Learn how to make Mexican corn on the cob with this simple grilled corn side dish recipe! Elote corn is a tasty grilled Mexican street corn recipe made in 20 minutes.

Four pieces of elote corn sitting on a blue plate.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Recipe Name: Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote)
Serves: 4 servings
Main Ingredients: ears of corn, sour cream, mayonnaise, salted butter, chili powder, ground cayenne pepper, cotija cheese, cilantro
Why You'll Love It: Learn how to make Mexican corn on the cob with this simple grilled corn side dish recipe! Elote corn is a tasty grilled Mexican street corn recipe perfect for anytime.

We love grilling everything from appetizers to desserts. One of our favorite grilled side dishes is Mexican corn on the cob. We order Mexican street corn every single time we see it on the menu. Rather than waiting to order it out at a restaurant, we create our own recipe at home. This Mexican corn on the cob recipe is too good to resist. It’s easy to make in less and tastes delicious.

Elote Corn (Mexican corn) Ingredients

Corn
Mexican crema or sour cream
Mayonnaise
Butter
Chili powder
Cayenne pepper
Cotija cheese or queso fresco
Cilantro
Lime wedges

How to Make Mexican Corn on the Cob

To make Mexican corn on the cob, preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Brush the grill grates with oil and then grill corn, turning occasionally until cooked and lightly charred, about 10 to 12 minutes.

While the corn is cooking, mix together the sour cream and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Melt the butter in a separate bowl. Then, combine the chili powder and cayenne pepper in another small bowl. Set all three bowls aside.

Remove the corn from the grill and brush with the melted butter. Spread the sour cream mixture over the top of each corn. Sprinkle with the cheese and chili mixture. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and then serve with lime wedges on the side.

Cooking without a grill: Instead of grilling, you can roast the corn in the oven. Bake the corn in the oven for 35 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare the mayo sauce mixture. Once the corn is done baking, spread the mayo mixture over the husks, sprinkle with chili and cheese and enjoy.

Spread butter and mixture onto Mexican corn on the cob.

What is Elote and how is it served?

Elote is Mexican street corn or corn on the cob grilled and topped with salt, chili powder, butter, cotija cheese, lime juice, mayonnaise and sour cream. Serve it with other grilled dishes or summer meals. It’s a great addition to a summer barbecue or even as a side for tacos.

You can easily adapt the recipe to fit your taste. If you like it spicy, add an additional dash of cayenne pepper. If you like it cheesier, add more cheese. Adapt this easy grilled corn on the cob recipe to fit everyone’s taste!

What is Cotija cheese used for?

Cotija cheese enhances the flavor of dishes. It’s a salty, firm and flavorful cheese that doesn’t melt. Use it as a topping for salads, soups, tacos, chili and side dishes like this Mexican street corn.

Four pieces of Mexican elote corn on the cob sitting on a plate.

Where to Buy the Ingredients

Cotija cheese is available in the cheese section of most grocery stores. Use queso fresco if you can’t find cotija cheese. If you can’t find either the cotija cheese or the queso fresco, use feta cheese to add flavor.

Four pieces of Mexican street corn sitting on a blue plate.

Have you made Mexican corn on the cob at home? It’s always tasty and easy. It’s the perfect side dish to a summer barbecue. Try this elote recipe and let us know what you think!

What to Eat with Elote Corn

Ddi you make this Mexican Corn on the Cob recipe? Leave a recipe rating and review below.

Katie G.