Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)

This Mexican Street Corn recipe is packed full of fresh, bright, and amazing flavors. It is a great way to spice up any BBQ or dinner table.

three ears of mexican street corn on a plate


 

What to Gather

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this Mexican street corn. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

  • Fresh Corn – Although self explanatory, you do need to use fresh ears of corn rather than corn off the cob for this elote recipe. However, I do have a Mexican Corn Salad recipe that provides the same flavors but uses corn kernels instead.
  • Crema mexicana – This is where the corn starts getting good. This is a creamy sauce that gives a tart flavor to this great recipe. You can either make your own or buy it at any major grocery store.
  • Queso cotija – This is a crumbly Mexican cheese found in most grocery stores. However, you can use queso fresco if your store doesn’t carry it.
  • Butter
  • Limes
  • Mexican chile powder
  • Fresh cilantro
straight on shot of elotes on a plate

Perfect Pairings

You can serve this street corn with just about anything you’d like to! I like to serve mine with other Mexican food like tacos, burritos, fajitas or something else similar.

I also like to serve with other sides like spanish rice, homemade guacamole and cheese dip. Tortilla chips are always a plus too!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, you can also make my Mexican Street Corn Salad by making this recipe and taking it off the cob and into a bowl for easy eating! You can even use it in my Mexican Chicken Casserole.

close up of mexican street corn on a plate

5S Philosophy 👩🏻‍

  • Salt – If you used unsalted butter, you might need to add a pinch of salt. I like to use kosher salt.
  • Seasonings – Add a little spice to this mexican street corn recipe by adding some cayenne pepper into the mix.
  • Sauces – If you aren’t able to find or make mexican crema, you can always use sour cream mixture instead. Some people even use a garlic mayo. Simply mix mayonnaise with minced garlic and use in place of the mexican crema.
  • Swaps – If you can’t find queso cotija, any crumbly cheese such as feta cheese will work. I’ve even seen people use parmesan cheese too.
  • Senses – Mexican street corn is smoky, creamy, and tangy, with the scent of charred corn and zesty lime. Each bite bursts with sweet kernels, rich mayo, crumbly cotija, and a kick of chili spice.
overhead shot of elotes on a plate
close up of mexican street corn on a plate

Mexican Corn on the Cob

4.85 from 13 votes
Mexican Street Corn is one of the best, grilled corn recipes out there. Served as a side, it is a great way to spice up any BBQ!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 12

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the corn inside the husk for 45 minutes, rotating halfway through.
  • Allow the corn to cool so you can handle, then husk the corn. You can also wear gloves if you don't have time to allow them to cool fully.
  • Place the whole stick of butter into a long dish, roll each corn cob in butter and sprinkle with chile powder. Return to the grill to create a char, anywhere from 10-20 minutes.
  • Remove and spritz the corn with fresh lime. Place the crema Mexicana in long dish, roll each corn cob. Sprinkle with crumbled cheese, cilantro and additional chile powder.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 225 kcal, Carbohydrates: 22 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 14 g, Saturated Fat: 7 g, Cholesterol: 41 mg, Sodium: 313 mg, Potassium: 297 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 7 g, Vitamin A: 765 IU, Vitamin C: 15.8 mg, Calcium: 110 mg, Iron: 0.9 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Formicola
Calories: 225
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: elotes, mexican corn on the cob
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Storage and Freezing

How to store?

Fresh sweet corn is always best when eaten right away. But you can store your easy Mexican street corn in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to five days.

Can I freeze mexican street corn?

Freezing this corn is not recommended, but you can reheat in either the microwave or oven.

More Corn Recipes

Corn is such a versatile ingredient! From side dishes to soups, these are some of our favorite corn recipes.

    collage of mexican street corn for pinterest
    Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

    About the Author

    Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

    Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

    Read More About Jessica

    4.85 from 13 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Questions and Reviews

    1. I absolutely love to add fun stuff to my corn on the cob for the grill, but your recipe includes things we have never tried before. Adding to the list!

    2. Mmm, this mexican corn looks so delicious! I still have not tried mexican corn – I need to!