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Elote in a cup topped with cojita cheese, cilantro and lime.
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4.99 from 66 votes

Elote in a Cup (Mexican Street Corn in a Cup)

Try this Elote in a Cup for an easy, creamy, tangy Mexican street corn made with sweet corn, mayo, sour cream, cotija, chili, and lime. Ready in 15 minutes and perfect for tacos, BBQs, and parties.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
3 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American, Mexican/Spanish
Keyword: Mexican Corn Cups, Side, Side Dish
Servings: 4
Calories: 350kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 pound frozen whole-kernel corn
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ½ teaspoon sriracha or to taste
  • kosher salt to taste
  • lime salt to taste (optional)

Toppings

  • ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco
  • ¼ cup cilantro
  • chili powder
  • 1 lime wedges

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan over high, bring water and sugar to a boil. When water is boiling, add corn and cover with a lid. Simmer corn for 3-5 minutes or until corn is cooked through and tender.
    Cooked corn in a pot of water.
  • While corn is simmering, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, sriracha, salt, and lime salt in a small bowl.
    Mixing bowl with white sauce for corn.
  • When corn is done cooking, drain well and return to pan. Allow to cool for about 3 minutes.
    Drained corn in a colander.
  • Add sriracha-mayo mixture to the corn and stir until well combined.
    Mixed corn and sauce in a mixing bowl.
  • Divide corn into 4 individual cups.
    Four cups with creamy corn.
  • Top with cheese or queso fresco, cilantro, a dash of chili powder, and a lime wedge. Serve immediately. 
    Four cups with Mexican Street Corn garnished with lime, cilantro and chili powder.

Video

Notes

  • Drain the corn well so the sauce stays thick and creamy.
  • Cool the corn a few minutes before mixing to prevent the mayo from getting too loose.
  • Tajín shortcut: If using Tajín, you can skip the chili powder and lime salt since it already has chili, lime, and salt.
  • Fresh corn option: Grill or boil corn on the cob, cut off the kernels, then follow the recipe as written.
  • Spice control: Start with less sriracha, taste, then add more if you want extra heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 465mg | Potassium: 467mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1215IU | Vitamin C: 17.5mg | Calcium: 182mg | Iron: 1.3mg