Give Your Grilled Corn A Flavor Boost From Taco-Spiced Butter

Grilled corn on the cob has a delicious charred taste that when paired with buttery goodness is too good to pass up. But imagine if you could elevate that traditional grilled corn flavor with just one simple twist. Enter the magic of compound butter, but more specifically, taco seasoning-infused butter. It's a flavor-packed sensation that will leave your taste buds dancing.

Compound butter is simply butter combined with various additives, from herbs and spices to aromatics and even citrus zest. It can be used as a spread, a dollop on top of steaks, or a flavor enhancer for vegetables. For your grilled corn, the savoriness of taco seasoning and blending it into butter is easy and quick. Ultimately, you will end up with ears of corn that have earthy and spicy notes.

Best of all, using compound butter on your corn to add flavor doesn't require any additional steps apart from how you normally grill your corn. While the corn is still hot off the grill, slather it generously with the taco-seasoned butter. The heat from the corn will melt the butter, letting the spicy, aromatic goodness seep into every kernel. For added zing, sprinkle with a little more taco seasoning, fresh chopped cilantro, or crumbled feta cheese.

Crafting your own taco-seasoned compound butter is surprisingly simple. The most difficult step is remembering to allow the butter plenty of time to come to room temperature. Start with one stick of unsalted butter. It should be soft enough to easily mix but not melted, so try to avoid using the microwave. Use about 1 to 2 tablespoons of your favorite taco seasoning packet, but remember you can always add more. This will give it a robust flavor without overwhelming the buttery base.

Using a fork or a hand mixer, blend the butter and taco seasoning until it's thoroughly combined. The color should be uniformly speckled, indicating that the spices are evenly distributed. Taste the compound butter and add more seasoning if you prefer, but remember that you don't want to overpower the flavor of the corn. Finally, you can store your flavored butter in a small dish for immediate use or shape it into a log using parchment paper, twisting the ends like a candy wrapper. Refrigerate for later, or even freeze it if you want it to last even longer.

With the easy addition of taco-seasoned compound butter — or any seasoned butter for that matter — you can transform your corn into something truly special. So, the next time you're thinking of firing up that grill, remember that a simple packet of taco seasoning could be your ticket to an unforgettable side dish.