Mexican street corn—also known as elote—is creamy, tangy, smoky, and bursting with flavor. This easy recipe shows you how to make authentic-style elote at home in just minutes.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Corn:
4 ears of corn (husk-on or husk-off)
1–2 tbsp butter (optional)
For the Creamy Sauce:
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
½ tsp garlic powder
Juice of ½ lime
Salt and pepper to taste
For Toppings:
¼ cup cotija cheese (or parmesan as a substitute)
1–2 tsp chili powder or Tajín
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Extra lime wedges
🔥 How to Make Elote Corn (Step-by-Step)
1. Grill or Boil the Corn
Choose your cooking method:
On the grill (best flavor):
Heat to medium-high and grill corn for 10–12 minutes, turning until charred evenly.
Boiling method:
Boil corn for 5–7 minutes until tender.
Brush with butter for extra richness.
2. Mix the Elote Sauce
In a bowl, combine:
mayo
sour cream
lime juice
garlic powder
salt & pepper
Stir until smooth and creamy.
3. Assemble the Elote
Once the corn is cooked:
Spread a generous layer of the sauce over each ear.
Sprinkle cotija cheese all around.
Dust with chili powder or Tajín.
Add cilantro and extra lime juice on top.
🌶 Extra Flavor Tips
Add smoked paprika for deeper smoky flavor.
Use crema mexicana instead of sour cream for authenticity.
Try hot honey or chipotle mayo for a spicy twist.
Roll the corn in cheese immediately so it sticks well.
🥣 Optional: Turn It Into Esquites (Elote in a Cup!)
Cut corn off the cob and mix with:
A spoonful of the creamy sauce
Cheese
Chili powder
Lime
Cilantro
Perfect for parties or kids!
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Takes less than 15 minutes
Packed with bold Mexican street-food flavor
Easy to customize
Affordable ingredients
A total crowd-pleaser