This corn on the cob Mexican style recipe will quickly become a summer sides favorite. This Mexican street corn elotes recipe is a sweet and spicy alternative to a traditional corn on cob recipe and other roasted or grilled corn recipes!
Best Corn On The Cob Mexican Style Recipe
This is elotes, or Mexican street corn recipe, one of my favorite ways to eat corn. You can make this corn recipe anytime of year (like we do!), but it’s especially good in the summer when sweet corn on the cob is at its peak!
How To Make Mexican Style Corn On Cob
- Roasted corn / grilled sweet corn on cob (fresh corn cobs)
- Sour cream or Mexican Crema
- Cotija cheese (Mexican cheese) or queso fresco
- Mayonnaise
- Garlic
- Fresh cilantro
- Ground chipotle pepper or smoked paprika
- Fresh lime juice
- Lime wedges
- Salt
- Pepper
Get the full corn on the cob Mexican recipe printable recipe card below. KEEP SCROLLING for how to cook corn on the cob Mexican style and the step-by-step instructions.
About Making Mexican Street Corn (Elotes Grilled Street Corn)
If you’ve never had a Mexican elote recipe, you may be wondering what’s all the buzz about this trending street corn recipe and what the heck is grilled street corn or elote recipe (Mexican street corn with fresh sweet corn)?
Is Mexican Street Corn actually Mexican?
Mexican street corn is really an authentic street corn recipe. Also known as elote corn, it is a popular snack that is commonly sold on the streets of Mexico. The origins are not clear, but this delicious recipe is often thought to have started in Mexico City and became a popular Mexican street food.
Why is street corn called street corn?
Street corn is called street corn because it is typically sold by street vendors or food carts on the streets of Mexico and other Latin American countries. The corn is served both grilled on the cob with special spices or eaten as corn off the cob and corn in a cup with a spoon as Mexican street corn salad. They are one of the most popular street foods served at outdoor markets, fairs, and festivals.
Cooking Corn On The Cob Mexican Style
Before adding any of the Mexican corn toppings, you need to cook the corn. You can roast Mexican corn several ways.
What are the different ways to prepare corn on the cob?
- Grilled Mexican corn on the cob (makes great charred kernels for this dish!)
- Air fried Mexican corn on cob
- Oven cooked Mexican corn
See the recipe directions on these corn roasting methods below, including how to make Mexican corn on cob in oven.
More corn on the cob recipes Mexican style (our own 5 star Mexican street corn off cob recipe / esquites recipe!):
ALSO TRY MEXICAN STREET CORN OFF THE COB (ESQUITES CORN IN A CUP)
(A Mexican street corn off the cob recipe is a little different than the Mexican corn on the cob recipe. Both are equally delicious!)
What does Mexican Street Corn taste like?
Mexican street corn, or elote, has a distinctive flavor that is both sweet and savory. The grilled or roasted corn is naturally sweet, and the coating mixture of mayonnaise, sour cream, and Cotija cheese (a salty cheese), which gives it a creamy, tangy flavor to balance the sweetness of the corn. The corn is also typically seasoned with chili powder or other spices, which add a little heat (but isn’t too hot). There’s also squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Can you make Mexican corn in the oven?
Yes, you can roast your corn in the oven for a recipe for corn on the cob Mexican style. First, make oven corn for 20-25 minutes and then follow the corn on the cob Mexican street food recipe sauce as listed. Don’t add the toppings while the corn is cooking in the oven.
Can you make Mexican corn on the cob recipe without mayo?
Mayonnaise is what helps give Mexican street corn sauce that thick consistency that helps you lather it onto the corn. However, if you want to make a healthy Mexican street corn or a lighter version, you can try using plain Greek yogurt (unflavored).
Let’s get to how to make corn on the cob Mexican style!
Best Mexican Corn Cob Recipe
How To Make Mexican Corn On Cob
The best way to make this recipe is to use a grilled corn on the cob recipe using sweet ears of corn. It gives the corn that nicely roasted taste with charred corn kernels that is great for this corn recipe. You can also roast corn in the oven for this recipe.
This is a traditional Mexican corn on the cob recipe with mayo and I have to tell you, the kind of mayonnaise you use matters! I swear by Hellmann’s mayonnaise for this Mexican corn and making the mayonnaise mixture sauce.
Recipe Tip: Stick a wooden skewer into each end of the ear of corn. It will make it easier to eat this messy recipe with the creamy sauce!
The best way to make this corn on the cob on the grilled Mexican style is with grilled corn on the cob or roasted corn in the oven.
RECIPE TIP: Sometimes I add chopped green onions to the sauce mixture and also sprinkle them on top as a corn topping. It gives it another nice crunch texture.
IMPORTANT: Go easy on adding extra salt until you taste the corn, especially if using salty Cotija cheese! Do some taste tests before adding salt.
Corn On The Cob Mexican Style
Ingredients
- 6 roasted / grilled medium sweet corn on cob husks and silks removed
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Mexican Crema
- 1/2 cup Hellmann's mayonnaise
- 1 glove garlic minced
- 1/4 chopped fresh cilantro plus extra for topping
- 1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper or smoked paprika plus extra for topping
- 1 small lime juiced (about 2 Tablespoons lime), plus extra lime wedges for serving
- 1/2 cup Cotija cheese crumbled
- Salt and pepper to taste*
Instructions
- Grill corn on cob, roast corn in oven, or air fry corn cobs.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the sour cream (or Crema), mayonnaise, garlic, cilantro, chipotle pepper (or smoked paprika), and lime juice.
- Using a pastry brush or grilling brush, generously brush mayo sour cream sauce onto warm ears of roasted corn.
- Sprinkle extra chipotle pepper (or smoked paprika) on top of sauce.
- Top with crumbled Cotija cheese.
- Garnish with extra chopped cilantro (optional).
- Serve while warm with lime wedges to squeeze on corn.
Notes
Nutrition
What goes with Mexican corn?
There are so many foods that pair well with Mexican street corn. The sweet, spicy flavors of the Mexico corn can complement a wide range of different flavors, making it a versatile side dish that can be served with almost anything. It’s definitely the perfect side dish for any Mexican-inspired meal, Cinco de Mayo party, summer dinners, or other Mexican recipes!
Pair your recipe for Mexican grilled corn on the cob with:
- Tacos
- Enchiladas
- Fajitas
- Burritos
- Grilled seafood
- Grilled steak
- Rice and beans
- Grilled chicken
- Taco salad
- Hamburgers
- Hot dogs
- Chicken nuggets
- Alone! (This is my personal favorite! I love this creamy rich street corn and Mexican style corn on the cob recipe as a meal on its own, especially in the summer when it’s hot and you don’t want to eat much. It’s the perfect snack!)
Here’s how to roast easy corn recipe to use with corn Mexican recipe: Air Fryer Corn On The Cob
(Yes! You can make Mexican style corn on the cob air fryer! It’s just another easy way for how do you make Mexican corn on cob!)
Let us know how your corn on the cob Mexican style recipe turns out!
LOOKING FOR FUN COOKING PRINTABLES FOR KIDS?
