Easy Elote Dip is a flavorful Mexican street corn recipe that is easy to make in just 15 minutes. Perfect as a side dish or appetizer!
Corn is one of the absolute best, tastiest bites of summer. It's perfect in this Summer Slaw, in Avocado Salad with Tomatoes and Corn, and Corn Fritters. And fresh corn on the cob is so fun to make Air Fryer Corn Ribs out of.
Another delicious way to enjoy corn is elote. Meaning "corn cob" in Spanish, elote is a popular Mexican street food of corn on the cob slathered in spices and cheese. Street vendors usually char the corn on the cob on the grill.
And classic Mexican street corn in dip form is super easy to make at home!
Jump to:
🌟 Why you'll love this
This Elote Dip recipe is like the perfect appetizer. It will be the talk of every summer BBQ, picnic, and potluck!
- Few, simple ingredients -It's made with just a few simple ingredients you can easily find in most grocery stores.
- Easy - This is a very easy recipe that anyone can make, even beginning cooks!
- Fast - You can make this elote dip recipe in just about 15 minutes!
- Delicious - This elote dip is full of tasty flavors that make it irresistible!
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Corn - You can use whole kernel corn cut off the cob or frozen corn. I am using frozen Crazy Corn from Stahlbush Island Farms, thawed before adding to the recipe. I love the multi-color corn experience in this dish! It's a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds.
- Cojita cheese - This is a classic Mexican cheese used in elote that you can find in most grocery stores, or online. Substitutions: try crumbled queso fresco, feta cheese, or parmesan cheese.
- Red onion - Adds a nice subtle tang to every bite. Substitutions: you can use finely diced shallots or yellow onion instead, but neither will give you the same flavor as red onions.
- Jalapeño - Be sure to seed and finely dice the jalapeno peppers.
- Mayonnaise - I use my favorite vegan mayonnaise, but you can use any mayonnaise. Substitution: sour cream or Greek yogurt, which will both add much more tang.
- Garlic - I like two medium sized garlic cloves, minced, but you can add one more. Substitution: you can substitute 1 to 1-½ teaspoons of garlic powder.
- Chili powder - You can also add paprika.
- Lime juice - For best results, use fresh lime juice, as it adds to the flavor of this dish. You can also add a bit of lime zest for richer lime flavor.
- Cilantro - Chop the cilantro I always add more fresh cilantro to the top just before serving. Substitution: you can use chopped fresh parsley instead of cilantro if you prefer.
Optional add-ins: sour cream, Mexican crema, chopped green onions, hot sauce.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
Making this elote dip recipe is super easy! The full ingredient list with instructions are listed in the printable recipe card below, but here's a quick step-by-step photo guide to show you how to make this Mexican corn dip.
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet and cook corn over medium-high heat.
- After a few minutes, add the garlic and sauté with the corn for about a minute, just until the garlic is soft and fragrant.
- Transfer the corn and garlic to a large serving bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix together well to coat all of the corn kernels with the other ingredients.
Serve immediately.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Elote and esquite are similar types of Mexican street food. The main difference is in how they are served. Elote is typically served on the cob (except when served as a dip or casserole); esquite is served off the cob in a cup for a tasty portable snack.
Allow the corn to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
🍽 Serving ideas
This delicious dip can be served warm or cold. It's wonderful to serve with tortilla chips, flatbread, or nacho chips.
Cinco de Mayo: serving this as a side dish for a Cinco de Mayo feast? These Sheet Pan Tex-Mex Vegetarian Nachos, Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef, or Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas would be a great main dish to serve with this elote corn dip!
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
Elote dip goes well with a crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc. It's also fantastic to enjoy with a Champagne Margarita!
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? You don't need any fancy kitchen tools. You'll just need:
- Saucepan - use a large saucepan or skillet to cook the corn and garlic.
- Wooden spoon - you'll need a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula to stir the corn and garlic. You can also use the wooden spoon to mix all of the ingredients together.
- Bowl - mix all of the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
More easy recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Elote Dip Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound (about 3 cups) corn kernels
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
- ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the corn and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly. After 5 minutes, add the garlic, and stir, cooking for another 1-2 minutes, just until the garlic is soft and fragrant.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Spoon the corn and garlic into a large bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix together until well combined. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Dave says
1 pound (3 cobs of corn) right?
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Dave - thank you for pointing that out! I just edited the recipe for clarification. It's 1 pound of corn kernels, which is about 3 cups of kernels (not cobs). Thanks!