Best Mexican Street Corn: Easy & Authentic Homemade Elotes Recipe (2024)

by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

This Mexican street corn (also called Elotes) is exactly what you need on a fantastic and warm summer day! Roasted corn (or grilled) with a creamy garlic chipotle sauce and then topped with queso fresco and smoked paprika for a ton of tangy flavors! Serve it alongside your favorite Mexican dishes for an authentic and delicious meal!

Best Elotes Recipe

We started making our street corn a long time ago as there are so many Mexican vendors in downtown Portland, Oregon (which is our hometown). Lots of delicious food!

Our family absolutely loves having Mexican street corn whenever we enjoy a Mexican-themed dinner night. Typically, I start the sweet corn in the oven while finishing up the rest of the dinner for the evening.

Best Mexican Street Corn: Easy & Authentic Homemade Elotes Recipe (1)
Jump to:
  • Best Elotes Recipe
  • 🥘 Mexican Street Corn Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Mexican Street Corn
  • ❓ FAQ
  • 🌽 More Corn Recipes To Try
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

🥘 Mexican Street Corn Ingredients

This tasty corn can be enjoyed any time of the year. It only uses a few ingredients, which are easy to find at any typical grocery store!

  • Corn - 4 ears of sweet corn, still in the husk.
  • Mayonnaise - 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise.
  • Sour Cream - 2 tablespoons of sour cream.
  • Seasonings - ⅓ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, and ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika.
  • Queso Fresco - ½ cup of queso fresco broken into fine pieces.
  • Lime (optional) - 1 lime, cut into wedges.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Mexican Street Corn

Cook your corn using your favorite method, mix the sauce, and then coat the corn! It's super simple (which is why it can be made on the street!) You'll need a small bowl, your measuring utensils, and your grill or oven.

This recipe is for 4 servings (or 4 ears of corn); however, it is so tasty that I would plan on serving 2 ears of corn per person!

  1. Preheat. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Roast the corn. Once hot, roast 4 ears of sweet corn, with husks on, directly on the rack in the center of the oven for 30-35 minutes.
  3. Mix. While the corn is roasting, combine 2 tablespoons of both mayonnaise and sour cream, ⅓ teaspoon of garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon of chipotle chili powder in a small bowl. Set aside until the corn is finished roasting.
  4. Coat. When the corn has finished roasting, remove the husks, brush the garlic chipotle mayo sauce on the corn, and then sprinkle ½ cup of queso fresco crumbles over the corn.
  5. Serve. Top with ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika and serve with lime wedges (optional, we like to squeeze fresh lime over the street corn when served).

Serve your Mexican street corn alongside some ground beef taquitos or chicken fajitas for a tasty Mexican-inspired meal! Then finish it off with some sweet sopapilla cheesecake bars! Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

  • You can make elotes with any cooked corn on the cob! In fact, go ahead and check out my recipes for grilled corn and smoked corn!
  • For a lighter version of this recipe, you can substitute the mayonnaise for a mixture of both mayonnaise and sour cream or Mexican crema.
  • For a variation that is extra easy to serve, slice the corn off of the cob and combine it with the sauce in a cup (called esquites).

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Mexican street corn is best when enjoyed within 2 hours of being prepared. However, you can store the leftovers either on the cob or off the cob in the fridge for a day or two.

If the corn has already been coated in the sauce and spices, I would recommend serving the leftovers cold because the sauce won't heat well.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ FAQ

What Is The Difference Between Elotes And Esquites?

Elote is cooked corn on the cob that is coated in a mayonnaise-based sauce, cheese, and spices. Esquites, on the other hand, are essentially the same dish except that it is served in a cup instead of on the cob.

Can Elote Be Served Cold?

Typically, this Mexican street corn is meant to be served hot off the grill (or out of the oven). However, it is still just as tasty when it is at room temperature!

Can Mexican Street Corn Be Made In Advance?

You can go ahead and roast or grill the corn up to a day ahead of time. Mix the sauce and store them separately in the fridge. Once ready, reheat your corn on the grill or in the oven, coat it with the sauce, and then serve!

Best Mexican Street Corn: Easy & Authentic Homemade Elotes Recipe (2)

🌽 More Corn Recipes To Try

  • Corn Soup - A creamy and sweet comfort food that can be prepared all year long!
  • Creamed Corn Cornbread - Moist cornbread that is made with creamed corn, honey, and butter.
  • Southern Fried Corn - Butter, bacon, and onions are tossed with corn and then pan-fried.
  • Corn Fries - French fries are layered with corn, seasoning, and then Mexican crema!
  • Creamy Baked Corn - A baked corn dish that only requires 10 minutes of prep work.
  • Mexican Cornbread Casserole - Cornbread is filled with seasoned ground beef and then topped with cheddar cheese.

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Stay in touch with me through social media@Pinterest,Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📖 Recipe Card

Best Mexican Street Corn: Easy & Authentic Homemade Elotes Recipe (3)

Print Recipe Leave A Comment

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 10 reviews

Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)

This Mexican street corn (also called Elotes) is exactly what you need on a fantastic and warm summer day! Roasted corn (or grilled) with a creamy garlic chipotle sauce and then topped with queso fresco and smoked paprika for a ton of tangy flavors! Serve it alongside your favorite Mexican dishes for an authentic and delicious meal!

Author | Angela

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 189kcal

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cooking 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 ears sweet corn (in husk)
  • 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoon sour cream
  • teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup queso fresco (broken into fine pieces)
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder (we used chipotle lime chili powder)
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 lime (cut into wedges, optional)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and roast the sweet corn, with husks on, directly on the rack in the center of the oven for 30-35 minutes.

  • While the corn is roasting, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, and chipotle chili powder in a small bowl. Set aside until the corn is finished roasting.

  • When the corn has finished roasting, remove the husks, brush the garlic chipotle mayo sauce on the corn, and then sprinkle the queso fresco crumbles over the corn. Then top with smoked paprika and serve with lime wedges (optional, we like to squeeze fresh lime over the street corn when served).

Notes

  • You can make elotes with any cooked corn on the cob! In fact, go ahead and check out my recipes for grilled corn and smoked corn!
  • For a lighter version of this recipe, you can substitute the mayonnaise for a mixture of both mayonnaise and sour cream or Mexican crema.
  • For a variation that is extra easy to serve, slice the corn off of the cob and combine it with the sauce in a cup (called esquites).

Nutrition

Calories: 189kcal (9%) | Carbohydrates: 20g (7%) | Protein: 6g (12%) | Fat: 11g (17%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Cholesterol: 17mg (6%) | Sodium: 182mg (8%) | Potassium: 280mg (8%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 7g (8%) | Vitamin A: 464IU (9%) | Vitamin C: 11mg (13%) | Calcium: 98mg (10%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

elotes, mexican street corn

Course Side Dish, vegetable side dish

Cuisine Mexican

Best Mexican Street Corn: Easy & Authentic Homemade Elotes Recipe (4)

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

bakeitwithlove.com/about/

More Side Dishes

  • What To Serve With Pot Roast
  • Easy Cookout Food Ideas: Best Dishes To Bring To A Cookout
  • Best Add-Ins To Upgrade Macaroni And Cheese
  • What To Serve With Chicken Wings

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

Thanks for coming! Let me know what you think:

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Best Mexican Street Corn: Easy & Authentic Homemade Elotes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of mayonnaise is used for elotes? ›

Elote Recipe Ingredients

Mayonnaise – It creates a creamy coating for the corn and helps the other fixings stick. I love the flavor of 100% mayo on elote, but if you prefer, you can sub Mexican crema or sour cream for some or all of it. Fresh lime juice and zest – For brightness.

What's the red powder on 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.

What is the yellow stuff on an elote? ›

Elote (pronounced: eh-loh-teh) is a dish comprised of cooked sweet corn slathered in a spicy mixture of mayonnaise, crema, and chili powder, and then sprinkled with cheese.

What kind of cheese is used for elotes? ›

What Is Elote? Elote, or Mexican corn on the cob, is a popular street food in Mexico (that's why it's also known as Mexican street corn). Corn on the cob is charred on the grill, slathered with butter and mayonnaise, and finished with salty Cotija cheese.

What is elote seasoning? ›

A bold and versatile seasoning blend, our Elote Seasoning blend is filled with chili pepper, cumin, lime, parmesan cheese and garlic. Just as versatile as our Everything Bagel blend, this shaker is delicious on everything from elote street corn on the cob and scrambled eggs to popcorn and even BBQ pork ribs.

What is elote dressing made of? ›

A blend of garlic, cilantro, chile powder, mayo, and Cotija cheese in the sauce, plus a final squeeze of lime, makes the corn sweet, salty, savory, nutty, creamy, and tart all at once.

What hot sauce is used for elote? ›

The most authentic way is to boil some corn, slather on mayonnaise and lime juice, then cover in cotija cheese and chile powder. Hot sauce is optional and I usually see Valentina or Tapatio.

Do you use tajin for elotes? ›

It's easy to get the taste of authentic elote at home with a few simple ingredients! Grill or roast ears of corn on the cob, then slather them with mayonnaise and sour cream or Mexican crema. Top them to your heart's desire with cotija, Tajin, and cilantro.

Do you use chili powder or Tajin for elote? ›

Tajin seasoning: Tajin is a mild chili powder with a bright lime flavor that tastes great on Elote. Or, try regular chili powder, ancho chile powder, paprika, or even cayenne pepper (if you love the heat).

What is the best chili powder for Elotes? ›

Then you'll sprinkle with spices. We used Tajín chili powder. This seasoning has a chili lime flavor that you'll love.

Is elote good for you? ›

Corn is rich in fiber and carotenoids, which makes it healthy for the gut and eyes.

What is a substitute for Cotija cheese in Mexican street corn? ›

Best overall substitute: Feta cheese is the best like-for-like substitute for cotija cheese. You can use it exactly as you would use cotija (either as a filling or garnish). It has a very similar crumbly texture, salty and mild flavor, and can be found at most local grocery stores.

What can I use instead of Cotija cheese for elotes? ›

Feta cheese, Quesco fresco and Goat cheese crumbles are the top 3 cotija cheese substitute. Romano cheese is also a good replacement.

What animal is Cotija cheese? ›

Cotija is an aged Mexican cheese made from cow's milk and named after the town of Cotija, Michoacán.

What is Mexican mayo made of? ›

The key ingredients in Mexican mayo include egg yolks, oil, lime juice, mustard, and sometimes a hint of chili powder or other spices. These ingredients give Mexican mayo its unique flavor profile and distinguish it from traditional mayonnaise.

What kind of mayo do most restaurants use? ›

Instead, they tend to use heavy-duty mayonnaise. Not only does the extra heavy mayo give dishes like potato, pasta, and egg salads a richer flavor, it can also improve their consistency.

Is there a Mexican mayonnaise? ›

So this isn't exactly a mayonnaise but it is known in Mexico as “The Salsa de Mayonesa” because of its fat content. Before you leave let me just show you how good it looks and imagine it in your morning tofu scramble or on a chickpea omelette.

Can I use Kewpie mayo for elote? ›

Shichimi pepper and wasabi add a kick to this corn recipe, topped with flavorful Kewpie Mayo. Spread wasabi first, then mayonnaise over corn. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and Shichimi over mayonnaise.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Carlyn Walter

Last Updated:

Views: 6506

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carlyn Walter

Birthday: 1996-01-03

Address: Suite 452 40815 Denyse Extensions, Sengermouth, OR 42374

Phone: +8501809515404

Job: Manufacturing Technician

Hobby: Table tennis, Archery, Vacation, Metal detecting, Yo-yoing, Crocheting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.