Turn Baked Potatoes Into The Ultimate Comfort Meal By Adding This Creamy Canned Ingredient

Baked potatoes aren't just the ultimate comfort food; they're also one of the most versatile potato dishes. You can stuff them with all kinds of ingredients beyond the classic sour cream, cheese, and chives combo. In fact, one canned ingredient that would make a baked potato extra comforting is creamed corn. While homemade creamed corn often blends a roux-like mixture of flour, cream, and butter into partially pureed corn, canned cream corn is a simpler, dairy-free blend of pureed corn, water, and corn starch.

The canned variety still has that sweet rich corn-forward flavor and creamy texture, but it's also suitable for dairy-free and vegan diets. Considering that potatoes are a key ingredient in a classic corn chowder, you're essentially reversing each ingredient's role. The thick, slightly textured creamed corn will contrast the fluffy potato pulp, while the earthy and savory potato is the perfect complement to the sweet corn. Plus, creamed corn is a budget-friendly staple with an exceedingly long shelf life.

All you have to do to incorporate a can of creamed corn into your baked potato is warm it up on the stove and pour it over a freshly baked (and sliced) potato. You can always add some extra ingredients to give the creamed corn a more homemade feel. A splash of heavy cream would bring some dairy richness, while a little white wine might add more depth of flavor. Even a simple seasoning of salt and cracked pepper can enhance the corn's sweetness and provide a spicy finish.

Creamed corn is a unique and tasty baked potato topping that takes no effort — and you can take it in many directions with additional garnishes and condiments. Stick to the classic butter, sour cream, and chive combination as the tartness of the sour cream, richness of the butter, and aromatic chives will round out the sweet and savory creamed corn and potato combo. For a smoky, savory finish, top the potato with crispy bacon. Pickled ingredients like jalapeños and pickled red onions would balance the sweetness of the corn and cut through the potato's richness (and added dairy products) while also bringing more texture to the mix.

Corn is a Mexican crop, so you can always take your creamed corn baked potato in a Mexican direction by adding roasted poblano peppers and chipotle crema, while garnishing with diced cilantro and cotija cheese. Bring the flavor combination a little closer to home with a New Mexican makeover, by stirring green chile pork into your creamed corn before topping the whole thing with shredded cheddar cheese. That would certainly be an even heartier, more well-rounded meal. For something a bit more complex, sophisticated, and plant-based, consider topping the creamed corn with a dollop of coconut cream, diced serrano chilies, and/or fried shallots. You could always season the potato with curry powder and a touch of cumin for a bit of Indian flare, too.