Living in Southern California, we’re spoiled with easy access to amazing Mexican food. Elote is one of the best ways to enjoy corn. This seasoned corn on the cob is the perfect side dish at summer cookouts when corn on the cob is at its peak!
But don’t think this fantastic corn can only be made with corn on the cob, it doesn’t have to be, frozen white corn cooked in a cast iron skillet is just as AMAZING!
My Elote Recipe is a yummy side dish for any occasion! Whether you’re grilling and enjoying the warm weather or just want a side dish that’s fresh and full of Mexican flavor, my Mexican Grilled Corn is exactly what you need.
I love few things more than Elote. Living in California, I am lucky enough to have access to amazing Mexican food and an abundance of fresh, bright, crunchy corn on the cob.
While this Elote is the perfect side dish at summer cookouts when corn on the cob is at its peak, it can be made year round with frozen white corn cooked in a cast iron skillet. However (and whenever) you choose to enjoy it, you’ll find that my Grilled Mexican Street Corn Recipe is always a crowd pleaser.
This Mexican street corn is bursting with bright flavors, this corn is downright addictive. Now you can make it at home! No need for a passport and airline ticket to Mexico for this one…
I’ll tell you exactly how to make it at home a couple of different ways.
Boil, yes you can boil the corn. Then put it on the grill to roast it up.
I typically just put it on the grill in the husk, then pull the husk off after they are cooked to get some color on the corn.
If you want to make this indoors, just put your oven at 425° and place the husked corn on a baking sheet drizzled with a little olive oil for about 2o minutes, as soon as the cob is slightly softened it’s ready.
You can make it on the stove in a cast iron skillet, or boil it in a pot of water, then brown the corn on the cob for a few minutes in the skillet.
In the winter when corn on the cob is not really a great option, buy frozen white corn, it’s really sweet and you can cook it on a hot cast iron skillet or in the oven on a baking sheet at 425° until it’s cooked.
Then come the toppings!!!!
What makes his so addictive is the lovely, nutty char you get by grilling the corn first. If you tried this with only boiled corn, it just wouldn’t be the same, be sure to get some color on the corn it’s really delicious.
My friend and I took a day trip to apple country last year, and she was excited to see an elote vendor. She admitted she’d never eaten elote but was eager to try it.
The vendor handed us the beautifully cooked corn, slathered with butter and mayo, through the window and left us to season them up to our own taste.
We went to town, sprinkling on the salt and pepper, chili powder, Cotija cheese and cilantro and a bit of fresh squeezed lime.
We sat ourselves down on a nearby curb and ate… needless to say, my friend absolutely loved it as much as I do.
What’s not to love, this corn is just so flavorful!
Try this at your next barbecue. You can season them yourself and serve them on a platter, or just serve the cooked corn, spread with butter and let everyone sprinkle on their own seasonings and drizzle with mayo on top.
How Do I Grill Corn on the Cob?
To grill corn, just place on a grill that is on medium-high heat and has reached a temperature of about 400. If using charcoal, place corn over indirect heat until the last 5 minutes or so, to get a nice char on the corn. I prefer leaving the husk on until the last few minutes so that the corn can steam in the husk before removing it to let the corn get a little bit of color.
How Do I Bake Corn on the Cob in the Oven?
To bake corn on the cob in your oven, heat your oven to 425. Remove the husk and place corn on a baking sheet drizzled with a little olive oil. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, until corn is slightly softened and has some char marks on it.
How Do I Make Corn on the Cob on the Stove?
To make corn on the cob on your stovetop, simply boil in water until slightly softened. To give the corn a nice char and roasted flavor, place in a hot cast iron skillet for a few minutes, turning occasionally.
How Do I Make Elote in a Cup?
You can easily make this recipe into Elote in a Cup! Simply use frozen white corn and char it in a cast iron skillet. Pour into a cup, add a generous amount of toppings, and enjoy.
What Toppings Do I Need for Elote?
When making Grilled Mexican Street Corn, I use butter, mayonnaise, crumbled Cojita Cheese, chili powder, fresh lime juice, salt and pepper, and cilantro. Feel free to add whatever else you’d like! Some people love crushed Hot Cheetos on their Elote. Try it if you’re a fan of hot and spicy food.
If you love corn as much as I do, here are a few of my other favorite recipes using corn.
- 4 ears corn on the cob or 24 oz. frozen white corn
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ¼ cup crumbled Cotija cheese
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder (regular chili powder or hot Mexican Chili Powder)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 fresh lime
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- Grill or cook the corn on the cob on a baking sheet in a 425° oven until corn is cooked. When testing for doneness of corn the cob should be easily pierced that way the kernels will come off the cob easily.
- You can cook the corn in or out of the husks.
- Butter the cooked corn.
- Drizzle corn with mayonnaise.
- Sprinkle chili powder, salt, and pepper onto corn.
- Add crumbled Cotija Cheese.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice onto corn.
- Top with fresh cilantro.
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erin says
This look so yummy, I can’t wait to make it, I just saw corn on the cob in the store at 5 for a dollar and am glad I picked some up and now I know just how I will be making it.
Irene says
I cannot wait to try this at home, it’s my favorite when I see it out.