Mexican Grilled Corn

by Anna | Jun 21, 2018 | All, Side Dishes

Put a new twist on one of summer’s favorite foods with this lip-smacking Mexican Grilled Corn!

We almost always grill our corn in the summer. Heating up the house with a giant pot of boiling water holds no appeal to me when it’s already hot and humid.

Besides that, I adore the taste of grilled corn. That little bit of char is exactly what I love. This recipe is our family’s version of Mexican Grilled Corn, or Elote, a street food common in Mexico.

What is Mexican Grilled Corn?

If you’ve ever traveled to Mexico, you might hear this grilled corn referred to as Elote. The basic recipe is grilled corn on the cob that is gently coated with mayonnaise, sprinkled with cotija cheese and a bit of cayenne pepper to taste. Right before you serve it, you squeeze fresh lime juice all over the ears. Delicious!

Tip: Don’t forget the corn holders! We love the ones that stick together so you don’t have to worry about losing the mate in the utensil drawer

How to Grill Corn on the Cob

There are many different ways to grill corn. You can soak the ears in water. You can leave the husks on or off. You can keep the corn silks or remove them. You can even wrap the individual ears in foil.

We like to keep it pretty simple by removing all of the husks and silks from the corn. Then we generously slather some oil on all sides of the corn and season them with salt and pepper and grill them until they have some beautiful char on the kernels.

Simple but oh so yummy!

This Mexican Grilled Corn recipe is great for groups because you can grill a whole batch of corn and then set up an assembly line to help guests garnish their corn with mayo, cheese, cayenne pepper and lime juice.

Just make sure you pass out plenty of extra napkins because Mexican Grilled Corn isn’t pretty to eat (as in you’ll end up with a mayo- and cheese-smeared face).

But isn’t food so much more satisfying when it’s messy AND delicious??

Looking for more grilled corn recipes? We’ve got ‘em here:

Tomato, Mozzarella and Grilled Corn Salad – Garnish with Lemon

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Roasted Red Pepper Butter – A Family Feast

Broiled or Grilled Chili Lime Corn on the Cob – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Corn and Bacon Guacamole – Garnish with Lemon

Yield: 4 servings

Mexican Grilled Corn

A lip-smacking alternative to traditional corn on the cob.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

4 ears corn, silks and husks removed
Grapeseed or olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated cotija cheese
Cayenne pepper to taste
4 lime wedges

Instructions

Rub corn with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on preheated grill and cook for 12-15 minutes or to desired degree of doneness, turning occasionally.
Set up an assembly station and spread corn with mayonnaise, sprinkle with cotija cheese and cayenne pepper.
Serve with lime wedges and squeeze lime juice over corn just before eating.

Notes

Cotija cheese is a hard, crumbly Mexican cheese often found in the deli section near feta cheese. Queso fresco is a great substitute. Grated Parmesan cheese can also be used in a pinch.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 ear
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 293Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 564mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 5g

About Anna

Hi, I’m Anna, a former corporate communications nerd turned food fanatic. Turns out I like cooking for others A LOT more than explaining HR policies to them. C’mon over!

17 Comments

Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough on June 15, 2013 at 7:31 am
Mmmmm, I LOVE Mexican grilled corn! Seriously, my summer dinners are made of these (along with hot dogs and margaritas… that’s basically my entire summer diet right there :)).
Reply
- Anna on June 15, 2013 at 8:08 am
  Steph, you and I could totally dine together anytime!
  Reply
Carlinne @Cook with 2 Chicks on June 19, 2013 at 7:03 am
This will be the first way I prepare corn this summer. Looks delicious.
Reply
- Anna on June 19, 2013 at 1:29 pm
  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
  Reply
cassie on June 20, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Ooo yes. This corn with that gorgonzola butter…love it! My mouth is watering!
Reply
- Anna on June 20, 2013 at 8:03 pm
  Oh Cassie, it was a gluttonous (but delicious) weekend at our house! 🙂
  Reply
Lois B on May 28, 2014 at 3:45 am
I’m thrilled to be adding this to my Summer Celebrations board on Pinterest. You had me at the mention of Gorgonzola butter!
Reply
- Anna on May 28, 2014 at 9:27 pm
  Thanks, Lois!
  Reply
Renee on May 11, 2015 at 11:31 pm
Grilled corn is one of my favorite things!! I look forward to trying your recipe!
Reply
Amy Basso on May 12, 2015 at 6:09 pm
Grilled corn…..one of my favorite sides on a hot summer day! Can’t wait to try it with the cotija cheese!
Reply
Heather - Butter & Burlap on July 1, 2015 at 8:07 am
I saw this recipe and said, “YASSSS!”. I’m so excited, it looks so good! And because I love any and all things Mexican, I will be making this asap. That gorgonzola butter though… droolinggg! Great job, love this easy recipe!
Reply
Noble Pig on June 21, 2018 at 7:34 am
This is a summer treat I can’t get enough of!
Reply
- Lisa on June 27, 2018 at 9:02 am
  Us too!
  Reply
Lori @ RecipeGirl on June 22, 2018 at 12:50 pm
I’m obsessed with Cotija cheese, so this is a must make for me!
Reply
- Lisa on June 27, 2018 at 9:02 am
  One of our summer favorites!
  Reply
Maureen on June 24, 2018 at 11:10 pm
This is my kind of recipe – simple and inexpensive. I’ve not prepared corn with cojita cheese – will have to try this on the 4th.
Reply
- Anna on June 25, 2018 at 8:11 am
  Enjoy!
  Reply

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