Elote Corn Salad with Cotija Cheese
This Elote Corn Salad is a summer staple. It comes together in less than 20 minutes with incredible creamy, spicy, and tangy flavors. You may even be tempted to impulse buy a plane ticket to Mexico… You’ve been warned!
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What is Elote Corn Salad?
If you’re unfamiliar with elote street corn, you’ve been missing out! Typically it’s a whole cob of grilled corn that’s been topped with mayonnaise, hot sauce or chili powder, lime, and Cotija cheese, just like our Grilled Chili Lime Mexican Corn and sold by street vendors in Mexico.
However, we will not be buying this from a cute man behind a vending cart or grilling the corn for this particular recipe. Instead, for this elote corn salad, we will sauté the corn kernels in butter until they are tender and slightly charred.
It’s so easy to make this corn salad recipe! You’ll need fresh, juicy corn, fragrant spices like cumin and paprika, mayonnaise (or vegan mayo), crumbled Cotija cheese or feta cheese, lime juice, salt for seasoning – and the willpower not to eat it all yourself!
You might even find yourself closing your eyes and envisioning yourself in the heart of Mexico!
Why You’ll Love This Elote Corn Salad
Why should you make this recipe? It’s easy to prepare and super delightful to eat! Below are more reasons why you’ll love this Mexican street corn salad.
- This recipe will only take 20 minutes of your time and will leave you and your guest talking about it for hours.
- This corn salad with mayo can be served warm or cold, which makes it an excellent side dish for any summer picnic or barbecue.
- You can use whatever corn is available. You can use a bag of frozen sweet corn or fresh sweet corn on the cob. If none of those are available, canned corn kernels are good alternatives as well.
If you love recipes with corn, be sure to check out my Sweet and Spicy Corn Salsa, Easy Spicy Sausage Corn Chowder, and Green Chile Corn Chowder.
Ingredients For Your Mexican Street Corn Salad
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
How To Make Elote Corn Salad
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the corn. Stir and cook for 5-8 minutes, until fragrant and slightly charred in spots. (Photos 1 & 2)
- Place the corn in a bowl. If you want to serve chilled, cool before proceeding with the rest of the recipe. (Photo 3)
- Stir in most of the red onion, jalapenos, and cilantro, reserving some for garnish. (Photo 4)
- Stir in the mayonnaise and sour cream, then season with cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. (Photos 5 & 6)
- Add cotija cheese and lime juice, then stir until just combined. (Photos 7 & 8)
- Serve garnished with remaining red onion, jalapenos, and cilantro.
What to serve with your Elote Corn Salad
I would serve this Elote Corn Salad with any Mexican-inspired meal! For main dishes, try Baked Rolled Tacos, Authentic Quesabirria Tacos, Cilantro Lime Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos, or our Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
And don’t forget about the cocktails! Try it with a Fresh Mango Margarita or a Delicious Frozen Strawberry Margarita.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! If no fresh corn is available, frozen or canned corn is okay. However, I prefer frozen corn over canned. But either will suffice. If you’re using canned corn, make sure you rinse and drain them thoroughly. Either one may end up soggy and missing that crunch of fresh corn. But, in a pinch, frozen or canned will work!
If you have a guest who is sensitive to cilantro, scallions would be a great substitute in this recipe!
Cotija cheese is a Mexican cheese that is extremely dry and salty. In this salad, Cotija makes the most sense, but feta also works well. Adding salt and lime juice sparingly and tasting along the process will ensure that your flavors are balanced since feta is saltier and brinier than Cotija.
The mayonnaise in this recipe can easily be substituted with full-fat yogurt or a yogurt-sour cream combo if desired. If you want to avoid using dairy or eggs, vegan mayo is a good option.
Elote Corn Salad with Cotija Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 cups Corn Kernels
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 teaspoons Minced Garlic
- ¼ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Sour Cream
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon White Pepper
- 1 Jalapeno minced (deseeded if desired)
- ½ cup Cilantro chopped
- ½ Red Onion minced
- ⅓ cup Cotija Cheese or more to taste
- 2-3 Tablespoons Lime Juice to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.1 Tablespoon Butter
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the corn. Stir and cook for about 5-8 minutes, until fragrant and slightly charred in spots.2 teaspoons Minced Garlic,4 cups Corn Kernels
- Place the corn in a bowl. If you want to serve chilled, cool before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
- Stir in most of the red onion, jalapenos and cilantro, reserving some for garnish.½ cup Cilantro,½ Red Onion,1 Jalapeno
- Stir in the mayonnaise and sour cream, then season with cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper.¼ cup Mayonnaise,¼ cup Sour Cream,1 teaspoon Cumin,1 teaspoon Paprika,1 teaspoon Salt,1 teaspoon White Pepper
- Add cotija cheese and lime juice, then stir until just combined.⅓ cup Cotija Cheese,2-3 Tablespoons Lime Juice
- Serve garnished with remaining red onion, jalapenos, and cilantro.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Oh, this is something that my sister would absolutely love! I am going to have to share this recipe with her!
Thank you for passing this on to your sister. I hope she enjoys it. Thanks for coming by!
I never knew about this until now and it looks really interesting. I would love to make it because it looks yummy.
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by, Aisasami!
That corn salad looks so refreshing, I would love to try this recipe soon.
I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!
I printed this recipe out because I am making tacos tonight with this on the side! Look delicious!
That’s awesome, Michele, perfect timing; I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!
I LOVE corn! It is one of those veggies you can add to just about anything and it will taste good!
Fantasic Laura! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!
This looks so good. I love how it turned out with the colors and everything. Would love to try it. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!
Another yummy recipe to try! I haven’t had Mexican Street Corn Salad before but looking at the instructions as well the ingredients are very doable (I have canned corn in my fridge!!). Thank you, Kim!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by, Polly!
Sounds like a wonderful treat and very easy to prepare! I think my family will love it and thanks for letting us know!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!
That looks so good, I am personally a fan of salads. This is new to me and I would love to try it, thank you for the recipe.
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by, Risa!
Yum yum. I do love my elote, but usually on a stick. This looks good, too!
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!
This salad looks amazing, the cheese seems really unique too. I have never heard of it. Thanks for sharing another amazing recipe.
Aimee, if you look in the sliced cheese section in your local grocery store, you should find it there. You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!
I really miss Mexico and this recipe looks so good that I might try it this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Ukeveryday
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for coming by!