Elotes โ Easy Mexican Street Corn Recipe
Last Updated on: 17th March 2025, 05:51 pm
Easy Elotes Recipe
(Mexican-Style Street Food)
What are Elotes?
Elotes, or Mexican-style street corn, are a must-try if you love Mexican street food! Itโs grilled or steamed corn on the cob, slathered in butter, creamy chipotle aioli, crumbled cotija cheese, and fresh cilantro. Itโs smoky, tangy, a little spicy, and absolutely delicious.
With the 4th of July coming up, this is the perfect side dish for any cookout or summer gathering!
How I Fell in Love with Elotes
I had never even heard of elotes until I started working as a chef at Dos Caminos. Before that, I loved eating Mexican food but hadnโt made many traditional dishes myself. Fast forward a few years, and now I rave about this street corn and love cooking Mexican-inspired dishes!
How to Make Elotes - Simple Recipe
Ingredients Youโll Need:
- Fresh corn on the cob
- Butter
- Chipotle aioli (or sour cream for a milder version)
- Cotija cheese (or feta if you canโt find cotija)
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Grill the Corn
- Slather in Butter & Aioli
- Add Cheese & Cilantro
- Finish with Lime
View recipe and recipe video below for exact measurements and instructions.
Pro Tips & Modifications
๐ฅ Best Flavor Tip: Grilled corn gives the best taste. Try charring it over an open flame!
โณ Time Saver: Donโt want to make chipotle aioli? Buy a pre-made version at the store.
๐ถ Spice Level: Not a fan of heat? Swap chipotle aioli for sour cream for a milder flavor.
Elotes are the perfect balance of smoky, creamy, cheesy, and tangy flavors. Whether youโre making them for a backyard barbecue, Taco Tuesday, or just because, theyโre always a hit.
Bon Appรฉtit,
Chef Abyssinia
Elotes - Mexican Style Street Corn
Equipment
- Large pot
- cutting board
- Knife
- Small bowl x 2
- Food processor or Blender
- Strainer
- Mixing bowl - large
Ingredients
Chipotle Aioli
- 1 tbsp Chipotle peppers canned chipotle in adobo, blended or chopped
- 1/4 cup Mayo
- 1 pinch Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Lime juice fresh-squeezed
Elotes
- 1 bunch Cilantro save soome foor garnish
- 5 each Corn on the cobb
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 8 oz Cotija Cheese
- Smoked Paprika or Chilli powder for garnish
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
Chipotle Aioli
- Add your chipotle peppers into a small blender or bullet and blend until roughly chopped. You can also do this by hand using a cutting board and knife. Set aside.
- Add 1 tbsp of chipotle, mayo, salt pepper, and lime to juice to a bowl. Mix together. Taste as adjust seasoning accordingly. If you would like more spice, add more chipotle.
Corn Assembly
- Add peeled and cleaned corn to a pot of hot water and steam for 5-10 minutes or until cooked. This will not take long at all.
- Wash, dry, and rough chop cilantro. Set aside.
- Mix a hand full of cilantro with cotija cheese and set aside. Save soome cilantro for garnish.
- Once the corn is ready, strain and set aside to begin assembly.
- Rub each piece of corn with a generous amount of butter. Then too follow, rub each piece of corn with chipotle aioli.
- Then coat each piece of corn with the cotija cheese and cilantro mixture.
- Lastly, plate corn and garnish with smoked paprika or chilli powder, cilantro and lime wedges.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you have access to a grill use it! This recipe tastes SO much better when the corn is grilled.
- Rather than making your own chipotle aioli, an alternate option would be to purchase it.