Elote In a Cup Recipe Easy Mexican Street Corn Snack to Try Today
An easy Mexican street corn snack that delivers all the creamy, spicy, and tangy flavors of traditional elote without the mess, ready in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (600g) corn kernels, fresh or frozen
- ½ cup (120ml) mayonnaise, full-fat
- ¾ cup (90g) cotija cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder, plus extra for sprinkling
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup (15g) fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly charred and golden in spots, about 5–7 minutes.
- While the corn cooks, combine mayonnaise, crumbled cotija cheese, lime juice, chili powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Remove the skillet from heat once the corn is charred. Stir in about three-quarters of the sauce mixture to coat the corn evenly.
- Spoon the corn mixture into individual cups or small bowls. Sprinkle remaining cotija cheese and extra chili powder on top. Garnish with a squeeze of fresh lime and chopped cilantro if desired.
Notes
Use fresh or frozen corn, not canned, for best texture. Char the corn properly for smoky flavor. Sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated. Adjust chili powder to taste. Fresh lime juice is preferred. For vegan version, substitute mayo with vegan mayo and cotija cheese with nutritional yeast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: elote, Mexican street corn, snack, easy recipe, summer party, creamy corn, spicy corn, cotija cheese