Mexican Street Corn – Elote [+ Video]

Experience the bold flavors of Mexico with this irresistible Mexican Street Corn recipe! Known as elote in Mexico, this sweet, tender corn is slathered in tangy Mexican crema, then topped with crumbled cotija cheese, fresh lime juice, a hint of chili powder, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. It’s the perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and savory in every bite!

Watch How Mexican Street Corn is Made…

Our kids no longer want butter on their corn, they want it Elote Mexican Street Corn style!! Slathered in creamy Mexican style sour cream called Crema, and sprinkled with salty cotija cheese and dashes of chili powder, this street cart version of corn on the cob is the ultimate way to enjoy your grilled sweet corn!!

This is not the typical mayonnaise and butter Mexican street corn that is found all over the web these days. This Elote is so delicious, you will forget about any other Mexican Street Corn recipe you have ever tried. Trust me!

What is Elote?

Elote, which which means “corn cob” in Spanish, is a street food you’ll find in certain parts of Mexican. It consists of grilled corn on the cob covered in mayo, cheese, and chili powder. It’s usually eaten right off the cob. 

I’m finding myself dreaming about our trip to Mexico and all the delicious food we ate while we were there! The elote was to die for! I seriously could have eaten it at every meal! And it’s so easy to make right at home.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Mexican Street Corn:

I’ve mentioned most of the ingredients you will need for this dish, but let’s look into them a little closer. Many of them might be out of your comfort zone, but no need to worry! I know that trying ingredients from other countries, especially if you don’t really cook, can seem a bit too adventurous, but I promise that these six ingredients are essential to the best elote you’ll ever have!

1. Fresh Sweet Corn on the Cob: Of course, summer is the peak time to grab the best corn on the cob, so head to the farmer’s market or just the grocery store and by as many as you can!
2. Mexican Crema: A slightly soured and thickened cream, milder and less thick than American sour cream. You will find it in the specialty cheese section or the Latino refrigerated section of your grocery store.
   • SUBSTITUTE: If you can’t find Mexican crema, you can use mayonnaise as a substitute.
3. Cotija Cheese: A hard, crumbly Mexican cheese. Cotija cheese is made mainly from cow’s milk and is quite salty. It resembles feta cheese. In fact, feta can be used as a substitute if you absolutely cannot find cotija, but try your hardest to find the cotija! It will also be in the specialty cheese section.
4. Chili Powder or Smoked Paprika: Traditional Mexican street corn uses chili powder, but we love the smoky flavor of smoked paprika too.
   • PRO TIP: Using smoked paprika is a great way to keep the heat levels low for people who don’t do spicy (like the kiddos…and me!).
5. Limes: Fresh lime juice is an absolute must!
6. Cilantro: Adds a pop of fresh flavor.

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Can I Use Canned or Frozen Corn?

Eating the corn on the cob is the traditional way for eating elote, so canned and frozen corn obviously aren’t going to work for that. However, we have you covered! We have a one skillet Mexican street corn and a sheet pan Mexican street corn will both get you that delicious elote flavor with corn kernels not on the cob. There are instructions in both posts for using frozen corn. We basically never use canned corn if possible…haha!

Make Easy Mexican Street Corn – Elote

Let’s start with the corn, of course! Head on over to our post on the best grilled corn recipe where we share all our secrets for the making perfect grilled corn every time. We also discuss how to pick good corn on the cob at the grocery store in that post. Follow everything in that post except for adding the salt and sugar at the end. You don’t need to add salt to this corn because the cotija is going to add all the saltiness you need.

How to Season Elote

The classic seasoning for elote is chili powder, but we have also found that we love it with smoked paprika. So maybe do a few cobs with each and see which one you prefer. You can sprinkle them on the corn with the cotija cheese and then squeeze fresh lime juice all over each corn on the cob. Top off each cob with some chopped fresh cilantro, then dig in!

Can I Make Mexican Street Corn Without a Grill?

It’s hard to get that char and smoky flavor that you get from the grill, but if grilling just isn’t an option, then you can cook the corn on the stovetop or oven. For both the stovetop and oven methods, I would boil the corn first with the husks removed to make sure it is cooked through. Then heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and had a drizzle of oil to keep it from sticking and cook each corn on the cob rotating as the kernels start to char.

It will be a similar approach in the oven. Set the oven to broil and place the cobs on a baking sheet. Stick the baking sheet in the oven for a minute or two and rotate the cobs until charred on all sides. These are both good alternatives to achieving that grilled flavor without using a grill. Then proceed with the recipe as written to add all those yummy elote toppings!

Can You Reheat Corn on the Cob?

There are a few ways to reheat corn on the cob that will keep it juicy and tender. These instructions are for plain corn on the cob that hasn’t been topped with all the elote toppings.

• Microwave: Place the corn in a microwave safe dish and cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap. Set the timer for 10-20 second bursts and continue heating till corn is warm.
• Oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add butter, 1 teaspoon of water, salt and pepper to the corn and wrap in foil. Place in the oven for 5-7 minutes.
• Boiling Water: Bring water to a boil. Add the corn and boil for 1-2 minutes.

How Long Does Elote Keep?

Fully prepared elote will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container, but it is by the best when it is eaten fresh! It doesn’t freeze very well, so we don’t recommend that.

What to Eat with Elote Mexican Street Corn

I could make this elote Mexican street corn my whole meal, but most of you are probably going to want it as a side. So if you are looking for a main dish to go with it, here is a link to all our Mexican main dishes and a few of our favorites:

• Steak Fajitas
• Pork Carnitas
• Smothered Honey Lime Chicken Burritos
• Crock Pot Cafe Rio Copycat Chicken

Learn how to make authentic Mexican street corn, or elote, with this delicious recipe and instructional video. This popular street food is a must-try for Mexican food lovers!

More CORN RECIPES You Are Sure to Love:

• Classic Grilled Corn
• Elote Mexican Corn Pasta Salad
• Jalapeno Bacon Elote Mexican Grilled Corn Salad
• Cheesy Zucchini Corn Casserole
• Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Grilled Corn Avocado Tomato Salad
• All our SIDE DISHES here!

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