With Greek yogurt, an easy homemade cornbread mix, and creamed corn, this Healthy Corn Soufflé is a nutritious and delicious one-bowl recipe!
Healthy holiday side dishes need not be boring or hard to make! Exhibit A is this Healthy Corn Soufflé. It's made in one bowl, doesn't use any processed cornbread packets, and is lower in fat than traditional recipes... all while still being as delicious as we expect it to be!
Anyone else feeling a bit shocked that Christmas is just a bit over a week away?! Oh, and feeling relieved that 2021 is only 17 days away (not that I'm counting or anything...)?!
Between my cookbook launch, moving into our new house, and pumping out new holiday recipes, it's been a busy month and time has flown!
I don't think I've ever been this excited for the chance to take it down a bit come the holidays.
Like many, it's been an exhausting year of extra and abnormal stress without any of the usual stress relievers or coping mechanisms (I'm looking at you, traveling, grabbing impromptu happy hour with friends, and almost any indoor social activity). Now that I'm also recovering my torn meniscus, running (my previously most popular covid coping mechanism) is now also off the list. 😭
Because my usual coping mechanisms are gone, I find myself working more, putting more personal projects on my plate, and (previous to my injury) doing crazy things like running streaks and impromptu half marathons.
Though I am super grateful to have a job I love so much and to have my family and loved ones healthy, I am still just so tired from this year.
A holiday break...
And so, I am eagerly awaiting taking vacation time for the holidays. Though the house is still scattered with boxes and there's always that much more to do with work, I'm going to take some time off to just be.
To read a good book or two, cuddle with Allie, watch movies with Chris, and -- of course -- to cook with my mom.
High on our holiday cooking list is this corn soufflé. Being hearty, yet healthy and still so easy to make, it's one that we'll whip up for our (socially distanced and super small) holiday dinner.
It's the kind of recipe that is low on effort but high on comfort, flavor, and overall impact. It's quite possibly the most perfect kind of recipe to wrap up this year. Try it out for yourself and end your year right, too. 😊
To skip straight to the recipe, just click "Jump to Recipe" at the top left of this post. To browse the post quickly, just click the headings in the table of contents below.
Table of contents
- A holiday break...
- This corn pudding casserole recipe is...
- Recipe ingredients
- Ingredient substitutions
- What is a corn soufflé?
- Does creamed corn have cream in it and is it healthy?
- How is this recipe different from a Jiffy corn casserole?
- Can you use Jiffy in this soufflé?
- How to make corn soufflé...
- A special note on the best way to measure flour:
- Can you make this recipe gluten-free?
- Can you make this recipe at high altitude?
- Can you make this corn pudding ahead of time?
- How do you serve corn soufflé?
- Can you double or triple this recipe?
- How do you store leftovers? Can you freeze them?
- Tools needed to make this creamed corn casserole:
- Other healthy holiday side dish recipes you'll love:
- Get all my new recipes as they drop. Sign up to receive new recipes each week.
Follow me on your favorite social platforms to get all of my new recipes, updates, and posts!
This corn pudding casserole recipe is...
- Tender
- Creamy
- Naturally sweet
- Scoopable
- Comforting
- Satisfying
- Made in just one bowl
- Easily made gluten-free
- Low in fat
- Family-friendly
- Versatile
- All-around the perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas side dish recipe
Whether you're looking for an easy way to wow your family this holiday season or just looking for a new Sunday dinner side dish, look no further than this creamed corn casserole!
Recipe ingredients
- Corn - fresh, canned, or frozen corn all work!
- Canned creamed corn - makes this recipe scoopable and delicious
- Greek yogurt - makes the pudding extra tender
- Honey
- Unsalted butter - we need just 2 tablespoons to richen up this recipe
- Egg
- Yellow cornmeal - contributes some sweetness to the recipe
- All-purpose flour -
- Granulated white sugar - the only processed ingredient in this recipe, but all we need is 3 tablespoons for the entire recipe
- Baking powder
- Salt
Ingredient substitutions
- Greek yogurt - light or full-fat sour cream can substitute for the Greek yogurt, but it will affect the nutritional breakdown of this recipe
- Butter - vegan butter can replace unsalted dairy butter. The recipe will still not be vegan, however, because of the other dairy products and honey in this recipe.
- Flour - the same amount of a gluten-free 1-to-1 flour blend can replace the all-purpose flour.
What is a corn soufflé?
A corn soufflé-- also known as corn pudding, creamed corn casserole, or corn pudding casserole -- is a baked side dish that tastes very similar to cornbread.
The dish is a bit thicker and more moist than cornbread because it is made with creamed corn and sour cream or Greek yogurt. Because of this, you serve it by scooping, rather than slicing, the soufflé.
The recipe is simple to make but bakes for a bit -- around 50 to 55 minutes -- so, though you can make it for a weeknight or Sunday dinner, it's often served for holiday dinners.
Does creamed corn have cream in it and is it healthy?
Most brands of canned creamed corn are made with corn, water, salt, corn starch, and sugar, meaning that it isn't usually made with cream.
Some varieties of homemade creamed corn do have cream and other richer dairy products in them. So, I recommend sticking with canned creamed corn in this recipe if you want to keep the recipe light.
How is this recipe different from a Jiffy corn casserole?
This recipe is very similar to a variation of a Jiffy corn casserole recipe. The only differences in this recipe are that we..
- Substitute a homemade cornbread blend for the Jiffy
- Use Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream
- Use only 2 tablespoons of butter
- Sweeten the casserole mainly with natural sweeteners (i.e., honey)
Making these changes keeps all the flavors of the Jiffy casserole you love but without the high-calorie count and as many processed ingredients.
Can you use Jiffy in this soufflé?
Yes, if you want to use Jiffy in this casserole you should be able to! Just eliminate the honey from the recipe and substitute a package of Jiffy for the cornmeal, flour, granulated sugar, and baking powder before continuing on with the recipe as directed.
How to make corn soufflé...
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 1 ½-quart or 2-quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Melt the honey and butter over low heat in the microwave until melted and smooth.
- Add the wet ingredients to the mixing bowl with the honey and butter and whisk until combined.
- Whisk the dry ingredients into the batter until no streaks of flour remain.
- Fold the corn into the batter until distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the soufflé is cooked through and no longer jiggles in the center.
A special note on the best way to measure flour:
The best way to measure flour is by weighing it. There is no doubt about how much flour you are adding to your recipe when you weigh it. This can, therefore, can be a huge factor in your baking success.
Watch my video below to see how scooping and spooning and leveling flour can increase the amount of flour up to 20% (!!) in a recipe and consider making the small investment in a food scale for only $10 on Amazon. It's so worth it!
Disclaimer: since recording this video, I have become an Amazon affiliate. So, a portion of any sales made through my food scale link will support Mae's Menu, at no additional expense to you.
Can you make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, you can very easily make this recipe gluten-free. Simply substitute gluten-free 1-to-1 flour for the all-purpose flour and make sure your cornmeal is gluten-free. From here, just follow the directions as listed. Don't you love it when recipe adjustments are that easy?!
Can you make this recipe at high altitude?
You can make this recipe at high altitude without needing to make any additional adaptations. I live around 5000 feet and make the recipe as-is without any issues!
Can you make this corn pudding ahead of time?
Though you can make this corn pudding up to 3 days ahead of time -- just refrigerate it covered and reheat on low heat in the oven for 10-15 minutes before serving -- I prefer to enjoy it fresh. The sides of the soufflé are lightly crunchy and the dish is most tender when it's fresh out of the oven.
To prepare it ahead of time but bake it the day of, just measure out and separately whisk together your wet and dry ingredients. Then, store them separately until you combine and bake them. When preparing ahead of time, store your whisked wet ingredients covered in the refrigerator and your dry ingredients in an airtight container at room temperature.
How do you serve corn soufflé?
Corn soufflé is such a versatile side dish that you can serve it almost any time you want to. Even though the dish is pretty simple to make, because of the long baking time it often makes appearances at holiday dinner tables.
You can, however, still make this recipe for weeknight or Sunday dinners. Here are a few of my favorite dishes to serve the soufflé with:
- Roast turkey
- Ham
- Maple Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
- Barbecue chicken
- Turkey chili
- Pulled pork
- Sloppy joes
And of course-- with all of the typical holiday dishes: carrot souflé, brussels sprouts, air fryer butternut squash, and more!
Can you double or triple this recipe?
You can certainly double or triple this recipe. Just multiply the ingredients by your desired amount and follow the recipe as listed, dividing the batter evenly by the number of pans that you multiply the recipe by. So, if you multiply the recipe by 2, bake the soufflé in 2 dishes; if by 3, bake in 3 dishes, etc.
How do you store leftovers? Can you freeze them?
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. They can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Tools needed to make this creamed corn casserole:
- Large microwave-safe mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Food scale
- Can opener
- 1 ½ or 2-quart baking dish or a deep-dish pie pan
Other healthy holiday side dish recipes you'll love:
- No-Yeast and No-Knead Dinner Rolls
- Orange Salad with Honeyed Hazelnuts
- Apple Cranberry Sauce
- Sweet Potato Soufflé
- Savory Bread Pudding
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes
Get all my new recipes as they drop. Sign up to receive new recipes each week.
If you make and like this recipe, please review and rate it 5-stars at the top of the recipe card. This helps other people to find the recipes and helps this reader-supported publication, too!
Thank you so much for your feedback and support of Mae's Menu!
Healthy Corn Soufflé
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons honey, preferably raw
- 1, 15 oz. can creamed corn
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup 0% or 2% Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ cup corn kernels*
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 1 ½-quart or 2-quart casserole with non-stick spray.
2. Combine the unsalted butter and honey in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl. Melt on 20-30% heat in the microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring between intervals until the butter and honey are melted and smooth.
3. Add the creamed corn, large egg, and Greek yogurt to the melted butter mixture. Whisk in until combined (small chunks of creamed corn will remain).
4. Add the yellow cornmeal, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt to the creamed corn mixture. Whisk or stir in with a silicone spatula until no streaks of flour or cornmeal remain.
5. Add the corn to the batter and gently mix in until distributed.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the soufflé is golden brown around the edges and no longer jiggly in the middle.
6. Let the souffle cool for 4-5 minutes on a wire cooling rack and serve!
Notes
*Frozen, canned (and drained), or fresh corn kernels all work for this recipe.
1. Leftovers last covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
2. For the best results, weigh your flour with a food scale. Other methods of measuring (scooping and spooning and leveling) can give you up to 20% more flour than called for, drastically affecting your baking outcomes!
3. Yellow fine-grain cornmeal is best for this recipe. Thicker grain cornmeals can make the souffle grainy or sandy tasting.
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 190Total Fat 4gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 26mgSodium 309mgCarbohydrates 36gFiber 2gSugar 12gProtein 6g
This nutrition breakdown is just an estimate of the nutritional value of this recipe and cannot be taken as facts. The owners of Mae's Menu are not nutritionists or dietitians and therefore cannot be held accountable for this nutrition estimate. Please contact your nutritionist or medical professional for a nutritional breakdown of this food. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Please share your recipe comments and feedback. It helps us create better content and helps other readers find what they're looking for.