This Spicy Mexican Street Corn Salad is a fresh and vibrant twist on traditional esquites. Made off the cob and tossed in a creamy lime and cheese mixture, it’s an easy side dish packed with bold flavor, texture, and a touch of heat. Ideal for potlucks, taco nights, or backyard BBQs, this salad is versatile enough to be served warm, chilled, or at room temperature. Whether enjoyed as a dip with tortilla chips or spooned over your favorite Mexican mains, it’s a total crowd-pleaser!
Full recipe:
Ingredients:
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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24 oz frozen corn (about 5 cups)
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1/4 cup mayonnaise
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8 oz queso fresco or feta cheese, crumbled
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2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
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1/2 jalapeño, finely diced
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3 tablespoons diced red onion
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1/2 cup chopped cilantro
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1/4 teaspoon chili powder
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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Pinch of red pepper flakes
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1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Directions:
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds.
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Add the corn and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring frequently until warmed through and lightly toasted. Avoid overcooking.
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In a large bowl, mix together mayonnaise, crumbled cheese, and lime juice.
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Stir in jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, chili powder, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
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Add the cooked corn to the bowl and toss until well coated.
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Season with salt to taste. Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes
Kcal: 220 kcal | Servings: 6 servings
A Flavor-Packed Twist on Classic Elote
Mexican street corn, or “Elote,” is a beloved staple of street food culture throughout Mexico. Traditionally served on the cob and slathered with a mixture of mayonnaise, chili, cheese, and lime, elote is a smoky, spicy, tangy, and creamy flavor bomb that has won hearts globally. This salad is inspired by esquites, a version of elote served in a cup and off the cob — making it much easier to eat and enjoy, especially at gatherings.
This Spicy Mexican Street Corn Salad captures all the essence of traditional elote but brings it into a more accessible, versatile format. The salad form eliminates the messiness of eating corn on the cob while allowing more opportunities to serve it as a side, dip, or topping. With a vibrant mix of sweet corn, zesty lime, creamy cheese, and a kick of jalapeño, every bite is a fiesta of flavor.
Why This Street Corn Salad is a Must-Try
There are a lot of corn salad recipes out there, but this one stands out for several reasons:
- Bold, Balanced Flavor: It hits every note — sweet, spicy, tangy, and creamy — without one overpowering the other. The sweetness of corn balances the heat from jalapeño and chili powder, while lime juice adds brightness and cheese brings a rich, salty contrast.
- Adaptable to Your Preferences: You can easily control the spice level. Like it hot? Add the whole jalapeño and a dash more chili powder. Prefer it mild? Go easy on the heat. It’s totally customizable.
- Multiple Serving Options: This salad shines as a taco side dish, but it also works beautifully as a dip for chips, a taco topping, or even spooned over grilled meats or nachos. You can serve it warm, cold, or at room temperature.
- Prep-Friendly: The salad benefits from resting, meaning you can make it in advance and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. Perfect for busy weekdays, potlucks, or entertaining.
- Simple Ingredients: Most of the ingredients are pantry staples or easy to find at any grocery store. Plus, using frozen corn means you can make this year-round.
The Health Benefits of Corn and Key Ingredients
Corn often gets overlooked nutritionally, but it’s actually packed with health benefits. It’s rich in fiber, which supports digestion, and it contains essential B vitamins, particularly thiamine and folate. Sweet corn also provides antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which support eye health.
Let’s not forget cilantro, lime, and red onion — all bursting with nutrients and fresh flavor. Cilantro is a natural detoxifier, lime juice provides immune-boosting vitamin C, and red onion contains compounds that may help reduce inflammation.
Even though this dish has cheese and mayo, the overall nutritional balance is still favorable, especially if you use lighter mayo or substitute it with Greek yogurt for an extra protein boost.
The Cultural Inspiration Behind the Dish
Mexican cuisine is known for its bold flavors, colorful presentations, and rich traditions. Elote and esquites have been popular street snacks in Mexico for generations, beloved for their simplicity and satisfaction. Vendors often prepare these dishes on portable carts, grilling corn on an open flame, slathering it in crema and chili, then serving it fresh and hot.
This salad version brings a taste of that tradition into your home kitchen — simplified but still paying homage to the core ingredients and flavor profiles of the classic dish. Whether you’ve enjoyed authentic esquites on the streets of Mexico City or are tasting it for the first time, this salad delivers the spirit of Mexican street food in every bite.
Ingredient Spotlight
Corn: Frozen corn is convenient and quick to cook, but you can also use fresh corn off the cob when in season for even more flavor. Avoid creamed corn — it changes the texture.
Cheese: Queso fresco or cotija cheese are traditional Mexican options, offering a slightly salty, crumbly texture. Feta is a great substitute if those aren’t available.
Mayonnaise: This adds the creamy base that binds the salad and replicates the richness found in authentic elote. For a healthier twist, use avocado mayo or substitute half with Greek yogurt.
Lime Juice: Essential for brightness and acid, lime juice ties the dish together and enhances the sweetness of the corn.
Jalapeño and Chili Powder: These bring the heat! Use more or less depending on your spice tolerance.
Red Onion and Garlic: Add aromatic depth and a touch of sharpness to balance the creaminess.
Cilantro: A must-have herb in Mexican cuisine. If you’re not a fan, substitute with fresh parsley, though the flavor will differ.
Make-Ahead Magic
This dish actually improves after a few hours in the fridge. The flavors deepen, the cheese melds with the mayo, and the spices become more fragrant. That means you can prep it the morning of your gathering or the night before, and it’ll be even better when served. Just give it a stir before setting it on the table.
It’s also a perfect dish for meal prep. Store it in an airtight container and it will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days without losing its texture or flavor.
Serving Suggestions
There are countless ways to enjoy this spicy corn salad:
- As a Side: Perfect with tacos, burritos, enchiladas, grilled meats, or fajitas.
- As a Dip: Serve it with tortilla chips, plantain chips, or even veggie sticks.
- Topping: Spoon it over taco salads, grain bowls, baked potatoes, or even inside burritos for an extra punch of flavor.
- Party Platter Addition: Add to a Mexican-themed party spread along with guacamole, salsa, and rice.
Pair it with fresh margaritas or agua fresca for the ultimate summer meal!
Tips for Success
- Don’t Overcook the Corn: You want it lightly toasted, not mushy. It should maintain a little bite.
- Use a Large Skillet: This helps the corn sear evenly without overcrowding.
- Balance the Flavors: Adjust lime juice, salt, and spice based on your personal preference.
- Make it Vegan: Use vegan mayo and a plant-based cheese substitute — the flavor still holds up beautifully.
- Add Extra Veggies: Try tossing in diced red bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or avocado chunks for variation.
Perfect for Every Occasion
Whether you’re throwing a backyard BBQ, hosting taco night, or meal-prepping for the week, this Mexican Street Corn Salad fits right in. It looks impressive, tastes amazing, and is ridiculously easy to make.
Because it’s such a flexible dish, you can serve it warm during cooler months or chilled during the heat of summer. It complements everything from grilled meats to vegetarian mains and works as both a side and a centerpiece on your table.
Conclusion
If you love the bright, spicy, creamy flavor of elote but don’t want the mess of eating it off the cob, this Spicy Mexican Street Corn Salad is your answer. It takes the best parts of street corn and reimagines them in a way that’s practical, delicious, and versatile.
Make it once, and it’s bound to become a staple in your recipe rotation. Whether you’re feeding two or twenty, it scales easily and wins rave reviews every single time.
Looking to wow guests or just make your weeknight meals more exciting? Whip up a bowl of this flavor-packed corn salad — and don’t forget the chips!