Mexican Street Corn Recipe – An Easy Elotes Recipe

Now that the weather is turning warmer and Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, I thought I would share my favorite Mexican Street Corn recipe. Grilled sweet corn slathered in a delicious cream sauce that is flavored with cheese, garlic, lime and cilantro.

Sprinkle a little chipotle chili powder on top and you have a quick and easy side dish that no one can resist! Although it looks somewhat fancy, it is actually very easy to make.

Not only do I serve it on the 5th of May, this recipe is a staple all summer long at my house! I make it for potlucks, outdoor barbecues and as an unexpected side dish for our annual family reunion.

Ingredients Needed

Sweet Corn On The Cob – Fresh sweet corn that is still in husk is best to use to make Elote Mexican Street Corn. However in many areas, especially during May, fresh corn on the cob can’t easily be found. Therefore you may have to resort to purchasing frozen corn on the cob.

Elote Cream

Mayonnaise – One of the main ingredients of the cream that is spread on the corn is mayonnaise. It helps to thicken the cream, however, it also provides a slightly tangy flavor.

Crema Mexicana Table Cream – This dairy product is similar to sour cream but has a slightly milder flavor and a thinner consistency. You can typically find it at the grocery in the refrigerated specialty dairy aisle near the packages of cheese.

Cotija Cheese – Cotija cheese is a hard, crumbly cheese commonly used in Mexican Cuisine. The cheese has a slightly salty flavor which pairs perfectly with the sweet corn. It is usually found near the Crema Mexicana Table Cream at most large grocery stores.

Garlic Cloves – Fresh garlic cloves are added to the cream, giving that classic warm flavor.

Lime – You will use both the zest and juice of a lime for a bit of freshness.

Salt – Salt and sweet corn go hand in hand and that is no exception for this Elote Mexican Street Corn Recipe.

Cilantro – Another classic ingredient in Mexican cuisine is cilantro. However for those who have a strong dislike for cilantro (you either love it or hate it), use fresh parsley instead.

Chipotle Chili Powder – For a little heat, add chipotle chili powder or sprinkle a little Tajin over the corn. Tajin is a popular Mexican seasoning blend made primarily from ground chili peppers, salt, and dehydrated lime juice. (Affiliate Link: Tajin Chile Lime Seasoning)

Mexican Street Corn Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

Ingredients

• 4 ears sweet corn on the cob, still in the husk (preferred)
• ¼ cup of mayonnaise
• ¼ cup Crema Mexican Sour Cream, or traditional sour cream
• ½ cup Cotija cheese, crumbled, or Parmesan cheese + more for garnish
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice and zest of 1 lime
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped + more for garnish
• ½ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder or Tajin seasoning

Instructions

The first step in making Mexican Street Corn is to grill the sweet corn. You can do this with or without the husks on the corn.

Although traditionally I prefer to grill corn with the husks intact, for this recipe I always remove the husks prior to grilling. That is because I want the corn to have a little char on the kernels to give it more flavor.

Grilling Sweet Corn Without The Husks

Do this by removing the husks from the corn and lightly spray each cob with olive oil cooking spray.

Then place the corn on the grill and cook for roughly 15 minutes, turning the cobs every 3-4 minutes.

Grilling Sweet Corn With The Husks On

To cook the corn with the husks on remove the outer two layers of the husk and let it soak in water for 50 minutes before grilling.

Then grill, turning frequently, until the outer layer of the husk is mostly charred. Let the corn sit on the upper rack for 5-10 minutes with the grill lid closed.

Remove the cobs from the grill and when cool enough to handle, remove the husk and silk.

However, if you don’t have a grill or the weather isn’t ideal for grilling, you can still make Mexican Street Corn by cooking the corn in boiling water or baking it in the oven.

How To Boil Sweet Corn

If you are going to use the boil method, fill a large stockpot over half full and bring to a rapid boil. Place the shucked sweet corn in the water and boil for 7-8 minutes.

Oven Baked Sweet Corn

However, you can also easily cook the corn in the oven by husking each piece and lightly spraying them with olive oil. Wrap each piece of corn in aluminum foil and bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes or until tender.

Mexican Street Corn Cream Sauce

While the corn is cooking, prepare the cream sauce. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, Cotija cheese, garlic, lime zest and juice, and cilantro in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined.

For classic Mexican street corn be sure to use Crema Mexican Sour Cream and Cotija Cheese crumbles. You can find both of these products in the refrigerated dairy section of your grocery store.

Although, if you can not find these two products, you can substitute sour cream and Parmesan cheese in this recipe.

Once the corn is cooked, place the cobs on a platter and generously spread the cream mixture all over each one. Then sprinkle the tops with chipotle chili powder, more cotija cheese and cilantro or use a Mexican street corn seasoning blend (affiliate link).

Other Favorite Cinco de Mayo Recipes:

• Mexican Street Corn Casserole
• Easy Mexican Chicken Recipe
• Mexican Pizza (Taco Bell Copycat Recipe)
• Instant Pot Mexican Casserole
• Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas
• Pure Mexican Margarita
• 7 Layer Mexican Dip
• Instant Pot Carnitas
• Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
• Pico de Gallo Salsa
• 4 Ingredient Gaucamole
• Easy Taco Casserole
• Salsa Verde
• 32 Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Enjoy! Mary

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