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Does your family thank you for making dinner?  Making dinner is often a thankless job.  But everyone will scream THANK YOU for this one!  This Creamy Corn and Blackened Chicken skillet dinner is easy to make and scrumptious to eat.  The creamy corn is rich, creamy, savory, slightly sweet, and slightly smokey.  The blackened chicken is coated with warm spices like chili powder, paprika, and cumin that bring huge flavor, but not a lot of heat.  It finishes with a delicious salty bite from cotija cheese.  Best part is that it all cooks in one large pan – truly a perfect dinner!

CORN SEASON!

You can of course find flash frozen fresh corn throughout the year.  But if you are mad for fresh corn on the cob like me, than July through September are your months!  If you are in warmer or coastal locations, then you will start to see beautiful and tender Sweet Corn in the stores in early July.  For all other areas, you will see it in abundance during August through September. 

When you see it on sale and in season, GO BUY IT UP!  You can follow my instructions for removing the fresh kernels from the cob and then flash freeze it yourself.  Lay the fresh corn on a sheet pan and place in the freezer.  When it’s frozen, transfer it to a freezer bag and label it with the date.  It will last for up to 6 months. YAY!!

A couple other favorite recipes using corn are:

• Golden Creamy Corn Soup
• Chipotle Meatballs with Mexican Corn Cream Sauce
• Easy Cottage Pie with Chorizo
• Mexican Pasta Salad with Tomatoes & Corn

Quick note!  This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them.  This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :).  But, I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used. 

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

You need a large skillet/frying pan for making the veggies and curry sauce. I use my absolute favorite 12″ Ceramic Pan, which is great because food really does slide right off with minimal oil and I don’t have to worry about food sticking and burning. 

Mincing garlic is made super easy with a Garlic Press.

PREP-AHEAD FOR YOUR CREAMY CORN & BLACKENED CHICKEN

We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are the steps you prepare in the day(s) in advance and store in the fridge as your meal Kit… (See the recipe below for more details)

Make Spice mixture and separate 1 tsp for the sauce later.

Cut chicken breasts into 4-6 pieces each and rub the spice mix all over.

Removing Corn from the Cob

First, remove the husks and any remaining corn silk. Then rinse the corn and gently cut off the kernels using a sharp knife. After the kernels have been removed, use the back of the knife to press and scrape down the ear to remove any of the remaining kernel and the ‘cream’ that is left behind.

 

Can I use frozen corn?

Yes, you can use frozen corn.  You will probably need to get about 30-40 ounces.  You could also use canned corn, but I prefer fresh or frozen.  If you use canned, be sure to drain and rinse it.  If you use frozen, add it to the pan frozen since it thaws very quickly.  You may need to cook any excess water from the frozen package off in the pan.

Using Jalapeno

I love the flavor and the heat that the jalapeno peppers brings to the creamy corn.  However, if you are not a fan of spice, then you can either leave it out altogether or go very light with it.  First, cut the jalapeno in half lengthwise.  Then using a spoon, carefully scrape out the seeds and discard them.  The seeds have most of the heat.  Then thinly slice the pepper and finally thinly dice.  You can start by adding a teaspoon and working your way up.  If you love the spice, add the entire diced pepper!

COOK YOUR CREAMY CORN & BLACKENED CHICKEN 

Preheat a large frying pan or skillet on high heat. Add the olive oil and then the seasoned chicken and cook for 5 minutes on the first side to get it really blackened. Then flip the chicken and cook for another 5 minutes until cooked through. Then transfer the chicken and it’s juices to a plate/bowl.

To the same pan, add another tsp of olive oil, along with the garlic, red pepper, and jalapeno. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the peppers start to glisten and then add the corn. Cook for 5 minutes. Then add the broth and the remaining seasoning mix, then let it come up to a simmer.

While that is cooking, make the slurry be whisking the cornstarch into the cold milk. Whisk the slurry into the corn and continue to stir as it starts to thicken.

Add the chicken back and sprinkle the crumbled cheese on top. 

What is Cotija Cheese?  Can I use something else?

Cotija is a cow’s milk hard cheese that’s deliciously salty.  It originated in Mexico, in the town of Cotija, Michoacán.  Ideally, you want to crumble it up on top so if you can find it in a block form or already crumbled, that is best.  Sometimes it may be grated, which is okay, but I prefer chunks of salty bites.  If you cannot find Cotija, you can substitute with Feta cheese, which has a similar texture and salty bite.

Can I make this ahead and freeze or reheat?

Yes and no.  Corn freezes well fresh, but can be mushy if frozen in this cream sauce.  I recommend freezing the corn separate from the sauce; however, for best results.  You can make the sauce with the peppers and freeze it.  Then thaw the sauce, cook the corn directly from the freezer, and add the sauce.  The chicken can coated with the spices and frozen raw or cooked and then frozen.  If raw, thaw it in the fridge 24 hours in advance and then sear it in the pan as per the instructions.  If frozen cooked, thaw in the fridge overnight or in the oven 350F degrees for 20 minutes or until center is warmed through.

ENJOY!  😍 Carrie