4.85 from 19 votes

Parmesan Mayo Mexican Corn

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Dripping in salty perfection, Mexican Grilled corn (on the cob) is about as delicious as it gets. Not just an appetizer or a side dish, you can crunch down on this easy-to-make corn pretty much any day of the week.

The best part of this corn on the cob is simply the really easy topping – Parmesan cheese and mayo make a surprisingly delicious combination that heats up the corn and provides a saturated, flavorful crunch in every bite.

While this recipe is straight from Mexican Street Food or your favorite taco truck, Elote is also a true American Comfort Food. 

holding a piece of street corn.

Why you should make Street Mexican Corn on the Cob

This grilled Mexican street corn is one of the best ways to bring the taco truck to your backyard and right into your picnic or BBQ!  

No foil needed, throw the cobs on the grill before prepping your other food, as they can take some time to heat up and get soft enough to eat.

The grill isn’t always the quickest way to make food (and if you are impatient, I do have a pressure cooker corn on the cob recipe here), but it often produces some of the BEST food and is so full of homemade flavor, so it’s worth the wait and char marks.

What is Elote?

Called “elote”, Mexican Corn is delicious grilled corn with a topping made up of mayo and Parmesan cheese.

Dripping with perfect seasonings and that wonderful savory grill taste, you will be salivating waiting out this corn, which can be a dinner on its own.

A flawless corn side dish, don’t be afraid to mow down all the cornfields and line up the grill with perfectly beautiful corn kernels that will fly from the table once set out.

Plus, for me, making food on the grill is about as homemade as it gets since you have to wait it out, and the slow cooking and heating of the food keeps it even and crisp.

parmesan corn on the cob.

Ingredients

  • Corn on the cob – While corn is a sweet vegetable, do not be fooled. Corn on the cob with mayo and parmesan cheese makes a pretty hearty dish not only as a side dish but as a full lunch or snack.
  • Real mayonnaise – We always use full-fat Hellmann’s mayo. 
  • Sour cream – Again, big believer in full-fat sour cream for the Parmesan sauce. 

  • Fresh cilantro – Fresh cilantro herbs are totally optional but bring some great flavor and color to this dish. 
  • Grated Parmesan cheese – Traditional Mexican Street Corn is smothered with grated Parmesan cheese. This sticks the best and provides the most flavor.
  • lime juice from lime wedges
  • Spices: We suggest red cayenne pepper.  
mayo parmesan sauce for corn.

How to Grill Mexican Roasted Corn on the Cob

  1. Preheat an outdoor grill ( 350-400 degrees on gauge).
  2. Remove husks of corn on the cob, or pull back and leave on sweet corn if you prefer a fancier presentation.
  3. Grill corn on the heat for 10-15 minutes, rotating corn halfway through cooking so all the kernels get good and heated.
  4. Corn should be bright and yellow when done and slightly charred on each side.
grilling mexican street corn.

Mexican Mayonnaise Parmesan Cheese Topping

  1. Let’s make that cream sauce! In a mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, sour cream, and 1/4 cup of fresh chopped cilantro in a large bowl. This is your delicious creamy sauce topping!
  2. Remove ears of corn from the grill and use a basting brush to brush corn and spread the mayonnaise mixture onto the corn.
  3. Sprinkle generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Optionally, add a light sprinkling of Cayenne pepper, or if you shy from the spice, regular black pepper and a pinch of salt. 
  4. Return corn cobs to the hot grill and heat for an additional 5-10 minutes, frequently rotating to cook on each side.
  5. Serve ears of corn sprinkled with the juice of a lime, chopped cilantro, and an additional teaspoon of chili powder or cayenne pepper if desired.
how to make elote.

What toppings go great with an Elote Recipe? 

Aside from the creamy sauce, other Mexican Cheese like Cotija cheese makes a great addition. There are many cheese choices, but Rich Cheeses work best for this dish.

A sprinkle of black pepper, Chipotle powder, or a dash of hot sauce to serve with each ear of corn is also perfect.

How to eat Mexican Street Corn

Corn on the cob, in general is pretty messy. Typically served with a small disposable paper boat to set it in or over a plate. You will need a lot of napkins, but it’s well worth the mess. 

Mexican corn can also be prepped and served any way you like! Eat right off the cob, shave into a cup, or turn into a creamy Mexican street corn dip with homemade tortilla chips.

No matter what, this Mayo Parmesan corn is delish!

Little fun food fact- Cinco De Mayo has nothing to do with beer, chips, and salsa (no, for real, read the history of Cinco De Mayo), but since it evolved to that in the good ole United States, who am I to discharge a great reason to enjoy salsa, guacamole and Mexican street corn on the cobNo one, that’s who.

So let’s celebrate with some delicious, excellent food and enjoy ourselves!

I love fresh corn, right off the cob, shaved into salads and chunky salsas.

And while you have the grill going, throw on extra cobs to shave into this fresh black bean and corn salsa, perfect your stovetop Parmesan creamed corn, or create the best fiesta corn dip ever with a side of tortilla chips.

easy Mexican street corn recipe.

Serve corn with this Mexican Chicken Recipe, Mexican chicken thighs, or Mexican ground beef casserole.

4.85 from 19 votes

Grilled Mexican Street Corn


Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Mexican Street Corn (on the cob) is about as delicious as it gets, Dripping in salty perfection and a perfect slathering of mayo and cheese, street corn is not just a side dish, you can crunch down on this easy to make corn pretty much any day of the week. Let's fire up the grill and get cookin!

Equipment

  • 18 Stainless Steel Corn Cob Holders

Ingredients
 

  • 3-4 ears of fresh corn on the cob
  • 1/2 cup real mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro plus additional 2 tablespoons for garnish
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • juice of 1 lime
  • optional cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat an outdoor grill between 350-400 degrees.
  • Remove husks of corn on cob, or pull back leaves and leave on. Remove corn silk and discard.
  • Place corn on grill and heat for 10-15 minutes, rotating corn halfway through cooking. Corn should be bright and yellow when done.
  • In a mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup of real mayonnaise, 1/2 cup of sour cream and 1/4 cup cilantro in a large bowl. Set aside. This is your corn topping.
  • Remove corn on the cob from grill and use a basting brush to spread the mayonnaise mixture onto the corn.
  • Once cob is fully covered, sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese around the entire cob.
  • Return corn to the grill and heat an additional 5-10 minutes, rotating frequently to cook on each side, until entire corn is heated.
  • Serve corn sprinkled with juice of lime, extra chopped cilantro and a dash of chili powder or cayenne pepper if desired.

Video

Notes

What toppings go great with an Elote Recipe? 
Aside from the creamy sauce, other Mexican Cheese like Cotija cheese makes a great addition. There are so many cheese choices but Rich Cheeses work best for this dish. A sprinkle of black pepper, Chipotle powder, or a dash of hot sauce to serve with each ear of corn is also perfect.
How to eat Mexican Street Corn
Corn on the cob in general is pretty messy. Typically served with a small disposable paper boat to set it in or over a plate. You will need a lot of napkins but it’s well worth the mess. 
Mexican corn can also be prepped and served any way you like! Eat right off the cob, shave into a cup or turn into a creamy Mexican street corn dip with homemade tortilla chips. No matter what, this Mayo Parmesan corn is delish!

Nutrition

Serving: 4people | Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 835mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.

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4.85 from 19 votes
4.85 from 19 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. Can this be made in the oven instead of grill?

    1. Trisha Haas says:

      You might be able to but you would miss out on the charred portion of the grill. Unfortunately I do not have alternative instructions as I have not tested it this way.