This elote recipe is the ultimate upgrade for corn on the cob! Smothered with mayo, chile, cheese, and lime, it's creamy, tangy, smoky, and sweet.
This elote recipe is my favorite way to eat corn on the cob. I grill fresh sweet corn, then brush it with mayo and sprinkle it with cheese, chili, and lime for an easy (and absolutely delicious!) snack or side dish.
Inspired by the Mexican street corn I’ve eaten at countless restaurants in Austin, it’s creamy, tangy, smoky, and sweet. Try it this summer—you won’t be able to get enough!
What Is Elote?
Also called Mexican street corn, elote is a Mexican preparation of corn on the cob. The ears of corn are grilled or boiled, then slathered with mayo or crema, and finally topped with lime, chile, and Mexican cheese such as Cotija.
Commonly sold by street vendors in Mexico, elote makes a great snack. I love it as a side dish too. I order it all the time when I’m out to eat in Austin, and it’s also one of my go-to sides for summer cookouts and BBQs.
For a fun variation, check out my Mexican street corn salad! It’s inspired by esquites, a similar Mexican dish where the corn is cut off the cob before being mixed with mayo, lime, and cheese. If you ask me, both are must-make recipes during sweet corn season!
Elote Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this elote recipe:
- Fresh sweet corn, of course! Use the freshest corn on the cob you can find.
- Mayonnaise – It creates a creamy coating for the corn and helps the other fixings stick. I love the flavor of 100% mayo on elote, but if you prefer, you can sub Mexican crema or sour cream for some or all of it.
- Fresh lime juice and zest – For brightness.
- Chili powder or ancho chile powder – It adds smoky flavor and a little heat.
- Cotija cheese – For salty flavor and tang. If you have trouble finding Cotija cheese at the grocery store, a little crumbled feta cheese, or even finely grated Parmesan cheese, will work instead.
- Fresh cilantro – For a fresh, aromatic finishing touch.
- And sea salt – To taste! Because mayo and Cotija cheese are both salty already, you may not need it. I recommend taking a bite of your elote before you sprinkle on more salt.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Grilling the Corn
The first step in this elote recipe is grilling the corn. I share two methods in my recipe for grilled corn on the cob—with the husks and without.
Either will work here. However, having some char on the corn kernels really enhances the smoky flavor. If you choose to grill the corn in the husks, you may want to pull them back for the last few minutes of cooking so that some char marks form on the kernels themselves.
How to Make Elote
Once you grill the corn, make a simple sauce by stirring together the mayo, lime juice, and lime zest.
Use a pastry brush or butter knife to slather the mayo mixture all over each ear of corn.
Sprinkle with the chili powder, Cotija, and cilantro, and season to taste with salt. Serve with lime wedges on the side. Enjoy!
No grill? No problem. Cook the corn on a grill pan or char it in a dry cast-iron skillet, turning it every few minutes so that it becomes charred on all sides.
You can also boil the corn instead of grilling it. It won’t taste quite as smoky, but it’ll still be great—extra-juicy and crisp. Just make sure to pat it dry before adding the mayo so that the toppings stick to the corn.
What to Serve with Elote
This grilled Mexican street corn is a delicious snack or side dish for all kinds of summer meals.
- Serve it with classic cookout fare like veggie burgers or black bean burgers.
- Pair it with anything BBQ, such as BBQ tofu or BBQ jackfruit sandwiches.
- Serve it with Mexican-inspired dishes like veggie tacos, vegan burritos, or enchiladas with cilantro lime rice and refried beans.
How do you like to serve elotes? Let me know in the comments!
More Favorite Corn Recipes
If you love this recipe, try one of these summer corn dishes next:
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Corn Dip
- Cowboy Caviar
- Corn Salsa
- Corn Chowder
- Or any of these 25 Fresh Corn Recipes!
Elote Recipe (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)
Ingredients
- 4 ears corn, husked*
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise**
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
- ½ teaspoon lime zest
- ½ teaspoon chili powder or ancho chile powder
- ⅓ cup Cotija cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- Sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and lime juice and zest.
- Spread the mayo mixture over the corn and sprinkle with the chili powder, Cotija, and cilantro. Season to taste with salt and serve with lime wedges for squeezing.
Can I prep these on a grill and then put them in a crockpot to stay warm?
This was SO GOOD!!! The mayo and lime combo paired beautifully with the corn and the chile powder! It was a HUGE hit and was gone immediately. I’m dairy free, so I made it without the cheese and it was still good. The batch I made with the cheese was reportedly delicious and is definitely going in the make again list. Thanks so much!!
I’m so glad it was a hit, Nora!
Delicious! I highly recommend this recipe!
I’m thinking Tajín would be a good substitute for lime and chile
Omg! This has become a family favourite this summer. When my adult children were coming for a Labour Day weekend bbq, they specifically asked for your elotte!
I had never tried elote before (our area is rural upstate new york and no food vendors offer it) and this was the only way to get it without traveling. YUM! Next time we will buy more corn so everyone have seconds!
Hi Crystal, I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
I made this tonight, along with my cooking partner (my teenage granddaughter), and it was delicious! There were lots of “mmmm’s” as the family took their first bites. I got requests to please make it again, it was so juicy and flavorful, sweet and tangy.
This Elote recipe is delicious. I used a six chili powder on two n the other two used ancho chili ?️ powder. Will be making this again
I did not have time to grill the corn, so I boiled it. I’m sure grilling would have added an extra layer of flavor to this Elote recipe that the boiling could not, but it was still a yummy recipe that my husband really enjoyed. Thank you!
Anna, I used frozen corn on cob., thawed and grilled in a skillet. After spreading the mayo mixture on corn I roasted in oven. 300*. I did not sprinkle topping. I mixed everything together in Mayo. In was good, finger linking good.
This recipe gave me the lovely opportunity to visit my local farmer who sells the best corn ever! The recipe was easy and delicious. We enjoyed the layer of roasted flavor the grilling added.
Delicious! Easy and tasty summer side; perfect for a BBQ! I grilled the corn without the husks for the smoky char! Used the Love and Lemons recipes for vegan mayo and vegan parm!! Definitely making every corn season!
Easy! Delicious. Impressive for entertaining.
Made a few changes, based on what was in the fridge.
I have had Elote numerous times from food trucks and at street fairs but never thought to make it myself. Wow, this was so good and incredibly simple. So happy to have this recipe and know that the homemade version is even better!
This grilled corn recipe is so yummy and easy to make. And used ingredients I already had at home which I think makes it even better. I stirred together the mayo mic and got all the seasonings plus cheese ready while the corn was grilling on the stove. Once it was cooked through, it was so quick and easy to finish it so we could enjoy it with our dinner. I will definitely make this again. And soon!
Super yummy (especially with grilled corn). I made mine vegan with vegan Mayo and noochy parm.
Hi Shira, I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
This was so simple and attractive to the kid’s eyes, actually everyone’s eyes : ), my husband enjoyed it like a child, i got 100% positive comments for this recipe , my family wouldn’t stop saying how delicious it was.
Thank you for sharing, i am a mom of 4 teenagers always looking for something new to impressed them and this definitely worked : )
I’m so glad everyone loved it!
It was our first time making elote at home and it was so delicious! I was surprised how such simple ingredients yielded so much flavor! We used home-grown corn and feta cheese instead of cotija. My husband and I licked the plate clean and definitely wished we made more. 🙂
Hi Inessa, I’m so glad you both loved it!
Great recipe! The whole family enjoyed it. Will definitely make it again soon.
Hi Ashley, so glad it was a hit!
I love the smoky flavor you get from cooking the corn on the grill. My husband loves elote, and this recipe does not disappoint!! Although I should have served it with something Mexican, I ended up serving it with salmon and roasted potatoes.
Hi Laurie, I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
This elote recipe is amazing! so delicious and my kids even loved! A perfect way to enjoy summer corn!
Hi Rachael, I’m so glad it was a hit!