of time, up to 2 days ahead! It’s so creamy that it doesn’t dry out in the fridge and can sit there until you’re ready to re-heat it.

    To make this corn casserole from scratch ahead of time, simply bake at 325 degrees for 60-65 minutes, then allow to cool completely. Once it’s cooled, cover it, and refridgerate for up to 2 days.

    RELATED: Healthy & Fluffy Cornmeal Pancakes

    How do you reheat corn casserole?

    You can reheat this corn casserole a couple different ways, both of which are insanely simple.

    First, if you’d like to make it ahead of time and serve it 1-2 days later, it can be done really easily! Preheat your oven to 300 degrees, cover the previously cooked corn casserole with shredded cheese, and bake straight from the fridge for 45-50 minutes until it’s heated through. No mess, no fuss, it’s really that easy!

    If you’re wanting to reheat it faster, pull it from the fridge about an hour ahead of time, it will heat much faster in the oven that way.

    If you’re just reheating one serving of the corn casserole, you can microwave it for about 30 seconds, until it’s hot and steaming and the cheese has melted.

    How long does corn casserole last in the fridge?

    Like most foods, corn casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

    Note: It’s never a good idea to keep heating and chilling a food, because it passes through the “danger zone” too many times. This can cause foods to go bad much more quickly than if they are only heated once or twice.

    So as long as all your guests eat the homemade corn casserole after you’ve reheated it, you should be fine! I wouldn’t keep any leftovers after that, though.

    Healthy Corn Casserole from Scratch

    This corn casserole recipe uses whole wheat pastry flour, heart healthy avocado oil, and plain Greek yogurt. These are much healthier ingredients than the traditional white flour, butter, and sour cream.

    I also used honey instead of white sugar, and cornmeal instead of cornbread and without Jiffy mix. Yay for natural ingredients!

    Total nutritional content per serving is:

    • Calories: 459 calories
    • Protein: 15 grams
    • Sodium: 775 mg
    • Carbohydrates: 58 grams

    You can definitely cut the sodium down by using 1.5 cups of frozen corn instead of a 15 oz can of corn and using less cheese. I think this recipe would still be really good if you cut the cheese in half and only used 1/2 cup.

    The only way reduce the carbohydrate content in this would be to reduce the corn or the remove the honey. I did try this recipe without honey, and it just wasn’t the same, though.

    If you do end up going without the honey, make sure to replace the honey with another liquid, such as water or milk. That will keep the texture consistent but reduce the sweetness and carbohydrate content.

    Budget Friendly

    One of the best things about this recipe is that even though it doesn’t use that $1 box of Jiffy mix, it’s still so inexpensive! The total for this entire recipe comes out to be about $6.67, or roughly $1.11 per serving!

    What a delicious and inexpensive side dish to bring to the holidays!

    Other Thanksgiving sides:

    • A baking pan full of bacon green bean casserole.
      Bacon Green Bean Casserole
    • A bowl of Boursin cheese mashed potatoes.
      Boursin Mashed Potatoes
    • Acorn squash salad with maple dressing.
      Acorn Squash Salad with Maple Dressing
    • Air fried delicata squash rings.
      Air Fryer Delicata Squash

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comments below! I would really appreciate your feedback!

    Recipe

    Healthy corn casserole from scratch is easy & the best Thanksgiving side! It's made without jiffy mix, & uses cornmeal & cream corn instead.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Make-Ahead Corn Casserole From Scratch

    Healthy corn casserole from scratch is easy & the best Thanksgiving side! It's made without jiffy mix, & uses cornmeal & cream corn instead.
    Total Time1 hr 20 mins
    Servings: 6 servings
    Author: Megan Byrd, RD
    Cost: $6.67 or $1.11 per serving

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup finely ground yellow cornmeal
    • ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
    • 1 tbsp baking powder
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup avocado oil
    • 15 oz can creamed corn
    • 15 oz can yellow corn drained
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
    • 1 red bell pepper diced
    • 1 jalapeno minced
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
    • chives for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325°. Mix together cornmeal, flour, and baking powder in a large bowl.
    • Add honey, avocado oil, creamed corn, canned corn, eggs, Greek yogurt, bell pepper, jalapeno, and ½ cup of cheddar cheese to the bowl. Mix until well combined.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 60-65 minutes, until edges are golden brown and the middle is cooked through.
    • During the last 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the corn casserole, and return to the oven. Continue to bake for 5 minutes more, until cheese is melted and golden brown. Top with chives and serve hot!

    To Make Ahead:

    • Follow instructions 1-3, allowing the casserole to completely cool. Once cooled, cover and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reserve the ½ cup of remaining cheese for the day of.
    • To reheat the casserole, preheat oven to 300°, and bake the cold casserole for 45-50 minutes, until heated through. Sprinkle the ½ cup of cheese on top during the last 10 minutes of baking and allow to melt. Top with chives and serve hot!

    Pin me for later!

    Healthy corn casserole from scratch is easy & the best Thanksgiving side! It's made without jiffy mix, & uses cornmeal & cream corn instead.

    Shop my photo:

    If you end up making this and loving it, take a photo and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see your versions of my recipes! And feel free to rate it down below in the comment section. I would really appreciate it!

    If you’re looking for a healthier but delicious Thanksgiving side dish to bring to dinner, this corn casserole from scratch is sure to be a hit! I can’t wait to hear what you think!

    xoxo Megan

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    Categories: Dinner

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kathleen says

      November 17, 2022 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      I’m always in for a good make ahead casserole. Especially when it’s delicious like this corn casserole.

      Reply
    2. kushigalu says

      November 17, 2022 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      One of the best casserole recipes for holidays. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    3. Chenée says

      November 17, 2022 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      I love corn casserole and I’m so excited to have found this recipe! Making it ahead of time will save so much time on thanksgiving!

      Reply
    4. Jess says

      November 17, 2022 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      I love a good casserole to feed the family!

      Reply
    5. Anonymous says

      October 5, 2022 at 12:58 pm

      5 stars

      Reply
    6. Emily says

      December 20, 2021 at 10:28 am

      Can I make with Jiffy?

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        December 27, 2021 at 7:59 pm

        I wouldn’t recommend it. I haven’t tested it with Jiffy mix but I would imagine it wouldn’t turn out quite right.

        Reply
    7. Leola Dooney says

      March 13, 2021 at 10:08 am

      5 stars
      I’ve only made this once. I will make it again. It is fantastic!

      Reply
    8. Tammie Fischer says

      March 13, 2021 at 7:42 am

      5 stars
      I’ve made this a couple times and the family loves it.

      Reply
      • Megan Byrd, RD says

        March 13, 2021 at 7:45 am

        I’m so glad the whole family loves this one! 😊

        Reply

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