Flavorful Street-Style Elote Grilled Corn Recipe with Cotija and Chili Powder
A quick and easy street-style grilled corn recipe featuring smoky char, creamy Cotija cheese, tangy mayo-lime sauce, and a dusting of chili powder for a perfect summer cookout treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ears fresh corn on the cob, husks removed
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Cotija cheese, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (ancho preferred)
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Salt to taste (sea salt or kosher salt recommended)
- Optional: fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F).
- Remove husks and silk from the corn ears. Rinse under cold water and pat dry.
- In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Stir until smooth.
- Place corn directly on the grill. Turn every 2-3 minutes, grilling evenly for 10-12 minutes until golden-brown char marks appear.
- Remove corn from grill and brush with melted butter while still hot.
- Coat each ear generously with the mayo-lime sauce using a brush or spoon.
- Sprinkle crumbled Cotija cheese all over the corn, then dust with chili powder to taste.
- Optionally, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and an extra squeeze of lime. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
If you don’t have a grill, roast corn in a 425°F oven for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway. For dairy-free, skip cheese and mayo, use vegan mayo and nutritional yeast. Apply toppings immediately after grilling for best adhesion. Adjust chili powder to taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ear of corn
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: elote, grilled corn, street food, Cotija cheese, chili powder, summer cookout, Mexican street corn, easy recipe