FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Elote Recipe (Mexican Street Corn): Why You’ll Love It
• What Is Elote?
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Mexican Street Corn
• Storage Instructions
• What To Serve With Mexican Street Corn
• More Mexican Side Dish Recipes
• Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

Summer means grilling recipes and events, and Mexican street corn has been my family’s go-to lately at just about every festival, carnival, or other fun outing with my kids. It’s a nice alternative to all the greasy fried food! And even though it looks elaborate, it’s actually super easy to make your own elote recipe (that’s “corn” in Spanish) at home. It’s a Mexican favorite I’ve been making on repeat — and you can even make it on the stovetop if you don’t have a grill.

Elote Recipe (Mexican Street Corn): Why You’ll Love It

• Spicy, tangy, and savory taste
• Smoky corn smothered in creamy sauce
• Fresh, simple ingredients
• Fast 10 minute prep
• Grill or stovetop options
• Easy side dish in 20 minutes
• Best Mexican street corn recipe for cookouts and Mexican meals!

What Is Elote?

Elote literally means “corn” in Spanish, but the name typically refers to grilled corn smothered in mayonnaise, cotija cheese, and zesty spices. It’s a popular street food in both Mexico and the United States, and is also often called Mexican street corn.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for an elote corn recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Corn – I recommend sweet corn for this elote recipe, but technically any kind will work. You can use fresh corn cobs or even thawed frozen corn. Remove the husk and silk if using fresh corn.
• Mayonnaise – I try to make homemade mayonnaise when I have time (it only takes 5 minutes!), but store-bought mayo would work just fine.
• Sour Cream – For the most classic flavor, you can also use Mexican crema. Alternatively, Greek yogurt or crème fraîche can also work.
• Lime Juice – Lemon juice will also work instead. Squeeze it fresh for the best flavor, but bottled works for convenience if needed.
• Chili Powder – This elote seasoning adds a spicy kick to the dish and brings out its flavor even more. If you like spice, substitute with ancho chile powder, cayenne pepper, or Tajin, or just add a drizzle of hot sauce at the end.
• Sea Salt
• Cilantro – Brightens up the creamy texture and smoky flavors. You can also use parsley.
• Cotija Cheese – This is the best cheese option and the most authentic, but you can substitute other types of cheese, such as feta cheese, queso fresco, or parmesan cheese. Each one adds a salty element to the corn, but flavors will be slightly different.
• Lime Wedges – You could also serve with lemon wedges with Mexican street corn.

How To Make Mexican Street Corn

This section shows how to make elote, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Prep the grill or stove. Preheat a grill or bring a large pot of water to a boil (or make air fryer corn ).
2. Cook the corn. Grill corn on all sides until charred, or (if boiling) simmer until tender. Remove using tongs and allow to cool slightly before adding toppings.

VARIATION: Slather the corn with butter!

I usually skip this because the mayo-based topping already adds plenty of flavor, but you can butter the corn before adding the toppings if you like.

1. Combine the crema mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, and salt until smooth.

1. Smother the corn. Brush the mayo mixture onto each corn cob, covering all sides.
2. Add the toppings. Sprinkle the Mexican street corn with cotija cheese, cilantro, and a little more chili powder. Serve your elote recipe with lime wedges!

VARIATION: Make esquites!

Esquites are like Mexican street corn in a cup. Just remove the corn kernels and mix with the other ingredients in individual cups.

Storage Instructions

• Store: If you have leftovers from this elote recipe, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. It will last a couple days longer if you store the corn without the toppings.
• Reheat: Simply microwave or warm in the oven at 350 degrees F. You can also reheat elote on the grill if you didn’t add the toppings yet, or just use leftover corn to make avocado corn salad .
• Freeze: You can freeze boiled or grilled corn without the toppings for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight before preparing this easy Mexican street corn recipe. Avoid freezing with toppings, as the sauce will separate.

What To Serve With Mexican Street Corn

Grilled Mexican street corn pairs perfectly with just about any main dish. Give your meal an extra boost of flavor by serving it alongside Mexican-inspired or Tex-Mex favorites:

• Tacos – Pair this elote recipe with your favorite tacos. Or try zucchini taco boats , zesty taco casserole , a crisp taco salad , or even taco soup .
• Fajitas – For a complete meal, pair these elote corn cobs with chicken fajitas , tender shrimp fajitas , or all-in-one sheet pan fajitas .
• Chicken – Cilantro lime chicken or salsa chicken pair well here. These make great stovetop options if you’re cooking this Mexican street corn recipe inside, since you can make them at the same time on different burners. Or, make your corn on the grill with BBQ chicken legs .
• Chili & Soup – Add a burst of flavor on the side with the best chili . The flavors go surprisingly well together. Or, try them with a Mexican soup like pozole or chile verde .
• Grilling Recipes – While you have your grill on anyway, make some grilled chicken legs or cook up the best burgers !

More Mexican Side Dish Recipes

There are so many fresh and flavorful ways to make a Mexican-style meal! Make some of these easy dishes next:

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Homemade Guacamole

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 6 ears Corn ▢
• 1/4 cup Mayonnaise ▢
• 2 tbsp Sour cream ▢
• 1 tbsp Lime juice ▢
• 1 tsp Chili powder (plus more for sprinkling) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 2 tbsp Cilantro (finely chopped) ▢
• 3/4 cup Cotija cheese (crumbled) ▢
• Lime wedges (optional, for serving) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

Grilled Version:

1. Preheat the grill to high heat for 10-15 minutes .
2. Place corn directly on grates and grill for 2-3 minutes per side, rotating until all sides are charred. It should take about 10 minutes total .
3. Remove from grill and let cool slightly before adding the toppings.

Boiled Version:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Add the corn to the pot. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 4-5 minutes , until the corn is tender.
3. Remove using tongs and let cool slightly before adding toppings.

Topping (For Both Versions):

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, and salt ,until smooth.
2. Brush the mixture onto each corn cob, covering all sides. (It gets a little messy, but it’s easiest to use a pastry brush to spread it evenly.)
3. Sprinkle each corn cob with cotija cheese, cilantro, and a little more chili powder.
4. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 ear of corn

Nutrition info does not include optional lime wedges.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Elote Recipe (Mexican Street Corn)

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

You’ll love this easy elote recipe (Mexican street corn), smothered in mayo, cotija cheese, and zesty spices. Done in just 20 minutes!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/mexican-street-corn/

Ingredients

• 6 ears Corn
• 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Sour cream
• 1 tbsp Lime juice
• 1 tsp Chili powder (plus more for sprinkling)
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt
• 2 tbsp Cilantro (finely chopped)
• 3/4 cup Cotija cheese (crumbled)
• Lime wedges (optional, for serving)

Instructions

Grilled Version:

1. Preheat the grill to high heat for 10-15 minutes .
2. Place corn directly on grates and grill for 2-3 minutes per side, rotating until all sides are charred. It should take about 10 minutes total .
3. Remove from grill and let cool slightly before adding the toppings.

Boiled Version:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Add the corn to the pot. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 4-5 minutes , until the corn is tender.
3. Remove using tongs and let cool slightly before adding toppings.

Topping (For Both Versions):

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, and salt ,until smooth.
2. Brush the mixture onto each corn cob, covering all sides. (It gets a little messy, but it’s easiest to use a pastry brush to spread it evenly.)
3. Sprinkle each corn cob with cotija cheese, cilantro, and a little more chili powder.
4. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 ear of corn

Nutrition info does not include optional lime wedges.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)