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Mexican Street Corn is the ultimate side dish, it is sweet, salty and savory! Now you can make this easy corn recipe in the air fryer in just 10 minutes!
Mexican street corn, also known as Elote, is a wildly popular dish sold in street carts in Mexico and other parts of the world. Traditionally, it is made by grilling ears of fresh corn and then slathering them with a sour cream mixture, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime juice. The result is a deliciously creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor that is irresistible.
As with any dish, it is morphed over time as people put their own spin on this delicious dish. Some variations include adding garlic butter, and other seasonings to the mix. Today I’m going to show you how to make this easy dish in just 10 minutes with the help of an air fryer!
Ingredients for Mexican Street Corn
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe as well as some suggestions if you cannot find cotija cheese. For the complete recipe scroll to the printable recipe card below.
- Corn: you will need fresh corn for this recipe. Personally, sweet corn is my favorite but any variety will work.
- Sour Cream and Mayonnaise: this is the mixture that will be brushed on the cooked corn, if you need to make a substitution you can use sour cream only, but the addition of mayo does add a tangy twist that is hard to resist.
- Cotija Cheese: for some, this will be a difficult ingredient to find. It is a delicious salty crumbling cheese that is usually used in this dish. However, if you cannot find this at your local store you can substitute queso fresco or feta cheese.
- Spices: I use chili powder, paprika and of course sea salt for this dish. One thing to remember is the cheese is quite salty, so add the salt to taste.
- Lime and Cilantro: the finishing touch is a squeeze of fresh lime juice as well as a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
How to Cook Corn in the Air Fryer
When you take a bite of Mexican street corn, you can taste the perfect combination of sweet corn, savory toppings, and smoky grill flavor. It’s no wonder why this street food has become a favorite! To make the best air fryer street corn follow this step-by-step guide below.
Air Fry the Corn
Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3 minutes. Once the air fryer is hot add the shucked corn to the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes. Once the cooking cycle has ended use tongs to carefully turn the corn and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes.
Brush with Sour Cream Mixture
In a small bowl combine the sour cream and mayonnaise. Place the cooked corn on the cob on a plate and brush all sides of the corn with the mixture. Don’t be shy! This is how the cheese and spices will adhere to the corn so brush the mixture very liberally.
Add Cheese and Spices
Next sprinkle the corn with the cheese, be sure to use your fingers to crumble it finely so you get a bit in every bite! Then top with the chili powder, paprika, lime juice and cilantro. Add the salt to taste as needed. Remember the cheese is quite salty, you may not find additional salt necessary.
Serve
For a complete meal, you can pair it with grilled meats, such as carne asada or chicken, or add it to tacos or burritos for an extra burst of flavor. You can also serve it alongside a fresh salad or as a side dish to your favorite Mexican-inspired recipes. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, elote is sure to add a delicious touch to any meal.
Storage and Reheating
To store street corn, you should first let it cool completely. Then place it in an airtight container. It’s best to store it in the refrigerator and consume it within 3-4 days. If you want to reheat it, you can do so in the oven or on a grill.
Recipe Additions
- Zesty Lime: add the zest from one lime to the sour cream mixture and don’t forget to squeeze a generous dose of fresh lime juice over the corn just before serving.
- Sweet and Spicy: add a pinch of cayenne and salt to taste. Drizzle hot honey over the corn just before serving.
- Jalapeno: finely chop fresh or pickled jalapenos and toss them in with the sour cream mixture.
Mexican Street Corn Dip
This recipe works beautifully as a dip as well. Simply cook the corn as directed and carefully cut it off the cob. Next, toss the corn kernals with the remaining ingredients and serve with tortilla chips. This is an amazing dip that also works well on tacos.
How to cut corn off the cob?
One effective way to do this is to place the corn on a cutting board and hold it steady with one hand while using a sharp knife to slice downwards along the cob, cutting off the kernels. Another method is to use a bundt pan, holding the cob vertically in the center and using the pan’s edges to catch the kernels as they fall off. Whichever method you choose, remember to be careful and avoid cutting too closely to the cob.
Recipe FAQ
No, this dish is not spicy. If you are sensative to chili powder you can just use paprika instead.
Yes, you can boil, grill or roast the corn and then follow the instructions for the remaining ingredients.
Any varity of fresh corn on the cob will work for this recipe.
Depending on the size of your air fryer you may need to trim the corn or cut the ears in half before cooking.
Other Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- The Best Air Fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Zucchini with Parmesan
- The Best Air Fryer Squash
Mexican Street Corn (Air Fryer!)
Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Cotija cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- sea salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 lime
Instructions
- Shuck the corn and remove the silk. You may need to trim your corn to fit in your air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Spritz the corn with spray oil (just a tiny amount) and add the corn to the air fryer. Fry for 5 minutes at 390 degrees and then carefully turn with tongs. Fry another 5-6 minutes until the corn is tender and the outside has begun to char slightly.
- While the corn is cooking combine the sour cream and mayonnaise.
- When the corn is done remove it from the air fryer with tongs and brush all sides with the sour cream mixture. Next, sprinkle with the cheese and spices. Squeeze the fresh lime juice and add the chopped cilantro over the corn. Add salt to taste. (remember the cheese is salty)
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Queso fresco or feta cheese can be substituted if you can not find cotija cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
