Gluten-Free Corn Casserole (Dairy-Free Option)

Published: Aug 11, 2023 by Rebecca Taig · This post may contain affiliate links · 31 Comments

Gluten-Free Corn Casserole is one of my family's favorite recipes! It's the perfect balance of both sweet and savory with a creamy cornbread-like texture. This no Jiffy Mix corn casserole recipe is perfect for holiday dinners and special events.

Corn casserole in a large white ceramic baking dish with a spoon.

Growing up, we would serve this creamy corn casserole every year for Thanksgiving dinner, and it was always the first side dish to be devoured. This nostalgic dish is comfort food at its finest, with minimal ingredients, and super easy to make. You could prepare this casserole the night before to save time, as it reheats wonderfully the next day. The original recipe uses Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, but to make this recipe gluten-free, we used a combination of gluten-free cornmeal and gluten-free all-purpose flour. No one will be able to tell the difference, it's that good! It's the one casserole dish we look forward to every single year, and we always ask ourselves why we don't make this more often.

For more delicious Thanksgiving side dishes, check out my Honey Roasted Carrots, Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole, Savory Roasted Delicata Squash, Gluten-Free Stuffing, and Homemade Cranberry Sauce With Red Wine.

Ingredients in Corn Casserole

Gluten-Free Flour: I love using Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour For the best texture and structure.
Gluten-Free Cornmeal: Arrowhead Mills Yellow Organic Cornmeal works great.
Eggs: The eggs serve as a binder while making the texture light and fluffy. You can eliminate them for a vegan option.
Butter: Unsalted melted butter gives this casserole great flavor while moistening the recipe. Use vegan butter for both a vegan and dairy-free option.
Cream-Style Corn: Make sure to check the labels for gluten-free options. Two brands I like to use are Del Monte Sweet Cream Corn and Green Giant Cream Style Sweet Corn.
Regular Whole Kernel Corn: You can use canned, frozen, or fresh corn kernels that have been cooked.
Sour Cream: Sour cream creates a creamy, moist corn casserole by activating the baking powder. For a vegan/dairy-free option, use 8 ounces of dairy-free yogurt with a tablespoon of lemon juice mixed in.
Sugar: The sugar adds a touch of sweetness and moisture to the casserole.
Baking Powder: Helps the casserole to rise.
Salt: Add flavor and brings out the sweetness.

How to Make Gluten-Free Corn Casserole

Corn casserole dry ingredient photo in a large clear bowl.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 2 quart or 11" X 8" ceramic baking dish and set it aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the cornbread mix.

Corn casserole wet ingredients photo in a large clear bowl.

In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.

Corn Casserole dry ingredients added to the wt ingredients in a large clear bowl.

Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir until combined.

Corn casserole raw batter poured into ceramic baking dish with a spatula smoothing out the batter.

Pour the mixture into the casserole dish.

Fully baked corn casserole in a large white cermaic baking dish.

Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes. The edges will be golden brown and the center will be set.

Serve Warm and Enjoy! Store any leftover corn casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

5 Corn Casserole Variations

There are many ways to adjust this recipe to your liking. Here are some other gluten-free versions:

Cheesy Corn Casserole: Fold in one cup of cheddar cheese for a savory version. Other cheese options include Monterey Jack Cheese, Mexican Cheese, or Colby Jack Cheese.
Spicy Corn Casserole: Add one cup of cheese, two finely diced jalapeno peppers, seeded, a teaspoon of garlic powder, and a pinch of black pepper.
Sweet Corn Casserole: For an even sweeter version, bump up the sugar to ½ cup. This produces a dessert-style dish. For a refined sugar-free version, you can use honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
Egg Free: If you leave out the eggs this will create what's known as corn pudding and is a bit dense in structure. Using eggs produce a light and fluffy cornbread-like texture resembling a corn soufflé, but it is not required.
Vegan or Dairy-Free: Skip the eggs, substitute the butter with a vegan-friendly alternative, and use dairy-free yogurt with a tablespoon of lemon juice mixed in, in place of the sour cream.

Close up photo of corn casserole in a white ceramic dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bake gluten-free corn casserole in advance?

You can bake the casserole 24 hours in advance.

Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it slowly come to room temperature, for around 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Place the covered dish in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.

Can I use a premade gluten-free cornbread mix?

You can use 8.5 ounces of store-bought gluten-free cornbread mix in place of the gluten-free flour, cornmeal, and baking powder in this. I prefer this homemade version, which is more reliable.

Can I double the recipe?

This recipe can be doubled using a rectangular 9x13-inch baking dish. An extra 10-15 minutes may be needed.

Is creamed corn naturally gluten-free?

No, not all brands of creamed corn are gluten-free. You want to watch out for hidden ingredients by checking the labels. Brands like Del Monte and Green Giant do not label their cream corn as certified gluten-free, but the listed ingredients do not contain gluten.

Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker?

Add all of the ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on high for 2 ½ hours or on low for 4 hours.

Recipe

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