Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote) Recipe

Name: Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 6 to 8 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed; 1/2 cup Mexican crema, or sour cream; 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1/2 cup minced cilantro; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, to taste; 2 teaspoons lime zest, from one lime; 2 tablespoon lime juice, from one lime; 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled; Lime wedges, to serve

Whenever we go back to my husband’s hometown for any of the summer holidays—Flag Day, July 4th, or Labor Day—there is always a little taco cart sitting at the park with the rest of the food trucks.

This one cart always has a line stretching out in front and around the corner with people waiting to get their mitts on classic street tacos, burritos, and grilled Mexican street corn (elotes) slathered in sauce.

When we are far away from the lively celebrations of his hometown, my husband and I can relive the fun by grilling corn and making our own version of Mexican street corn in just a few minutes. The charred kernels and the tangy sauce really make this different from your everyday corn on the cob.

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Watch How to Make Mexican Street Corn

Swaps & Substitutions for Mexican Corn

Mexican crema: Look for crema alongside the sour cream or with the cheeses at your grocery store. If you aren’t able to find it, by all means, use regular sour cream. Crema is a little thinner than sour cream and has added salt, which makes it extra divine.
Cotija cheese: If cotija isn’t available, feel free to omit it, or just use grated Parmesan or crumbled feta cheese instead.

How to Eat Mexican Street Corn

There is absolutely no way to eat this messy corn on the cob delicately, but usually you’re not alone since half of the other people gathering for the event are equally covered in it as well. Small town events, and their street cart food, mean that summer is really here!

Grilled Mexican sweet corn, also knows as elotes — Simply Recipes / Megan Keno

What to Pair With Mexican Street Corn

Grilled Mexican corn makes any backyard barbecue into a party. Try pairing it with some of these dishes:

Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Servings 6 to 8 servings

If you aren’t able to find traditional Mexican crema in your local grocery store, by all means, use regular sour cream. You can also substitute grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled feta for the cotija.

6 to 8 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed
1/2 cup Mexican crema, or sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper, or to taste
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest, from 1 lime
2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime
1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
Lime wedges, to serve

Heat a gas or charcoal grill to 400°F:

Once the grill is hot, clean the grates.
Whisk together the sauce:

Meanwhile, whisk together the crema, mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic, chipotle pepper, lime zest, and lime juice. Taste and season the mixture with salt if needed. (Crema has a little salt already, so add extra judiciously.) Set aside.

Megan Keno

Megan Keno
Grill the corn:

Place the husked corn directly onto grill grates. Grill the corn for about 3 minutes, undisturbed, or until kernels begin to turn golden brown and look charred. Turn over and repeat. When all sides are browned, remove from the grill onto a plate.

Megan Keno

Megan Keno
Top the corn with sauce and cheese:

Using a brush or a spoon, coat each ear of corn with the crema mixture. Sprinkle with crumbled cojita cheese. Sprinkle with additional chipotle pepper, if desired. Serve immediately with extra lime wedges.

Megan Keno

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
242	Calories
18g	Fat
19g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories	242
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g	23%
Saturated Fat 6g	28%
Cholesterol 26mg	9%
Sodium 274mg	12%
Total Carbohydrate 19g	7%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 9mg	45%
Calcium 81mg	6%
Iron 0mg	3%
Potassium 224mg	5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.