Mexican street corn salad, also known as esquites, takes all the crave-worthy flavors of classic elote and transforms them into a fresh, tangy, and spoonable side dish. It’s creamy, smoky, a little spicy, and packed with lime juice and cheese – basically summer in a bowl. If you love the flavor of grilled corn slathered with mayo, chili powder, and cotija cheese, this salad is your new favorite way to enjoy it without the mess.
The heart of the dish is sweet corn. It’s typically grilled or charred in a skillet until golden and slightly smoky, which gives the salad its signature depth. The warm kernels are then tossed with creamy mayo or sour cream, crumbly cotija cheese, fresh lime juice, and chili powder for that irresistible combination of sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy. Some versions also include garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, or red onion to give the salad extra bite and brightness.
What makes Mexican street corn salad so appealing – aside from the flavor – is its versatility. It can be served warm or cold, as a side dish or even as a topping. Spoon it over tacos, pile it onto nachos, or add it to a grain bowl. It’s also a guaranteed hit at barbecues and potlucks because it pairs well with grilled meats, burgers, and just about anything off the grill.
For those who like to tweak things, this salad is super easy to customize. Add avocado chunks for creaminess, swap cotija for feta if you can’t find it, or adjust the spice level with more or less chili. A dash of smoked paprika adds depth, while extra lime juice makes it pop even more.
Mexican street corn salad is bold, festive, and packed with flavor in every bite. It captures everything people love about street food – indulgent, colorful, and joyfully messy – but puts it in a bowl so you can dig in with a fork.
Ingredients
- 4 ears corn
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese crumbled
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1 jalapeño seeded and diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 lime juice
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Grill the corn over medium heat until charred, about 10 minutes. Let cool and then cut the kernels off the cob.
- In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, cotija cheese, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the grilled corn to the bowl and toss to combine.
- Serve the salad chilled and garnish with additional cotija cheese and cilantro, if desired.
Nutrition
I dunno, maybe I’m doing it wrong but mine tasted kinda bland. I think it needs more cheese or something. Not a fan.
Who needs a recipe? Just throw everything in a bowl and mix 🤷♂️
This is an awesome recipe! So fresh and flavorful. The corn gets perfectly charred on the grill. Definitely a hit at my BBQ!
Got this recipe from my friend and it was a great addition to our taco night! Highly recommend!
This sounds absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it for my next BBQ. Thanks for sharing! 🌽
I don’t know, is it really that good? My last corn salad turned out bland. Maybe I should add more spice or something.
Best salad ever! Makes me feel like I’m on the streets of Mexico! So good!
I feel like jalapenos are too spicy for some, maybe you should offer a mild version for the kids? Just saying!
I have a question. Can I use frozen corn? I don’t have fresh corn right now.
I didn’t have cotija cheese, so I used feta instead. It worked ok, but I think I missed the real flavor of the dish. Still, not bad!
Yum!! So good and easy to make. Totally impresses my friends at BBQs. 10/10 recommend this recipe! 🌽❤️
Looks good but isn’t corn salad just…corn? I mean, what’s so special about it? 🤔
I tried it too, and wow, it was a hit! Everyone loved it, thanks for sharing! 🌽✨
What’s with all the mayo? Too much! I prefer a lighter version without all that creaminess. Anyone else think so?
Nah, I love mayo! It makes everything taste better. Maybe just use less? But why skip the creamy goodness?
I get what you’re saying! Too much mayo can be heavy. I like it lighter too. Have you tried yogurt instead?
I dunno, it tasted weird to me. Maybe it’s the cilantro? I just couldn’t get into it. Not gonna make it again, sorry.
This salad was amazing! So fresh and flavorful, just like the ones I had in Mexico. Will be making this again for sure!
This is basically elote vibes but in salad form—so good. I charred the corn a little more and it made the whole thing pop. Next time I’ll add a tiny pinch of smoked paprika too.
Uh… “1 jalapeño” can mean like either mild or nuclear depending on the pepper. Mine was nuclear. RIP dinner.
Ugh! This was not good. Tried it for a party and no one took seconds. Way too mayo-y for my taste.
I’m sorry to hear that! Maybe you could try less mayo next time? It’s a fine balance with the flavors. 🥴
Corn grilled for 10 minutes feels long—mine got a bit too charred and dry. Still tasty, just next time I’ll watch it closer.
I will have 2 keep this recipe. So easy!!! My kids even liked it! What a miracle 🙂
Seems too complicated for just corn. How can corn taste so good? 😕
Corn is corn. This is just another way to eat it. Meh. ⭐⭐
Really? You think so? I feel like this is a very popular dish. Corn has its charms. Maybe try different toppings next time?
I disagree! This salad has so much flavor! Corn can be amazing with the right dressing. 🌽❤️
What is cotija cheese? Can I use regular cheese? 🤔
Cotija cheese is a crumbly cheese that adds a unique flavor, but you can use regular cheese if that’s what you have! Just keep in mind it won’t taste quite the same.
What? Regular cheese? Nah, that ain’t the same! You gotta get cotija if you want it to taste right. 😅
How can this be Mexican? Where’s the spice? It was bland for me.
Best salad I ever made, hands down! So fresh and delicious! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
That salad sounds amazing! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Super delish! I used feta cheese instead of cotija and it worked fine.
Feta sounds interesting, I’ll have to try it! Glad it worked for you.
Bro, this salad be hitting different. Yum! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This salad is a total winner! The flavors are off the charts. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
not bad but corn is on the cob for a reason!!! why cut it off?
Grilling corn for 10 minutes was perfect. I added an extra sprinkle of chili powder and it gave it a nice kick. My kids complained, but secretly they ate it anyway lol.
Sounds awesome! I always do the extra chili powder too—street corn should have some attitude 😄 My kids are the same; they complain first then go back for seconds.
Yum! I made this for a BBQ and everyone loved it! Will definitely be making again. 🌽❤️
That’s awesome! I love hearing when people enjoy my recipes! 🌽✨
BBQ? I always thought corn was for soup… 🤷♂️
Not gonna lie, I thought it would taste more like elote. It’s still good, just more salad-y than street corn-y.
Honestly I get that—this one’s more “street corn vibes” than actual elote-on-a-stick. I like it though because the creamy dressing clings to the kernels like salad-y comfort food.
Maybe you didn’t char it enough? I try to get darker spots on the corn, and I add a little extra chili powder and lime at the end. It turns out way less salad-y for me. Also… cotija is kinda salty so don’t overdo salt.
Too much mayo for my taste, I would cut it down to 2 tablespoons.
This is seriously addictive—creamy, tangy, with that charred corn flavor. I used feta instead of cotija once and it still worked great.
Yes!! The charred corn with the lime + chili powder is sooo good. I did swap in queso fresco and it was still tangy/creamy—def making again.
Feta is fine but I feel like cotija gives it that saltier kick. Also i always forget to seed the jalapeno… still ate it tho 😅 Charred corn really makes it.
I don’t know about this… corn salad? Sounds weird to me. I prefer my corn straight off the cob. ⭐⭐⭐
I get where you’re coming from! But trust me, this salad is bomb! The flavors just blend so well, you might change your mind. Give it a shot! 🌽
Not gonna lie, I thought 1 clove of garlic would be too much—turns out it’s perfect. The lime + chili powder combo is awesome. Served it with tacos and it disappeared fast.
I don’t understand why you’d wanna put mayonnaise in salad. Gross! 🤢
I actually think the mayo adds a nice creaminess to the salad! It balances out the heat from the jalapeño. 😊
Mayonnaise? Yuck! Can’t believe people actually use that in food. What is wrong with ya? Just use olive oil!
This salad was a hit at our BBQ! So fresh and tangy. 😍
I’m glad to hear that! This salad is always a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for summer BBQs! 🌽
I tried this and it came out too salty. I think I put too much cotija cheese. Next time I won’t add extra salt. ⭐⭐⭐
I think you might have mismeasured the cheese! Cotija can be strong, so maybe just go easy next time. It’s still a delicious recipe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Too salty? Nah, just use less cheese! This salad is supposed to be bold. Plus, I love the flavor of cotija, makes everything better! 😋
It was fine. Like… not bad, but not wow either. I think I under-salted because my corn tasted bland, and the cheese flavor didn’t come through enough.
Ah, that tracks. With Mexican street corn, salt is what makes the corn taste “pop,” and cotija is pretty salty too—if yours was blander, I’d definitely nudge the salt next time (and taste the mayo/sour cream base before adding the corn). Also, a little extra lime and chili powder can help the flavor come through.
Super yummy! I added some avocado and it was a hit at the BBQ!
Yum! I made this for a party and everyone loved it! Easy to make and very tasty! Totally will make again!
Tasty? I don’t know about that. Sounds kinda basic to me. I mean, corn, mayo, and cheese? Is that all it takes?
I’m so glad to hear that! This salad is the perfect summer dish, and it’s so easy to whip up. What did your guests think of the jalapeño? Spicy enough?
Really easy to make, but I felt like it was missing something. Maybe more spices next time? ⭐⭐⭐
Nah, it’s perfect as is! Don’t mess with perfection! 😤
I totally agree! A little taco seasoning could really kick it up a notch. 🌶️