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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Easy Mexican Street Corn

    First Published: March 27, 2023 . Last Modified: April 5, 2025 lisa5 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    This easy Mexican street corn recipe is sweet cobs of corn topped with a creamy and cheesy sauce with delicious Mexican spices. It's easy to make Elote at home and it's the perfect side dish to serve with your favorite Mexican-inspired meal.

    Two ears of corn are slathered with crema, cheese and topped with cilantro.

    When corn is in season, we enjoy it with lots of dinners. Sweet corn slathered in butter is tasty but when I want to make something special, we go for this Easy Mexican Street Corn. Also known as Elote, this flavorful corn is savory, sweet, salty and a little spicy all in one.

    Mexican street corn is typically made with whole corn on the cob. Boiling the corn makes this easy to prepare any time of the year. You can also grill the corn making this an ideal summertime side dish.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations/Substitutions
    • Storage
    • Mexican Corn Recipe Cooking Tips
    • FAQ
    • Serving Suggestions
    • RECIPE

    Ingredients

    Ingredients needed for easy mexican street corn.
    • Fresh Corn – use 4 ears of corn with the husk and silk removed.
    • Mexican crema – Crema is similar to sour cream but is thicker, richer and less tangy. You can substitute sour cream if you can't find crema.
    • Mayonnaise – Use your favorite brand of mayo. Substituting miracle whip is not recommended.
    • Lime Juice – Use the juice of one fresh lime.
    • Cotija Cheese – Cotija is a salty, mild and crumbly Mexican cheese. You can also use feta cheese, queso fresco or parmesan cheese.
    • Tajin seasoning – Tajin is a chili lime seasoning. You can also use chili lime seasoning from Trader Joe's or simple chili powder.
    • Fresh Cilantro – Fresh chopped cilantro adds a bright flavor and pop of color. If you aren't a fan of cilantro you can garnish with chopped green onions or even red onion.

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Four ears of corn are boiled in a pot.
    1. Remove the husks and silks from the corn on the cob and boil for 5 minutes on medium-high heat or until tender.
    Ingredients for the crema sauce are mixed in a small bowl.

    2. Combine the crema, mayonnaise and lime juice in a small bowl.

    Brush the corn with the cream and top with cheese.

    3. Drain the corn and brush with the crema mixture and sprinkle with the cotija cheese and tajin seasoning.

    Elote is topped with chopped cilantro for garnish.

    4. Garnish the street corn with cilantro and serve.

    Hint: After boiling the corn, be sure to drain it well and let it set for a few minutes to cool slightly before topping with the crema mixture. You can also boil corn in milk to make it extra sweet and tender.

    Variations/Substitutions

    • More Seasoning - The tajin seasoning is a yummy, salty chili lime seasoning with just a hint of spice. If you can't find tajin you can use chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne for some heat. You can also add a bit of lime zest to really bring out the citrus flavor.
    • Use Sour Cream - Mexican crema is getting easier to find in most stores but you can always substitute sour cream in a pinch.
    • Skillet Mexican Street Corn - If you prefer skillet corn, heat 3 cups of frozen or drained canned corn kernels in a hot skillet with melted butter or olive oil until golden. Stir in the crema, and top with cheese and seasoning before serving. This can be served like a dip with tortilla chips. 
    • Make Mexican Corn Salad – A fun twist on this recipe is my tasty Cumin Rubbed Steak Kabobs with Easy Mexican Street Corn Salad recipe. It's one of my favorite summer combinations  and a family favorite to make at outdoor parties and barbecues during the summer months.
    A closeup photo of easy mexican street corn, also known as elote.

    Storage

    This corn can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. It can be difficult to reheat so I prefer to make only what we can eat in a single setting.

    Freezing the leftover elote corn is not recommended.

    Mexican Corn Recipe Cooking Tips

    • You can also make this elote with roasted or grilled corn.
    • It is really easy to double or triple this recipe.
    • Serve hot or at room temperature for the best flavor.

    FAQ

    What is Mexican Street Corn?

    Mexican street corn is also known as elote, Mexican food corn and Mexican corn on the cob. Cooked corn is smothered with a creamy sauce then sprinkled with cheese and seasonings.

    What is cotija cheese used for?

    Cotija cheese is a crumbly cheese that softens when heated but doesn't melt. It is a finishing cheese that if often sprinkled over tacos, nachos, enchilads and Mexican corn.

    Serving Suggestions

    Easy Mexican street corn is a perfect side dish to serve for taco night or with Mini Taco Bowls and all your favorite Mexican dishes. I especially like it next to some Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa. It's also yummy served with dishes like Air Fryer Panko Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Cajun Salmon, and Roasted Pork Tenderloin.

    Easy Mexican Street Corn Elote Pin

    If you like this Elote recipe, please leave a 5-star rating.

    RECIPE

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 4 votes

    Mexican Elote

    Easy Mexican Street Corn or Elote is a simple and flavorful summer side dish made with corn, crema, cotija and tajin seasoning.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 293kcal
    Cost: $6

    Ingredients

    • 4 ears corn, husk and silk removed
    • ⅓ cup Mexican crema
    • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
    • 1 lime juiced
    • ½ cup cotija cheese
    • 1 teaspoon Tajin seasoning (see notes for substitutes)
    • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

    Instructions

    • Bring a pot of water to a boil then add corn. Boil for 5 minutes or until tender.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the crema, mayonnaise and lime juice. Set aside.
    • When the corn is cooked, drain and let cool slightly. Brush the crema mixture over the corn. Sprinkle with the cheese, tajin seasoning and cilantro. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Substitutions:
    Tajin seasoning is a Chili Lime Mexican seasoning. You can also substitute another brand like Trade Joe's Elote seasoning or just use chili powder.
    Cotija cheese is a white crumbly mexican cheese. If you can't find it you can substitute another cheese like queso fresca, feta cheese or any aged hard cheese that you like. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 428mg | Potassium: 284mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 613IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tara

      January 30, 2024 at 11:12 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious and easy use for corn! The flavors sound absolutely amazing, especially with the Tajin seasoning.

      Reply
    2. Kathleen

      January 30, 2024 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      This is so easy to make and takes corn on the cob to the next level. I will never eat it the old way again.

      Reply
    3. Dannii

      January 30, 2024 at 11:32 am

      This was such a great way to use corn. The flavours were amazing.

      Reply
    4. Kelley

      January 30, 2024 at 11:39 am

      5 stars
      This Mexican street corn was amazing! We enjoyed this with some tacos and we kept coming back for the corn! So good!

      Reply
    5. TAYLER ROSS

      January 30, 2024 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      I made this street corn with our tacos last night and it was delicious! Can't wait to make it again!

      Reply

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