This One-Dish Corn Mac and Cheese is ultra-creamy, packed with melty cheese and sweet corn, and made easy with a simple dump-and-bake method. It’s the ultimate comfort food casserole—perfect for busy weeknights, game day parties, and church potlucks.

A wooden spoon of mac and cheese being lifted from a pan.

This Mac and Cheese with Corn Is So Good!

Wondering how Mac and Cheese could possibly get any better? Add corn! Cream style, and whole kernel to be exact! The new cheesy, sweet mixture will instantly amaze you AND become your favorite!

Plus, it’s a dump-and-bake recipe that’s made in just ONE dish with minimal ingredients. So, for me, it’s already a favorite!

Corn mac and cheese on a red plate with a fork taking a bite.

Corn Mac And Cheese Ingredients

whole kernel corn
cream-style corn
water
whole milk
salt
mustard powder
garlic powder
paprika
onion powder
ground black pepper
ground nutmeg
elbow macaroni
Velveeta
salted butter
Plus an optional breadcrumb topping!

This was fabulous. I added a little extra water, covered it for the first 30 minutes, and added ham. Loved it! – Sally

Ingredients to make corn mac and cheese on a table.

How To Make One Dish Corn Mac And Cheese

Combine the salted butter, cubed Velveeta, whole kernel corn, cream-style corn, water, uncooked macaroni, spices, salt, and pepper in the casserole dish. Stir to thoroughly mix the ingredients together.
Bake the Corn Macaroni and Cheese in the preheated oven for 20 minutes and then stir. Bake for another 20 minutes and stir again.
Bake the mac and cheese until the macaroni softens and a crust forms on the top of the dish. This should take about 10 to 15 more minutes.

How To Serve Corn Mac And Cheese

Serve up this mac and cheese fresh from the oven to enjoy it at its peak cheesy, melty goodness! If you want to balance out the heaviness of the dish you could serve it with a fresh, crisp garden salad.

Mac and Cheese Storage Instructions

Tightly wrap the casserole dish of leftovers with tin foil or plastic wrap. If there aren’t many servings left, you can transfer the remaining mac and cheese into an airtight container. Afterward, transfer the sealed leftovers into the fridge and enjoy for 2 to 3 days.

Overhead photo of a red plate with corn mac and cheese on it with a fork.

Substitutions And Variations For Corn Mac And Cheese

Bacon – To add some salty flavor, fry and crumble up five pieces of bacon. Stir this into the casserole dish with the other ingredients before baking. Bacon bits have a VERY strong flavor, and I honestly think it’s quite pungent, so I recommend using real bacon if possible.
Corn – Frozen corn can be used in place of whole-kernel corn. To do so, first, rinse the corn with warm water to soften it a bit.
Butter – Salted butter can be replaced with an equal amount of unsalted butter and add an additional ¼ teaspoon of salt to the recipe.
Pasta – I prefer to make this recipe with elbow macaroni but cavatappi or shells would also work well.
Cheese – This mac and cheese dish can be made with shredded cheddar cheese instead of Velveeta.

Close up of a spoon of corn mac and cheese being served from a baking dish.

Do I Cook The Pasta Before Adding It to This One-Dish Recipe?

No, do not cook the pasta beforehand. Doing so would cause the pasta to become overcooked and soggy after it bakes in the oven.

What Size Serving Dish Works Best In This Recipe?

I’d suggest using a 9×13-inch baking dish for this Corn Mac and Cheese Recipe.

More Delicious Homemade Macaroni And Cheese Recipes!

Smoked Mac and Cheese – Loaded with bacon and packed with smokey flavor!
Mac and Cheese In A Mug – This viral TikTok recipe takes just 5 minutes to make!
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese – A cheesy, spicy dish that everyone will love!
Best Ever Creamy Mac and Cheese – A stovetop recipe that you can slide onto the table in only 25 minutes!

This recipe was originally published in September 2015 and was updated in January 2026 with recipe adjustments and photos.