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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.

Mexican street corn Elotes
Elotes is also known as Mexican Street Corn. It is the perfect Cinco de Mayo recipe!

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.

crema and cotija cheese
You can find Crema Mexicana Table Cream and Cotija Cheese in the specialty refrigerator dairy section 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.

grilled sweet corn
Be sure to get a little char on the sweet corn for that smoky, authentic 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.

cream sauce
Mexican Street Corn Cream Sauce is what gives the Elote that classic flavor.

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).

mexican street corn
Brush the cream sauce right on the hot corn. Then sprinkle the top with cilantro, more Cojita cheese and chipotle pepper powder.

Other Favorite Cinco de Mayo Recipes:

Enjoy! Mary

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Mexican Street Corn

Mexican street corn Elotes

Classic Mexican street corn cooked on the grill and then slathered in a creamy spread and topped with chipotle powder, Cotija cheese and cilantro.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 ears sweet corn
  • 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

Instructions

  1. Heat a grill to 400°F (205°C).
  2. Remove the husks from the corn and lightly spray each cob with olive oil cooking spray.
    Place the corn on the grill and grill for roughly 15 minutes, turning the cobs every 3 minutes.
  3. In a medium mixing bowl add the mayonnaise, sour cream, Cotija cheese, garlic, lime zest and juice, and cilantro.
  4. Once the corn is cooked, remove it from the grill and generously spread the cheese mixture all over each cob. Garnish with chipotle chili powder, Cotija cheese and cilantro.

Notes

  • 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 black. Let the corn sit on the upper rack for 5-10 minutes. Remove from the grill and when cool enough to handle, remove the husk and silk.
  • Boil the corn by placing the husked cobs in a large pot of boiling water for 7-8 minutes.
  • Oven baked corn on the cob: Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Husk the corn and lightly spray with olive oil. Wrap each piece of corn in aluminum foil. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tender.

Recipe provided by Make Your Meals

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 322Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 579mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 3gSugar: 12gProtein: 7g

Nutritional Information is to be used as a general guideline only . Nutritional calculations will vary from the types and brands of the products used.

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