Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

By Candace Braun Davison and Justin SullivanUpdated: Feb 17, 2023

4.3

12 Ratings

preview for Elote Is A Street Food Staple For A Reason

Grilled corn is a classic at our summer dinners and BBQs, but when we want to make this classic side dish into the star of the show, we turn to elote. Elote (aka Mexican street corn) is an unbelievably popular antojito (little craving or street food) that you can find all over Mexico and the US. In this craveable dish, grilled corn is covered in a creamy mayo and sour cream mixture before being topped with chili powder, cotija cheese, and plenty of lime juice. Only requiring a handful of ingredients, elote is surprisingly easy to make at home (with or without a grill). Follow our top tips to learn exactly how to recreate this flavor-packed side in less than 30 minutes:

Grilling the corn.
Grilling our corn is what gives that smoky, charred taste we can’t get enough in this dish. Commonly served on a stick, you can also skip the skewer and make it right on the grill if you prefer! No grill? No sweat! You can make elote in your air fryer no problem! No matter your preferred method, we’ve included instructions down below for equally delicious Mexican street corn.

Notes on elote ingredients:
— The mayo. If you’re a mayo hater, don’t write this recipe off just yet. Absorbing the flavor of the chili powder, cotija cheese, and lime juice, the mayo becomes more like a creamy sauce.
— Cotija cheese. If you're having trouble finding cotija cheese, you can replace it with a salty crumby cheese like feta or ricotta salata. But we really recommend getting your hands on cotija for its perfect blend of texture and taste.
— Chili powder. We used chili powder in our recipe, but your options don’t stop there—feel free to swap it out for ancho chili powder or tajín.

Want a bit more heat?
Add some cayenne pepper!Serving ideas. This side is perfect for any cookout staple—try it with barbecue chicken or grilled steak. For the ultimate party centerpiece , you could set up all of the toppings (adding a few wildcards, like scallions, crumbled bacon and sriracha) and create a build your own elote bar. 😱

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Yields:: 4 serving(s)
Prep Time:: 5 mins
Total Time:: 25 mins

Ingredients

6
ears corn, shucked and cleaned
1/4 c.
mayonnaise
1/4 c.
Mexican crema or sour cream
Chili powder
1/3 c.
Grated cotija cheese
Freshly chopped cilantro
Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

For The Grill:
1. Step 1Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high. Grill corn, turning often, until slightly charred all over, about 10 minutes.
2. Step 2Brush corn with a layer of mayonnaise and sprinkle with chili powder, cotija, and cilantro. Serve warm with lime wedges.
For The Air Fryer:
1. Step 1Cut corn to fit in air-fryer basket. (You may need to cut cobs in half.)
2. Step 2Brush corn all over with olive oil. Working in batches, add corn to air fryer and cook at 400° for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until tender.
3. Step 3Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise onto each cob, then sprinkle with chili powder, Cotija, and cilantro.
4. Step 4Serve warm or at room temperature with lime wedges.

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PARKER FEIERBACH

Candace Braun Davison

Deputy Editor

Candace Braun Davison writes, edits, and produces lifestyle content that ranges from celebrity features to roll-up-your-sleeves DIYs, all while relentlessly pursuing the noblest of causes: the quest for the world's best chocolate chip cookie.

Justin Sullivan

Assistant Food Editor

Justin Sullivan is the Assistant Food Editor for Delish, where he helps test, develop, and (of course) taste recipes like one-pot meals, easy desserts, and everything in between. He has worked in professional kitchens across New York, but his favorite role will always be as matzoh ball sous chef to his grandma. He loves diners and being from New Jersey, and when he’s not prepping and testing hundreds of Delish recipes, Justin travels the globe as the world’s foremost chicken finger critic.