Delicious Loaded Mexican Street Corn Elote Recipe
A quick and easy recipe for authentic Mexican street corn loaded with a creamy, tangy sauce, smoky grilled corn, and crumbly cotija cheese. Perfect as a snack or side for gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ears fresh corn on the cob, husks removed
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
- Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (ancho chili powder recommended)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, around 400°F (200°C).
- Remove husks and silk from the corn completely. Brush each ear with melted unsalted butter evenly.
- Place ears directly on the grill grates. Turn every 2-3 minutes to get an even char all around, grilling for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown spots and smoky aroma develop.
- While the corn grills, whisk together mayonnaise, Mexican crema, lime juice, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Remove corn from grill and let cool slightly. Generously coat each ear with the creamy sauce using a spoon or brush.
- Sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese over the sauced corn, pressing lightly so it sticks. Add chopped fresh cilantro if desired.
- Serve immediately with extra lime wedges if desired.
Notes
Use fresh lime juice for best flavor. If sauce is too thick, add a teaspoon of water or more lime juice to loosen. For a vegan version, substitute mayonnaise and crema with vegan mayo and coconut yogurt, and use nutritional yeast instead of cotija cheese. Avoid microwaving corn to preserve smoky flavor. Assemble just before serving to keep cheese from drying out.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear of corn
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: Mexican street corn, elote, grilled corn, cotija cheese, creamy sauce, snack, easy recipe, BBQ side