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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Appetizer Recipes » Elote Dip

    Published: April 28, 2023 / Updated: May 3, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Elote Dip

    49 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    bowl of elote dip (mexican corn dip) with title text.
    bowl of elote dip (mexican corn dip) with title text.
    bowl of elote dip (mexican corn dip) with title text.

    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!

    big bowl of elote dip (Mexican corn dip) with side of lime wedges and cilantro.

    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
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
    • 🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • More easy recipes
    • Elote Dip Recipe

    🌟 Why you'll love this

    hand scooping a tortilla chip into a big bowl of elote corn dip.

    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

    bowls of ingredients to make elote dip on a bright blue background.
    • 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.

    corn kernels cooking in a large saucepan.
    corn kernels and minced garlic cooking in a large saucepan.
    ingredients for elote dip in one big bowl.
    1. Add the olive oil to a large skillet and cook corn over medium-high heat.
    2. After a few minutes, add the garlic and sauté with the corn for about a minute, just until the garlic is soft and fragrant.
    3. 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

    Is elote the same as esquite?

    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.

    What's the best way to store this corn dip?

    Allow the corn to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    big bowl of elote dip (Mexican corn dip) with side of lime wedges and cilantro.

    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.

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    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!

    big bowl of elote dip (Mexican corn dip) with side of lime wedges and cilantro.

    Elote Dip Recipe

    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 5 minutes mins
    Total Time: 15 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This Mexican corn dip is easy to make in 15 minutes and perfect
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 185kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Equipment

    • Large Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pound (about 3 pounds) corn
    • 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

    Makes about 3 cups of elote dip, approximately 6-8 appetizer/side dish servings. 
    Seasonings: After you've mixed all of the ingredients together be sure to taste and adjust the salt, pepper, and chili powder as needed.
    Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigeration for up to 5 days. This dip can be served hot or cold. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg

    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.

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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