• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Piper Cooks
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Mexican Inspired

    The Best Mexican Street Corn Recipe - Elote

    Published Jul 17, 2022 · by Jacqueline Piper · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links

    342 shares
    Jump to Recipe Rate this recipe

    Mexican Street Corn – Try this Mexico inspired grilled corn, made with lime juice, mayo, cilantro, chipotle chili powder and Queso Blanco (or Cotija). This is a great way to serve fresh summer corn and makes a delicious side dish for a BBQ or backyard party.

    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks

    What is Elote?

    Elote means corn cob in Spanish. Elote, or Mexican street corn is lime soaked grilled corn on the cob, topped with a mayo sauce that's packed to the brim with the flavors of more sour lime, the saltiness of Mexican cheese, the herbiness of cilantro and the spicy smokiness of chipotle powder. YES. And PLEASE.

    Use the table of contents below to jump to any section of this blog post. You can also use the jump to recipe link above to get right to the recipe card.

    Jump to:
    • What is Elote?
    • Ingredients
    • How do you make Mexican Street Corn?
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • More recipes with corn
    • Tips + FAQs
    • Recipe

    Street corn, or elote, is one of my favorite things to eat in Mexico every winter. We walk down to the square and get one of everything, from elote - Mexican street corn, to esquites - the corn in a bowl topped with anything from hot Cheetos to cheese to candy.

    And then there are the churros (like long cinnamon donuts dipped in dulce de leche), the marquesitas (special crepes stuffed with Nutella and Edam cheese) and paletas (ice cream pops). My favorite is the corn paletas.

    But Mexican street corn is something special. It's fresh sweet corn, soaked in lime juice, topped generously with mayonnaise, cheese and chili powder or Tajin.

    It's sweet, sour, tangy, cheesy, and spicy and in one beautiful, delicious cob of corn - a staple food in Mexican history.

    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks

    Ingredients

    About the ingredients for this recipe. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.

    • corn cobs: I shuck the corn before grilling it to get nice charring on the corn
    • lime juice: I use fresh lime juice and squeeze it generously on the corn cobs
    • mayonnaise: you can use vegan mayo or homemade mayo if you want
    • cheese: for the cheese, I used a crumbly white cheese, or Queso Blanco. You can use Cotija cheese or sub with Feta which is usually more available where I live.
    • chipotle chili powder or Tajin: I use a smoky chipotle chili powder and sometimes I use Tajin, a chili and lime seasoning
    • cilantro: This isn't typical of the street corn that I've seen and eaten in Mexico but I love cilantro with corn.
    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks

    How do you make Mexican Street Corn?

    You can cook the corn to your liking, but I recommend grilling the corn over medium flame on the grill for about 8-10 minutes – longer if you want some black bits. You can also boil it if you prefer or char it in a grill pan on the stovetop.

    You can also use whatever cheese you prefer. I use a Queso Blanco – that's what I can get. I'd love to get my hands on some Mexican Cotija but it's just not possible/easily available in my city. If you can't get either of those – try feta but maybe a bit less.

    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks

    Prep Tips

    • Peel the corn cobs
    • Slice limes

    Instructions

    Peel the husks off the corn and then squeeze lime all over them and let them sit while you preheat the BBQ to a medium heat.

    Make the sauce by combining the sauce ingredients and then season with salt and pepper.

    Grill the corn for about 8-10 minutes, or to your liking. I like lots of charring on mine.

    Remove the corn from the BBQ and let cool for a minute or two and then add the sauce on top. Garnish with extra sauce, cheese cilantro and chili powder if you like.

    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks

    Substitutions

    ✔ This recipe is vegetarian

    Don't have queso blanco or cotija? Try feta cheese.

    Don't want to use chipotle chile powder? Try Tajin, it's a chile lime seasoning.

    More recipes with corn

    • Mexican Street Corn Grilled Flatbread
    • Southwest Corn Salad

    Tips + FAQs

    What is elote?

    Elote is a Mexican street corn dish of lime soaked grilled corn, topped with a mayo, Mexican cheese, cilantro and chipotle powder.

    Recipe

    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks

    Mexican Street Corn – Elote

    Jacqueline Piper
    5 from 2 votes
    Try this Mexico inspired grilled corn, made with lime juice, mayo, cilantro, chipotle chili powder and queso blanco (cotija). This is a great, easy and delicious vegetable side dish for your next BBQ or backyard dinner party.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Servings 4

    Ingredients
      

    For the Corn:

    • 4 ears of corn
    • Lime juice from one or two limes (or about 1 tbsp)

    For the Sauce:

    • ¼ cup mayo
    • ½ tablespoon lime juice
    • ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder (or less for less spicy)
    • ¼ teaspoon Tajin Chile Lime Seasoning (instead of chipotle chile powder)
    • ¼ cup queso blanco (crumbled)
    • salt and pepper (to taste)
    • small handful of cilantro (chopped)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the toppings first while you preheat your grill to medium.
    • Squeeze lime juice all over the corn and let sit.
    • Mix together the mayo, lime juice, chipotle powder, queso blanco, and cilantro. Season to your preference. Set aside.
    • Grill the corn for about 8-10 minutes, or until it's done to your liking and has enough color for your tastes.
    • Let cool briefly.
    • Roll in the sauce or spread on with a fork. Top with extra cheese, cilantro and chipotle powder or Tajin if you prefer.

    Notes

    Don't have queso blanco or cotija? Try feta cheese.
    Don't want to use chipotle chile powder? Try Tajin, it's a chile lime seasoning.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 256kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 5gFat: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 5g

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used.

    Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.
    Keyword bbq, corn, elote, grilled, mexican, side dish, vegetable
    Have you tried a recipe? Tag @pipercooksblog or tag #pipercooksblog!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

    This post was originally posted on July 18, 2019. Updated July 17, 2022 to provide clearer recipe information and nutritional information

    Mexican Street Corn – Elote | PiperCooks

    SHARE THIS RECIPE

    • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
    • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
    • Share on Pinterest Share on Pinterest

    Rating, commenting, and sharing my recipes really helps. Thanks for taking the time! Mention @pipercooksblog on Instagram.

    Save this image to your Summer Recipes board on Pinterest.

    Mexican Street Corn – Elote | PiperCooks
    Mexican Street Corn – Elote | PiperCooks
    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks
    Mexican Street Corn - Elote | PiperCooks

    More Mexican Inspired

    • Mexican Street Corn Flatbread Pizza
    • Crispy Potato Tacos
    • Mexican Mule
    • Easy Homemade Guacamole
    342 shares

    Enter your Email address to Subscribe to my Newsletter

    Reader Interactions

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




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

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jacqueline Piper.

    Hi, I’m Jacqueline Piper and I’m all about the homemade because I love to make things. From 15 minute meals for your weeknight dinner to more effort for special dinners and desserts on the weekend, I’ll show you how to cook from scratch. We’ll do healthy and we’ll do delicious, everything from kale to chocolate with beautiful, fresh ingredients. Search my recipes for your cravings, because we can make it!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Cinnamon Bun Overnight Oats
    • Iced Coffee with Instant Coffee
    • Strawberry Lemonade Vodka Cocktail
    • Quinoa Ground Turkey Skillet - One Pan Dinner
    • Quick & Light Brioche Buns
    • Creamy Dill Chicken

    All photography and recipes on this site are Copyright © 2022 Jacqueline Piper + © PiperCooks except where stated and may not be used without permission.

    Featured on:

    Reader's Digest, Half Your Plate, NOOM, Parade.com, and Yogi Approved

    Footer

    as featured on

    ↑ back to top | Home  | About | Contact | Privacy Policy | Web Stories | How to Blog | Sign Up! for email updates | Copyright © 2023 Piper Cooks

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.