$0.25 and 15 Minute Stovetop Grilled Corn

This title must be a typo. Grilled corn in an apartment kitchen? Yep. Sweet, delicious corn that brings the smell of summer right into your own kitchen. And no, you don’t need a grill. All you need is a stove and you’re good to go! Next time you see corn on sale at the grocery store, text your friends, and have add indoor BBQ with $4 Apartment Ribs, $0.90 and 40 Minute Cauliflower Faux-Potato Salad and some $0.25 and 15 Minute Stovetop Grilled Corn!
Stovetop Grilled Corn Recipe
$0.25 and 15 Minute Stovetop Grilled Corn
Equipment
- Spatula for mixing/flipping
- Rimmed baking tray
- Chef's knife
- Pan
- 10" Non-stick saute pan
- Splatter screen (think wire mesh that you would put over a pan if you were making bacon)
Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn
- 2 tbsp grapeseed or avocado oil
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- With your hands, remove and discard the entire husk from the corn along with as many strings as you can grab in 5 seconds.
- Stand the corn up in the center of a baking tray and slice down each side with the chef’s knife to remove the kernels.
- Heat the pan on the stovetop to high heat (7-8 out of 10).
- Once hot, add the grapeseed oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add the corn kernels and the salt.
- Spread them out as evenly as possible on the surface of the pan and cover with the splatter screen.
- Cook without touching for 2 minutes, then flip. Repeat 3 times until corn has cooked for ~8 minutes.
- Transfer to a plate and enjoy!

Tips:
Ingredients – Before buying, check that your corn is ripe by removing the husk (also called “shucking”) around the top of the corn. If the kernels are yellow and plump at the top, put it in your cart. If the corn is missing kernels or the kernels are white/discolored, put the corn back in the pile.
Step 1 – Don’t go crazy, just grab the easy strings. Your final product with taste great regardless.
Step 2 – Why use a baking tray and not a cutting board? The rim on the baking tray will keep the kernels from spreading themselves all over your counter.
Step 5 – The kernels should sizzle once they touch the pan. Start by placing a couple kernels in the pan and if you hear that beautiful sound, dump them all in. If you hear silence, wait another minute or two.
Step 6 – One layer of kernels means even browning since most kernels are touching the hot pan! If you chose to stack it higher it will still taste great but it will take a little longer to cook!
And why the splatter screen you ask? I think popcorn! Some of the kernels will literally pop as they cook. This can lead to a little bit of a mess, but it’s oh so worth it!
Step 7 – The corn should appear slightly browned upon the first flip. If not, wait another minute prior to flipping.
This high heat cooking technique is also used to make $5 and 15 Scallops and Zucchini. It works great on squash, corn, onion, and mushrooms because searing the outside provides flavor and prevents them from getting mushy! Feel to substitute any of these vegetables in to make the dish your own!
This recipe is super versatile! Mix your Stovetop Grilled Corn together with the following ingredients to make these awesome dishes:
For Creamed Corn:
- 4 oz of milk (Use ~1oz per ear of corn). Coconut milk works great!
For Corn Salsa:
- 1 mango, chopped
- 1 cucumber ,chopped
- 1/2 cup of cilantro, chopped
- 2 TBSP lime juice (~1 lime)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Cost:
- 4 ears of corn ~ $1
- 2 TBSPs of grapeseed oil ~ $0.10
- 1/2 tsp of kosher salt – negligible
Total Cost per recipe ~ $1.10
Cost per serving (~4 servings) ~ $0.25
Conclusion:
Corn is another example of a food I had crossed off my diet for no good reason. Why did I do it? Because it was a carb. That’s it. I simplified a complex, delicious food that has been a staple for generations down to one word. Carb. I cook unprocessed food with minimal natural sweetener. I cook and eat whole food and exercise moderation. This way of cooking and eating does not involve watching carbs and count calories.
Therefore, I now eat and enjoy corn when it’s in season! I provide my body the complex mixture of nutrients, my mouth the joy that comes from each bite and my wallet the cost savings of 4 ears for $1 (or sometimes even 10 ears for $1!). Take a look at the whole food you’re not eating and ask yourself why? It may be time to add them back into your life!
Looking for more fun and simple recipes? Check these out:
- $0.50 and 5 Minute Oat Breakfast Cake
- $6 and 20 Minute Swordfish
- $0.25 and 60 Minute Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
As always, make informed food decisions. Know your ingredients, know your costs!

I did exactly the same – eliminated a delicious and nutritious veg, simply because it was a carb. I have recently re-introduced corn into my diet and am really enjoying it!
Woohoo! I recently applied the same test to potatoes and started adding them back into my diet too. Whole, nutritious, delicious food is the way to go!