Irresistible Antojitos-Style Elote Cups
These antojitos-style elote cups are a creamy, spicy, and cheesy Mexican street corn snack in a convenient cup form, perfect for parties and easy entertaining.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups fresh or frozen sweet corn kernels (about 4 ears if fresh)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
- 1/3 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- Tajín seasoning or extra chili powder for sprinkling
- Lime wedges for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- If using fresh corn, shuck and remove kernels from 4 ears of corn (about 4 cups). If using frozen, thaw and drain well.
- Heat 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and sauté for 5–7 minutes until slightly charred and tender, stirring occasionally.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh lime juice, chili powder, chipotle powder, salt, and pepper until creamy and well combined.
- Add the warm corn kernels to the sauce mixture and gently fold to coat all the kernels evenly.
- Fold in chopped fresh cilantro and sliced green onions.
- Spoon the corn mixture evenly into 6–8 small serving cups.
- Sprinkle crumbled cotija cheese on top of each serving.
- Dust each cup with Tajín seasoning or extra chili powder. Garnish with a lime wedge if desired.
- Serve immediately warm or chill covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours before serving. Stir gently and add extra cheese and seasoning if served cold.
Notes
For smoky flavor without a grill, char corn kernels in a hot skillet or roast in a 425°F oven for 15 minutes. Use fresh lime juice for best flavor. Adjust chipotle and chili powder to control spice level. For vegan version, substitute vegan mayo and sour cream and use nutritional yeast instead of cotija cheese. Avoid over-mixing after adding cheese to maintain crumbly texture. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup serving
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 5
Keywords: antojitos, elote cups, Mexican street corn, party snacks, easy snack, creamy corn, chipotle, cotija cheese