Description
Mexican Street Corn dances with flavor straight from a single skillet, bringing zesty southwestern charm to your dinner table without complicated kitchen acrobatics. Creamy, tangy corn kernels seasoned with chili powder, lime, and cotija cheese create a quick side dish that delivers authentic street food vibes in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups corn kernels
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup crumbled cotija cheese
Preparation Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 clove garlic
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- Salt
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter until it coats the bottom of the pan.
- Tumble 4 cups corn kernels and ¼ cup finely chopped red onion into the sizzling skillet, spreading them evenly across the surface.
- Allow corn to cook without constant stirring, letting kernels develop golden-brown caramelized edges, which takes approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Add 1 minced garlic clove and stir briefly, letting its aroma bloom for about 60 seconds.
- Whisk ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sour cream, and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice in a separate small bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Remove skillet from heat and pour the creamy mixture directly over the roasted corn, gently folding to ensure every kernel gets coated.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup crumbled cotija cheese and ¼ teaspoon chili powder across the corn, stirring to distribute seasonings thoroughly.
- Taste the mixture and adjust salt levels to your preference, keeping the flavors balanced.
- Transfer to a serving dish, garnishing with additional cotija, a light dusting of chili powder, and chopped fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Fresh corn kernels work best when cut straight from the cob for maximum sweetness and texture.
- Drain frozen corn completely before cooking to prevent excess moisture and ensure proper charring.
- For a lighter version, swap full-fat mayo and sour cream with Greek yogurt and reduce the cheese quantity.
- Use authentic Mexican cotija cheese for the most traditional flavor, but crumbled feta makes an excellent substitute if cotija isn’t available.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: One-Skillet
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 202 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg