Grilled Mexican Street Corn (Elote)

A staple of summer grilling and easy to make at home!

By
Megan Keno
Megan Keno
Megan Keno
Megan founded her website The Country Clever in 2010 and wrote her first cookbook "Cast Iron Gourmet" in 2017. 
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated October 25, 2023
Megan Keno

Whenever we go back to my husband’s hometown for any of the summer holidays—Flag Day, July 4th, or Labor Day—there's 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.

Mexican Corn or elote recipe with crema topping and cilantro

Simply Recipes / Megan Keno

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 spiked with some lime juice. 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 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

No Corn on the Cob? Try Esquites!

Esquites is a similar preparation to elote. The difference is the corn is cut from the cob and charred in a skillet. It's a great way to use up leftover corn on the cob!

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:

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

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, use regular sour cream spiked with some lime juice. You can also substitute crumbled feta for the cotija cheese.

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 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

Method

  1. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to 400°F.

    Once the grill is hot, clean the grates.

  2. 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 and cotija cheese have a little salt already, so add extra judiciously.) Set aside.

    Squeezing the lime for the crema topping for mexican street corn
    Megan Keno
    Whisk together the crema topping for Grilled Mexican Street Corn
    Megan Keno
  3. 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.

    Lay the corn right on the grill for making elotes
    Megan Keno
    Grilled corn for make an elote recipe
    Megan Keno
  4. 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.

    Did you like this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

    Spread the grilled corn with the Mexican crema topping
    Megan Keno
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
196 Calories
13g Fat
19g Carbs
5g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 196
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 218mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 9mg 45%
Calcium 77mg 6%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 217mg 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.