• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Foodology Geek

  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • ☙ Iconic Recipes ❧
    • 🏝 California Food
    • 🍍 Hawaiian Food
    • 🌮 Mexican Recipes
    • 🏡 Family Recipes
  • Shop
  • 💌 Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • 🏠 BLOG
  • 🍍 ABOUT FG
  • 🗃 RECIPE INDEX
  • 📙 THE COOKBOOK
  • 🛒 SHOP
  • 📫 SUBSCRIBE
  • ➜ STORY EXPLORER
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Mexican Street Corn - Grilled & Addictive

    Published: Aug 31, 2022 · Modified: Oct 18, 2022 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments
    Mexican Street Corn

    Mexican street corn is the perfect side dish for summer grilling. This Mexican recipe is also known as an Elotes recipe. You'll love the combination of sweet grilled corn on the cob, creamy sauce, salty queso fresco, and hot sauce with just a squeeze of lime.

    grilled Mexican corn on the cob

    Give this Mexican corn recipe a try during the summer to take full advantage of fresh sweet corn during corn season. This easy side dish will be one of your new favorite dishes.

    In my high school days, I lived in San Diego. Summers always meant the beach. Sometimes we would drive down to Baja, Mexico, for the day, get tacos, and hang out on the beach. Long days of sun and salt water are a such fond memory. On one of these trips, I first experienced "border corn."

    The street vendors at the border crossing in Tijuana sell all sorts of things while you wait in line to cross the border back into California. There are a wide variety of goods available, from snacks and blankets to things like handcrafted necklaces. But, what I remember was the grilled Mexican ears of corn sold from little carts.

    The Mexican street corn would come wrapped in paper, slathered with a creamy, tangy sauce, and then sprinkled with cheese and hot sauce. The salty Cotija cheese would be slightly melty, and the hot sauce spicy and vinegary. It's a beautiful thing!

    I was feeling a little homesick for my So Cal roots this year and thought that this 4th of July would be the perfect time to get nostalgic with my old favorite – border corn.

    What You'll Need

    ingredients for making mexican street corn
    • Corn on the cob. Fresh corn on the cob. Husked or unhusked.
    • Mexican crema. You can find Mexican crema at most grocery stores. I always find it at Safeway if you are on the West Coast. If you can't find it, you can substitute sour cream. 
    • Mayonnaise. Best foods or Hellman’s mayo is perfect for this recipe. 
    • Fresh lime juice. You’ll need lime juice for the spread and more for squeezing on top of the corn. 
    • Cotija cheese. Cotija cheese is a hard crumbly cheese with a salty flavor. If you can't find Cotija, Parmesan cheese is a comparable substitute.
    • Cilantro. Fresh cilantro adds color and an herbaceous flavor to this grilled corn. 
    • New Mexico Chile Powder. Ground chili pepper adds a little bit of spice. Trader Joe’s also sells an Everything But The Elotes spice blend. (It’s great on popcorn!)
    • Hot sauce. I like to add hot sauce to my Mexican street corn. I usually use Tapatio brand. 

    Step-By-Step Instructions

    1. Grill or roast the corn on the cob. You'll want a subtle char on the corn, enhancing fresh corn's sweetness.
    2. Make the mayonnaise mixture. Using a pastry brush, slather each corn cob with the mayonnaise mixture.
    3. Sprinkle with crumbled cotija cheese, fresh minced cilantro, and a sprinkle of chile powder.
    4. Add a squeeze of lime juice and a little hot sauce, if desired.
    mexican street corn with dressing and cilantro

    HOW TO GRILL CORN ON THE COB

    Grilling corn on the grill is super easy. The goal is to give the corn a nice roasted outside. You will want it a deep rich brown to black color. Charring corn on the grill gives it such a great flavor. It brings out the sweetness in the corn.

    1. Heat the grill to medium-high.
    2. Place the corn on the grill, close the lid and cook for about 20 minutes. Turn the corn every 5 minutes so that you’re able to char it on all sides. 
    grilling corn on the cob directly on the grill

    GRILLING CORN ON THE THE COB WITH THE HUSKS ON

    Grilling corn with the husks on gives the corn a flavor that I can't describe. I like to serve corn like this if I'm cooking for a large crowd, and then I serve the toppings on the side. Everyone can peel and dress their cob of Mexican street corn.

    corn on the cob being grilled with the husks on

    How to Roast Corn On The Cob

    1. Preheat the oven to 400℉.
    2. Place the corn on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes. Turn the corn every 5 minutes to ensure you are getting charred kernels on all sides of the corn.

    RECIPE VARIATIONS

    This Elote Recipe can easily be turned into an Esquites Recipe (Mexican Corn Salad.)

    Mexican corn salad is made with corn cut off the cob. Usually, the corn kernels are browned in butter on a heavy cast iron skillet. The charred, buttered corn is served in a cup with the same Mayonnaise sauce and crumbled cheese.

    STORING TIPS

    HOW TO STORE MEXICAN STREET CORN

    If you have leftover Mexican street corn, the best way to store it is by cutting the corn off the cob. If you've already dressed the corn with sauce and cheese, you can just toss it all together. You end up with an instant Mexican Street Corn Salad.

    Store the corn salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. 

    You don’t need to reheat this. It tastes delicious cold. 

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    What is the difference between Mexican crema and sour cream?

    Crema is a Mexican version of creme fraiché. It has a slightly sour flavor and is thinner than American sour cream.

    What is a good substitute for Mexican Crema?

    Sour cream with a little lime juice added is a good substitute for Mexican Crema.

    What cheese is used for Mexican Street Corn?

    Cotija cheese is usually used in this recipe.

    What is a good replacement for cotija cheese in a recipe?

    Cotija cheese can also be difficult to find depending on where you live. There are a few kinds of cheese that you can use as a cotija cheese substitute. One choice is a pecorino or a parmesan Reggiano.

    How to make Mexican street corn on the cob?

    You can make a Mexican Street Corn Salad or a Mexican Street Corn Dip. Both are delicious and give you all the flavor of Mexican street corn with a lot less need for napkins.

    corn on the cob with mexican crema dressing, cotija cheese and hot sauce

    Other Summer Recipes That You’ll Love

    • Tacos: Carne Asada, Carnitas Tacos, and Fish Tacos are all perfect with Grilled Mexican Corn.
    • Shrimp Ceviche
    • Red Sangria OR my White Wine Sangria
    • Carne Asada Tacos
    • Ceviche Recipe with Shrimp or Seafood
    • Smoked Pulled Pork
    • Red Sangria Recipe

    What Goes With Mexican Street Corn

    Check out my full collection of Mexican Recipes and find a few more favorites for Cinco de Mayo or your next backyard barbecue.

    • Carne Asada Tacos
    • Spicy Carrots and Jalapeños
    • Chipotle Chicken Meal-Prep
    • Easy Guacamole Recipe

    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

    mexican street corn recipe
    Favorite Saved!

    Mexican Street Corn

    Laura Reigel
    Mexican street corn is the perfect side dish for summer grilling. This Mexican recipe is also known as an Elotes recipe. You'll love the combination of sweet grilled corn on the cob, creamy sauce, salty queso fresco, and hot sauce with just a squeeze of lime.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Resting Time 5 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 6
    Calories 64 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 ears fresh corn on the cob

    Toppings

    • 2 tablespoon Mexican crema or sour cream
    • 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise
    • Lime juice
    • 2 tablespoon Cotija cheese or parmesan
    • 2 tablespoon Fresh cilantro
    • New Mexico chile powder
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon Pepper
    • 2 Limes cut into wedges, for squeezing
    • 1 teaspoon Hot sauce Tapatio or Cholula
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the grill to medium-high. 
    • Place the corn on the grill. Close the grill. Grill the corn for about 20 minutes.
      6 ears fresh corn on the cob
    • Rotate the corn every 5 minutes to ensure even charring.
    • Mix the crema and mayonnaise together. Season with a little salt and pepper
      2 tablespoon Mexican crema, 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise
    • Slather corn with the crema mixture.
    • Sprinkle the grilled corn with cotija cheese, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
      Lime juice, 2 tablespoon Cotija cheese, 2 tablespoon Fresh cilantro, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon Pepper
    • Optional: Add a sprinkle of red chili powder and/or hot sauce.
      New Mexico chile powder, 1 teaspoon Hot sauce
    • Add a squeeze of lime. 
      2 Limes

    Laura's Tips + Notes

    Easy Substitutions: 
    • Crema. Use sour cream, add a squeeze of lime to thin it out, and a little bit of salt. 
    • Cotija Cheese. Pecorino or Parmesan Reggiano would be suitable stand-ins. 

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 64kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 522mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 43mgIron: 0.2mg
    Keyword appetizer, corn, grilling, summer
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

    More Side Dishes

    • Potluck Recipes
    • Hawaiian Coleslaw - Sweet & Savory
    • How To Cut Butternut Squash
    • Street Corn Fritters With Spicy Sauce
    342 shares

    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy Engberson

      July 10, 2020 at 8:37 pm

      5 stars
      We are so boring when it comes to eating corn; always with butter, salt, and pepper. I'm loving switching things up with this recipe!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Review this recipe!




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

    Primary Sidebar

    laura reigel from foodology geek profile shot

    Hi, I'm Laura! Welcome to Foodology Geek restaurant-inspired recipes & culinary science.

    You'll recipes inspired by restaurants that I visit when I travel. I recreate them in my kitchen so that you can make them in yours.

    The best things in life can be found around the table with family and friends. Make them delicious!

    Find out more about me →

    🦃 It's Almost Turkey Day

    Check out our collection of Thanksgiving Recipes.

    • Classic Pumpkin Pie
    • Smoked Turkey Legs
    • How To Make The BEST Smoked Turkey Breast
    • Homemade Poultry Seasoning Recipe

    All Things Pumpkin

    • Pumpkin Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting
    • Vegan Pumpkin Pie Tart
    • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Classic Pumpkin Pie
    • DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice Recipe
    • Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Caramel Sauce

    🥂 Trending...

    • Pot Roast Recipe
    • How to Make Homemade Roasted Nuts
    • Pork Fried Rice
    • Smoked Kalua Pork - Authentic Hawaiian Flavor
    • How To Make Crostini
    • How To Make Italian Grissini Breadsticks

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • TikTok

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Our Cookbook

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Accessibility Policy

    Contact us at: hello@foodologygeek.com

    Copyright © 2022 Foodology Geek

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    342 shares
    342 shares