Just when you thought our ultra delicious Mexican corn salad couldn’t get any better, we went and added jalapeno and bacon! You. are. welcome!

Last summer all of our summer corn recipes like, elote, how to grill corn,  elote pasta salad were our most popular posts. So rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, we just took that perfect wheel and gave it some bling…bacon and jalapeno bling. It’s so pretty!

A bowl of Mexican corn salad topped with bacon and jalapeno.

We have several elote Mexican street corn recipes on the blog that blow up every summer. From the traditional Mexican street corn to elote Mexican corn grilled pizza, we keep finding new twists and spins to put on this delicious side dish. We just can’t help ourselves!

What is Elote?

Elote is a mexican street corn that is grilled and smothered in Mexican Crema or mayonnaise, sprinkled with Cotija (a dry Mexican cheese), smoky chili powder or smoked paprika, fresh cilantro and lime juice. My mouth is watering right now just typing all those ingredients out. Hubba hubba…get in my belly!

A bowl of Mexican corn salad topped with bacon and jalapeno.

What is Crema?

Crema is the Mexican version of French crème fraîche, a little bit tangy and creamy. It is slightly soured and thickened cream, milder and less thick than American sour cream. The flavor is a lot more mild in my opinion and a touch buttery when served on grilled corn.  You will find it in the meat and Mexican ingredients section of your grocery store. If you can’t find Mexican crema, you can use mayonnaise as a substitute, but try your darnedest to find the crema.

Is Corn Good for You?

While corn is high in carbs, it is packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals. It’s also low in protein and fat. There is a lot of talk out there about corn being good or bad for you. I just stick with my rule of thumb…balance in all things. Too much of anything is not good. But grilled corn in this Mexican corn salad is fantastic!

A bowl of Mexican corn salad topped with bacon and jalapeno.

Can You Use Canned Corn Instead of Fresh Corn?

Nothing is going to replace the flavor of fresh corn, but if you’re craving this in the dead of winter, I would go with frozen corn before using canned. Frozen corn has a more similar flavor and texture to fresh corn. I would give it a good saute in some olive oil to get some grill marks on the corn.

We have a whole post on how to freeze corn, so you could even plan ahead to have frozen corn all year round.

Is Red Onion Mild?

Of all the different varieties of onions, red onions are one of the more mild options. This is why you often see them in dishes where they are served raw.

A bowl of Mexican corn salad topped with bacon and jalapeno.

Will Jalapenos Give You Heartburn?

Any type of spicy food has the potential to cause heartburn. Peppers affect people differently. They contain capsaicin which is what makes them spicy. If you are prone to heartburn, there is a good chance that jalapenos will aggravate your esophagus and/or intestines.

How to Make Elote Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapeno and Bacon

You all loved our elote grilled Mexican corn salad, so we logically started thinking about ways to make it even better. And when we thinking about making things better, we often turn to bacon. It makes all things better. It makes life better!

We also wanted to add a little heat, so we went with some fresh jalapeno. The combination of crunchy bacon and spicy jalapeno give this Mexican corn salad all the flavor you could ever dream of. Here are the steps:

  1. Corn – husk the corn, boil it for 10 minutes, dry it as much as you can, grill it while turning frequently to get grill marks, allow to cool for 10 minutes, cut corn from the cobs, combine with the red onion and chopped fresh cilantro
  2. Dressing – combine all the ingredients for the dressing (crema, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, garlic salt, and pepper), add it to the corn mixture and give it all a good stir
  3. Toppings – this is where we add the bling! Sprinkle the cooked bacon and diced jalapenos all over the salad and serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve

A bowl of Mexican corn salad topped with bacon and jalapeno.

This is a great side dish for any Mexican dish, or as a lunch with your friends! Mexican corn salad with that creamy lime dressing and added jalapenos and bacon is going to be your new favorite this summer!

What We are Serving as a Main Dish

Want to know what we are serving with this corn? This week It’s Instant Pot Short Ribs!

More CORN RECIPES You Are Sure to Love:

Jalapeno Bacon Elote Mexican Grilled Corn Salad

4 from 13 votes
Servings: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Description

A flavorful exciting version of your classic summer grilled corn salad with jalapenos, bacon,

Ingredients 

  • 8 ears Corn
  • 1/4 Red Onion, Chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons Cilantro, Chopped
  • 2 Jalapenos, minced
  • 1 pound Bacon, cooked and chopped
  • 2/3 Cup Mexican Crema, or Mayonnaise
  • 1/2 Cup Lime Juice, about 4 limes
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin
  • 2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
  • 2 Teaspoons Garlic Salt
  • 3/4 cup Cotija Cheese
  • Pepper , to taste

Instructions

  • Heat a grill to High Heat.
  • In a large pot, add the husked corn and fill with water. Cook about 10 minutes, drain.
  • Place the corn on the grill, turning each time charred marks appear and remove from the heat.
  • Allow to cool for about 10 minutes and cut the kernels off of the corn.
  • In a bowl, whisk together the crema, lime juice and seasonings. Stir in all remaining ingredients and chill or serve immediately.

Notes

Crema is found by the meat and Mexican ingredients in your store. It tastes like a mild sour cream, so that or mayonnaise can work instead. 
This salad will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 318kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 10gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 1204mgPotassium: 167mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 373IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 1mg
Author: Sweet Basil
Course: 200+ Easy Side Dish Recipes Every Mom Needs
Cuisine: Mexican

A bowl of Mexican corn salad topped with bacon and jalapeno.

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