Cornaroni

Cornaroni is a creamy corn and macaroni casserole made with canned corn, uncooked pasta, and cheese, baked into an easy, family-favorite comfort food.

Cornaroni in a glass pan.

Cheesy Macaroni and Corn Casserole

I admit it, Cornaroni is a weird dish--cheesy corn and macaroni casserole just seems weird. But if you ask the family what everyone's favorite side dish is, I betcha this one makes the top 3.

This recipe has stood the test of time. My friend, Beth, made it for a harvest meal over 15 years ago, and I knew I had to have the recipe.

Over the years, Cornaroni has earned multiple purple ribbons at our local 4-H County Fair, graced our holiday table, and is on the list of must-eat dishes for the college kids when they come home for a long weekend.

This recipe is a shamefully simple, no-boil, baked macaroni cheese casserole. Just dump it all in a casserole dish and bake.

If you're like me and love a good pasta dish, check out some of my other favorites Easy Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta, Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta, and Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Stove Top.

Serving the cornaroni on a green plate with a burger.

Macaroni Corn Casserole

Simple ingredients, a casserole dish, and a short stint in the oven creates a potluck rock star.

  • Macaroni Noodles -- dry, and uncooked
  • Butter -- Yes, a whole stick
  • Velveeta Cheese -- Or other processed cheese
  • Cream Style Corn -- Dump in the whole can, do not drain
  • Canned Corn, undrained -- The liquid is important moisture for cooking the noodles
  • Shredded Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese -- Gives more cheesy flavor to this cheesy macaroni and corn casserole
ingredients needed to make cornaroni.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Cornaroni

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the butter in a 9x13 casserole and allow it to melt in the pan while the oven preheats.
  2. When the butter is melted, stir in the uncooked macaroni noodles, Velveeta cheese, cream style corn, and the canned corn with the liquid. Stir well.
  3. Bake for 35-45 minutes. Stirring halfway through. Stir again as it gets nearly cooked to ensure even cooking. Cover the casserole loosely with foil if the casserole is getting brown.
  4. When macaroni noodles are tender, sprinkle the top of the casserole with shredded cheese and allow to melt before serving.

Hint: Stir in a splash of milk, if needed, to create desired consistency.

Storing Cornaroni

Cover leftover Cornaroni with plastic wrap or foil and place in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. To reheat Cornaroni, add a splash of milk to make it creamy again and heat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

Top tip

Bake this casserole in the middle of the oven to ensure even cooking. Cover with foil if the top of the casserole is browning before the noodles are done.

FAQ

Do you drain the corn in cornaroni casserole?

No, add the corn's juices directly into the casserole. Do not drain.

Are the noodles precooked in cornaroni?

Nope. Do not pre cook the noodles for this recipe.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Cornaroni:

HAVE A QUESTION? ❤️

Leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer you!

And, if you made this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a rating!

And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and hashtag it #laughingroostereats! Seeing your photos is our favorite thing!

eating cornaroni with a fork on a green plate.

Food safety

  • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

Cornaroni in a glass pan.

Cornaroni

5 from 9 votes
Cornaroni is a creamy corn and macaroni casserole made with canned corn, uncooked pasta, and cheese, baked into an easy, family-favorite comfort food.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 10
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 269

Ingredients
  

  • 1 stick Butter
  • 1 ½ cup Macaroni Noodles uncooked
  • 1 cup Velveeta Cheese cubed
  • 1 can Cream Style Corn
  • 1 can Canned Corn undrained
  • ½ cup Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese shredded

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the butter in a 9x13 casserole and allow it to melt in the pan while the oven preheats.
    1 stick Butter
  2. When the butter is melted, stir in the uncooked macaroni noodles, Velveeta cheese, cream style corn, and the canned corn with the liquid. Stir well.
    1 ½ cup Macaroni Noodles, 1 cup Velveeta Cheese, 1 can Cream Style Corn, 1 can Canned Corn
  3. Bake for 35-45 minutes. Stirring halfway through. Stir again as it gets nearly cooked to ensure even cooking. Cover the casserole loosely with foil if the casserole is getting brown.
  4. When macaroni noodles are tender, sprinkle the top of the casserole with shredded cheese and allow to melt before serving.
    ½ cup Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Hint: Stir in a splash of milk, if needed, to create desired consistency.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 269kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 10gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 655mgPotassium: 219mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 607IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 0.5mg

    Tried this recipe?

    Let us know how it was!

    13 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Wonderful, bake a little longer that recipe says but might be my oven
      Delish and very easy to prepare❤️

    2. 5 stars
      We love this dish...my family always requests this for family dinners. so easy and can be adapted as needed.

    3. 5 stars
      I finally just made this for my family a few weeks ago and they LOVED it! Admittedly, it didn't sound appetizing to me, but it made all of our eyes go big when we had our first bite 😅 its so good! It's already on the meal planning menu for this next week. Thank you!

    4. 5 stars
      I was curious, but hesitant about this combo. We love mac ‘n cheese & corn - but combined??? If you’re holding out like I was, DON’T WAIT ANY LONGER ! It is so tasty & so easy! I’ll definitely be making this again!

    5 from 9 votes

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