Amazing Mexican Street Corn Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

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This Mexican Street Corn Recipe is a delicious, easy to make a side dish that is perfect to make in the warmer months of the year. It’s the perfect creamy, crunchy, and cheesy addition to just about any meal.

So thrilled to be sharing this Mexican Street Corn with you today! If you’ve never had Mexican Street Corn before, you are in for a treat! I was suuuuper hesitant to even attempt to make this because I don’t typically like mayonnaise, however, with one bite, you’ll die of cheesy, buttery, spicy, delicious bliss. It’s so so delicious and surprisingly simple to make.

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Mexican Street Corn

I think we’ve all been to those street fairs or farmer’s markets where they are serving Mexican Street Corn and it looks irresistible. In the past 10 years, this appetizer/snack has grown with immense popularity, popping up just about everywhere including fancier NYC eateries! While this is a relatively basic recipe, it’s a classic that never gets old. We love it!

Ingredients needed for Mexican Street Corn

This ingredients list is a pretty small one, consisting of relatively simple and common items. The only thing you might need to seek out is the Cotija cheese which, these days, is getting easier and easier to find.

  • Fresh Corn – with the summer months coming right up, the sweet corn on the cob is going to be found in abundance. Do your best to find fresh and sweet corn. It really makes a big difference.
  • Mayonnaise and Butter – the combination of these two ingredients seems like an unlikely pairing because its fat on fat, but man oh man is it good. Please use real Mayonnaise…not to be confused with Miracle Whip. I prefer Hellman’s/Best Foods brand. (They are the same thing.)
  • Cotija Cheese –This Mexican cheese is SO good. It’s becoming more and more prevalent in local grocery stores so you should be able to find it pretty easily. You can get it already crumbled or in a block that you would crumble yourself.
  • Chili Powder and Lime –These are finishing ingredients. If you like spice, opt for spicier chili powder. And of course, the lime is optional.

I would also recommend getting some wooden skewers or corn holders for serving. It makes handling and eating much easier and a little less messy.

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How to Make Mexican Street Corn

Mexican Street Corn takes only a few more minutes beyond corn on the cob to make. It’s truly amazing how much flavor this recipe has with very minimal work. Here’s how to make it:

  1. Start by boiling and lightly grilling your corn. The grilling part is an optional step, but it adds a nice little smokey flavor.
  2. While your corn is cooking, stir equal parts of butter and mayonnaise together until smooth. I prefer to use salted butter, but unsalted is fine!
  3. So! Once your corn is done on the grill, brush generously with the butter and mayo mixture and sprinkle generously with Cotija cheese.
  4. The last thing to do is sprinkle with a little chili powder and voila! You’re done. Squeeze on some lime juice and dig in! Crunch on! Bite through! Whatever works for ya.

It really is one of my favorite things to make on the grill in the warmer months along with burgers, shrimp, chicken, really anything you got.

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Can I make this ahead?

While you definitely can make these ahead, I wouldn’t recommend it. This recipe tastes best fresh and warm. If you’re wanting to prep in advance, I would shuck the corn and stir the butter and mayonnaise together so it’s ready to go. You can also slice the limes and crumble the cheese so you literally just have to cook the corn and assemble. Prepping definitely can save time.

Do I have to grill the corn?

Like I mentioned above, no you don’t have to grill the corn. Simply boil for 15 minutes in salted water, cool slightly, and then finish with the butter, mayonnaise, cheese, and chili powder.

What to serve with Mexican Street Corn

Yes, this is a side dish but tastes delicious with just about any main dish! Here are a few ideas.

  • Mojito Lime Fish Tacos
  • Baja Fish Tacos
  • Chicken Tacos (chicken taco meat recipe)
  • Easy Chicken Fajitas
  • Taco Sloppy Joes
  • Simple Chili
  • Uruguayan Asado

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Do I have to use Cotija Cheese?

I would recommend using it if you can find it. There isn’t any cheese *quite* like cotija. It’s almost like a mozzarella mixed with feta. With that being said, if you can’t find it for whatever reason, feta is a decent substitute for Mexican street corn. Not the same, but similar. It would do the job in a pinch.

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Love Mexican Street Corn? Try these other recipes:

Mexican Street Corn is a grilledvegetableside dish that fits into any Mexican cuisine! Be sure to check out these other recipes that fall into those same categories.

  • Grilled Corn Salsa Recipe
  • Grilled Guacamole
  • Grilled Vegetarian Burritos

So there you have it. The tastiest Mexican Street Corn in all the land. Save, print, bookmark, pin, and share this recipe because its a tasty one!

Have a great day, friends!

5 from 11 votes

Mexican Street Corn Recipe

This Mexican Street Corn Recipe is a delicious treat of Mexican Cuisine that you need in your life, like now. Trust me, it may sound a little strange but it is SO good.

servings 6 servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place corn into a large pot of salted water and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer for 15 minutes, then transfer to grill 1-2 minutes to char. Remove from heat.

  • In a small bowl, stir butter and mayonnaise together until smooth. Brush generously onto corn, sprinkle with cheese and chili powder and serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition

Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 247mg | Potassium: 250mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 6.1mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: How to Make Mexican Street Corn, Mexican Street Corn, Mexican Street Corn Recipe

Amazing Mexican Street Corn Recipe - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

Amazing Mexican Street Corn Recipe - Lauren's Latest? ›

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.

Why is Mexican street corn so good? ›

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 is the name of a Mexican street food consisting of corn on a stick? ›

Elote is a traditional street food served in MEixoc made with fresh corn on the cob, creamy sauce and sprinkled with cheese and chili powder. It's often sold on a stick and enjoyed on the go.

What is the name of the Mexican corn guy? ›

One of the vendors is called the Corn Man; for those who don't know, he's called Corn Man because he sells corn. Most people in the community know them by “el elotero,” which means corn man.

Why put mayo on corn on the cob? ›

The power of mayo to hold crumbled ingredients also means you can bring extra texture to corn on the cob. An internet favorite is to make a powder out of Flamin' Hot Cheetos for street corn, but you can get both flavor and crunch by rolling your mayo-slathered corn in crumbled tortilla or potato chips.

What kind of mayo is used for elote? ›

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 is a substitute for Cotija cheese? ›

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

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.

Is tajin the same as elote seasoning? ›

Elote can be prepared using a pre-made spice mix called Tajín seasoning, which includes ground red chiles, sea salt, and dehydrated lime juice. This recipe calls for chili powder, but by all means, if you have Tajín, use it. Just cut back on the salt, as it's already in the blend.

What is Mexican moldy corn called? ›

Pronounced whee-tla-KO-cheh, huitlacoche is also known as corn mushroom, corn smut or Mexican truffle. It is a fungus, which randomly grows on organic corn (not sprayed with any fungicide). It is rare, as it develops on the corn ears as they ripen after the rainy season or an errant rainstorm.

What is the Mexican myth of corn? ›

A Quetzalcoatl Tale of Corn tells how Quetzalcoatl followed a trail of ants to the Mountain of Sustenance and stole maize from the gods to feed his people, while A Quetzalcoatl Tale of Chocolate tells the story of Two Wind Deer, the boy who brought chocolate to the people of the earth.

Who invented Mexican corn? ›

The origin of Elote can be traced back to the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica, such as the Aztecs and Mayans, who cultivated and revered corn as a staple crop. They would cook corn in various ways, and one popular method was grilling the cobs over an open fire.

Why do people add milk when cooking corn on the cob? ›

Corn on the cob simmered in milk brings out corn's natural sweetness. Slather with butter and sprinkle with pepper for summer's perfect side dish.

What do you do with Cotija cheese? ›

While Cotija will soften with heat, it doesn't melt, making it most suited for crumbling and sprinkling. Of course, it's most frequently in Mexican cooking—you might see it as a finishing flourish on enchiladas, nachos, tacos, chilaquiles, or posole.

What is the name of the Mexican version of corn on the cob that comes with a sauce and spices and is increasingly popular at ballparks and street fairs? ›

Mexican Corn on the Cob, or Elote, is a grilled corn dish that is served at roadside stands and street fairs in Oaxaca, Mexico. This loaded corn on the cob is made by seasoning grilled corn with mayonnaise, cheese, chili powder and a squeeze of lime.

What does Mexican street corn taste like? ›

Elote tastes sweet and savory, tangy and spicy all at once. I love to make mine with grilled corn for some smokiness, too. Elote is made with corn on the cob, slathered with mayonnaise, seasoned with chili powder and fresh lime juice, sprinkled all over with salty Cotija cheese and cilantro.

Why does corn taste different in Mexico? ›

The taste is different. Corn was domesticated right here in Mexico. For thousands of years, farmers here carefully mixed varieties of maize in small plots of land. But globalization made American yellow corn more common because it's so cheap.

What are some fun facts about Mexican street corn? ›

History of Elote

Corn dates back to 6600 B.C.E., when the crop was first grown in Honduras. During the 15th century, corn spread across North America. Once a simple street food, elote is now making its way onto fine dining menus across the continent.

Why do Mexicans use corn so much? ›

While the origin of corn is still questioned amongst researchers, archaeological evidence suggests that the domestication of corn originated in what is now the south-central region of Mexico. Corn has historically been highly respected and valued as an important crop for the people of this region.

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