Sweet Onion Creamed Corn

Name: Sweet Onion Creamed Corn
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 25 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 5 bacon strips, chopped; 1 large sweet onion, chopped; 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped; 5 cups frozen corn (about 24 ounces), thawed; 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham; 1/2 cup half-and-half cream; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed and softened

A friend from church gave me this easy and delicious recipe over 40 years ago, and I still make it regularly. She was from the South, and whenever I cook it, I think about her fondly. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Ingredients

5 bacon strips, chopped
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
5 cups frozen corn (about 24 ounces), thawed
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed and softened

Directions

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
Cook and stir onion and sweet red pepper in bacon drippings over medium-high heat until tender, 5-6 minutes.
In a greased 4-qt. slow cooker, combine corn, ham, cream, brown sugar, parsley, paprika, salt, pepper, bacon and onion mixture. Cook, covered, on low until heated through, 3-4 hours. Stir in cream cheese; cook, covered, 10 minutes longer. Stir before serving.

Originally published as Sweet Onion Creamed Corn With Ham in Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2017