An easy lightened-up Mexican street corn salad that can be made with fresh or frozen corn. This salad is creamy, delicious and perfect for summer cookouts.
Have you ever had Mexican street corn (elote) before? I had it for the first time at Rancho La Puerta and honestly it’s hard to go back to regular ol’ corn on the cob after trying it. It’s SO flavorful and delicious! I can’t get enough… especially when sweet corn is in season during the summer months.
What is Mexican Street Corn Salad?
Mexican street corn salad (also called esquites) is basically an off-the-cob version of elote. And if you’re unfamiliar, elote is simply grilled sweet corn on the cob that is topped with a mixture of mayo, chili powder and cotija cheese.
Esquites follows the same basic recipe but after grilling the corn, you cut the kernels off the cob and toss them with the typical toppings to create a salad/side dish that’s perfect for serving a crowd.
Lightened Up Mexican Street Corn Salad
To create a lighter version of traditional Mexican street corn salad I replaced some of the mayo with high-protein Greek yogurt. The flavor is still spot on and I personally like the tiny bit of tang that the yogurt adds. Here are the ingredients you need for this epic salad:
corn – you can use fresh, sweet corn on the cob or a bag of frozen fire-roasted corn. If you can’t find fire roasted you can buy regular frozen sweet corn and sauté in a pan until it’s slightly browned.
red onion
jalapeño – feel free to adjust the amount of jalapeño pepper you use based on your spice preference. I used 1 seeded pepper.
garlic cloves
cotija cheese
plain Greek yogurt and mayonnaise – I used a combination of Greek yogurt and mayo to create a lighter, high protein version of the traditional salad that uses mayo and crema (or sour cream).
fresh lime juice
seasonings and spices – chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper
chopped cilantro
What Kind of Corn to Use?
As I mentioned above, there are a few different types of corn you can use for this recipe. Of course the salad is amazing with fresh, sweet corn grilled and cut from the cob, but when I’m in a rush I make it with frozen, fire-roasted corn. It’s still good and comes together so fast. Let’s break down each option and chat through how to prepare each!
Fresh corn on the cob – Preheat grill to medium-high heat and husk the ears of corn while it preheats. Brush the corn ears with olive oil and grill for about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and let cool before using a knife to cut the kernels off the cob and into a bowl.
Frozen fire roasted corn – If you can’t find fresh, sweet corn, the next best option is frozen fire-roasted corn. To prep, simply put the corn in a colander and run water over the corn until it’s thawed. Drain well before using. If you want to serve the salad warm, you can skip the thawing process and add the corn to a skillet over medium heat and cook until corn is warm.
Regular frozen sweet corn – If you can’t find fire-roasted frozen corn, regular frozen corn works too! You don’t need to thaw it, just sauté in a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil for about 10-12 minutes or until the corn starts to brown.
What is Cotija Cheese?
Most of the ingredients in this salad are familiar and easy to find besides the cotija cheese.
If you’re unfamiliar, cotija is cheese made from cow’s milk that originated in Mexico. It’s white, firm, dry and slightly salty. When it’s aged longer it becomes sharper and firmer (more similar to parmesan) and when it’s younger it’s moist and crumbly (more similar to feta). You can find it at most speciality grocery stores and at Latino markets.
If for some reason you’re unable to get your hands on cotija cheese, you can use either feta or parmesan in this recipe! Either will work just fine.
Ways to Serve Mexican Street Corn Salad
This salad is awesome on it’s own as a side salad, but there are a few different ways you can use serve it up!
Make a meal sized salad: Use this salad as a topping for a meal sized salad. I love it with kale, grilled chicken and avocado. Recipe for this is coming soon!
Tacos or Tostadas: Use as a topping for tacos or tostadas.
Serve as a dip: We love eating this salad with tortilla chips!
If you make this Mexican street corn salad, please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how it turns out. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and other EBF readers.
An easy lightened-up Mexican street corn salad that can be made with fresh or frozen corn. This salad is creamy, delicious and perfect for summer cookouts.
Ingredients
4 ears of fresh, sweet corn or 16 oz bag frozen fire-roasted corn*
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 jalapeño, seeded and diced (about 1 Tablespoon)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup cotija cheese, plus more for topping (feta or parmesan also work)
2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
juice of 1 lime (about 2 Tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for topping
Instructions
For grilled corn: Husk ears of corn and preheat grill to medium-high heat. Brush corn ears with olive oil and grill for about 2 minutes per side. Remove from grill and let cool before using a knife to cut the corn kernels off the cob into a bowl.
For frozen corn: Put frozen corn in a colander. Run water over the corn until it’s thawed. Drain well. Or place in a skillet over medium heat and cook until warm.
Add corn kernels, onion, garlic, jalapeño, and cojita cheese to a large bowl. Toss to combine.
In a small bowl whisk together the yogurt, mayo, lime juice, chili powder, paprika, sea salt, pepper and cilantro until combined.
Drizzle dressing over the salad ingredients and toss to combine. Top with additional cilantro and cheese. Serve right away or chill in the fridge until ready to serve. This salad can be served warm or cold. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Notes
If you can’t find frozen fire-roasted corn, you can buy frozen sweet corn and sauté it in a pan with 1 Tablespoon of olive oil for about 10-12 minutes or until corn starts to brown. No need to thaw.
To make this dairy-free: use vegan mayo, plain coconut yogurt and a dairy-free cheese of your choice. I haven’t tried it yet, but this hemp parmesan would likely work well!
Category:Salad
Method:Grill
Cuisine:Mexican
Nutrition
Serving Size:1/6 of recipe
Calories:185
Sugar:5g
Sodium:137mg
Fat:10g
Saturated Fat:1g
Unsaturated Fat:4g
Trans Fat:0g
Carbohydrates:23g
Fiber:3g
Protein:4g
Cholesterol:5mg
Keywords: Mexican street corn salad
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I saw this recipe and went right out to get the corn! Hubby grilled it; I didn’t change a thing (but to add a half bag of frozen, thawed, drained corn to beef it up. The grilled corn lost some moisture, and the total volume went down). Watch the salt! I added 1/2 tsp (not 1/4 tsp) and had to add honey to tone it down. The Cotija…zowies. That was a first and not a last for sure. Great for company, cookouts, potlucks; it’s one of those recipes that make you look like a really GOOD cook. LOL Delicious!
I had some corn on the cob that needed to be used up and was making mahi tacos so I decided to make this mexican street corn salad and OMG…it is SO good! I only had 3 ears of corn and I browned the kernels on the stove and it worked out well. I was surprised at how good the cheese was in it…but then it IS cheese after all. (I used feta). I also made cilantro lime rice with the dinner and this salad tasted REALLY yummy mixed in with it. Love! Will definitely add this to future meals and get togethers.
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Kristen. I’m so glad this salad was a hit! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. <3
This was delicious! I used fresh corn kernels and browned them in a pan on the stove rather than grill the ears. Also, I used smoked paprika and ground chipotle chile. It was perfectly spicy and smoky. Will definitely make again. Often.
This was amazing! It felt a little daunting at first but it comes together quickly and easily! We had it as a side with grilled steak and it was delicious. Definitely will be a repeat recipe!
Ahh yay! That makes me so happy to hear, Willow! I’m so pumped you loved this recipe. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
LOVED this recipe. Such an easy recipe and so tasty! I added black beans for some protein. Also, used Trader Joe’s Elote seasoning. We definitely be making this again.
Ohh good call on the TJ’s elote seasoning. I’ll have to try that next time. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Andrea. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it!
My husband and I love this recipe! We added extra jalapeño for a nice spicy kick. The tang from the lime juice complements the sweet corn, onion and jalapeño perfectly. We can’t stopping eating it! I will definitely share this one with friends and highly recommend. Thanks EBF!
Ok, there should be some kind of Summer Salad Achievement Award for this gem, & I would like to hand it to you personally (or gently toss to you from 6ft away 😉). I Fire roasted frozen corn w/o thawing, fell in love w/cotija cheese, & husb bought even more corn so we can have this whenever the mood strikes. Incredible! Thank you so much, Brittany!
Haha!! This makes me so happy to hear, Jennifer! I will gladly accept the award. 🙂 I’m so glad this salad was a hit – thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating!
Phenomenal! I love Mexican street corn but it’s so messy to eat so this is a perfect solution! I used a little more Greek yogurt and a little less mayo and it was still really good because our corn was so sweet. We will probably use that dressing in a lot of ways!
Yay! I’m so pumped you loved this salad, Katie. I really appreciate you trying it and coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
Absolutely delicious! My personal spin: cooked corn in a few Mexican spice mixes and chili powder. The chicken was marinated in lime, two Mexican spice mixes, Sriracha sauce and some olive oil. So good!!! Love the crunch of the tortilla chips and creaminess of the corn salad! So easy to find it togethe, too! Thanks for the recipe!
This was so easy to make, and unbelievably delicious! I used frozen corn and sautéed it, and substituted feta cheese. So creamy and good! Perfect to serve as a dip with nacho chips.
Ahh yay! So glad you enjoyed this salad, Samantha! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. 🙂
OMGosh Brittany! This was AWESOME! I made grilled Mahi Mahi tacos last night and decided to serve this salad with them. My family was so impressed! Everyone, even the picky eater lol, loved it! Thank you for this recipe! <3
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Andrea!! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit with everyone, especially the picky eater. 🙂 Thanks so much for making this recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating.
Had a mexican dinner on past Saturday night, this was the perfect salad for it.
Everyone LOVED it and I will say when the weather is warm (hot), this is delightfully cool!
Make it! You will love it.
Thank you, Brittany.
Oh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Marylou. I’m so glad this salad was a hit at your dinner. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Sweet corn is my absolute favorite. I do try adding something spicy like pepper, salt and lemon but I had never tried Mexican street corn. This was absolutely the most delicious corn dish I ever tasted. Gorgeous and creamy. Loved it so much. It goes so well with my new lifestyle of eating more fresh produce and less processed stuff. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear!! So glad this salad was a hit. 🙂 Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me.
The truth is that salads are not only useful for summer but also have their place during winter.
The high nutrient herbs in this salad provide anti-inflammatory benefits and will boost your immune system during the time of year when we are all susceptible to our immune systems being compromised.
What is wonderful though, is that this salad is also flavor packed and fresh tasting and brings some well needed brightness to our plate.
I love street corn so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to make it! My boyfriend who doesn’t even like corn that much loved this salad! Its so fresh and tasty. Once I finished assembling everything I added about 1 tbsp more of mayo and added 2 jalapenos instead of the 1. I definitely will be making this again!! And sharing the recipe with my family
Woot woot!! So glad this salad was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
So good! Made this tonight to go with our pork Carnitas tacos and it was delicious! Decided to add some black beans for some protein. Thanks for the recipe!
Ahh I love that!! So glad to to hear that you enjoyed this salad, Kori. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Leave a Comment
We topped our Christmas brunch brisket tacos with this and it was amazing! I can’t imagine them without it now!
★★★★★
Ahh yay, so glad this salad was a hit! Thanks for coming back to leave a review, I so appreciate it. 🙂
I saw this recipe and went right out to get the corn! Hubby grilled it; I didn’t change a thing (but to add a half bag of frozen, thawed, drained corn to beef it up. The grilled corn lost some moisture, and the total volume went down). Watch the salt! I added 1/2 tsp (not 1/4 tsp) and had to add honey to tone it down. The Cotija…zowies. That was a first and not a last for sure. Great for company, cookouts, potlucks; it’s one of those recipes that make you look like a really GOOD cook. LOL Delicious!
★★★★★
Ahh, this makes me so happy to hear! Thanks for making it and for the review. I so appreciate it!
I’ve made this salad so many times–the only change I make is adding a bit less lime juice. So delicious!
★★★★★
So glad you’ve been loving this salad, Aneta! 🙂
I had some corn on the cob that needed to be used up and was making mahi tacos so I decided to make this mexican street corn salad and OMG…it is SO good! I only had 3 ears of corn and I browned the kernels on the stove and it worked out well. I was surprised at how good the cheese was in it…but then it IS cheese after all. (I used feta). I also made cilantro lime rice with the dinner and this salad tasted REALLY yummy mixed in with it. Love! Will definitely add this to future meals and get togethers.
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Kristen. I’m so glad this salad was a hit! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. <3
Just made it. Delicious!!!!! Next time I’m going to double the recipe. Thanks!!
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! So glad you enjoyed this salad, Diana! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
This was delicious! I used fresh corn kernels and browned them in a pan on the stove rather than grill the ears. Also, I used smoked paprika and ground chipotle chile. It was perfectly spicy and smoky. Will definitely make again. Often.
Yay!! So glad this recipe was a hit! Thanks for making it, Macie. 🙂
This was amazing! It felt a little daunting at first but it comes together quickly and easily! We had it as a side with grilled steak and it was delicious. Definitely will be a repeat recipe!
★★★★★
Ahh yay! That makes me so happy to hear, Willow! I’m so pumped you loved this recipe. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
This was so yummy. I actually tasted it before I added the dressing and spices and ate it as is with lime juice.
★★★★★
Ahh yay, so glad you loved this salad, Lea!! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
So delicious!! Followed the recipe exactly, using fresh corn, and it came out phenomenal. Such a great side dish for a warm summer night.
★★★★★
So pumped this recipe was a hit, Sarah! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
LOVED this recipe. Such an easy recipe and so tasty! I added black beans for some protein. Also, used Trader Joe’s Elote seasoning. We definitely be making this again.
★★★★★
Ohh good call on the TJ’s elote seasoning. I’ll have to try that next time. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Andrea. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it!
First off, I love your blog so much! I use it to meal plan most of the meals I eat throughout the week!
Second, this recipe has got to be one of the best so far! So delicious and easy! Thank you!
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Charlotte. 🙂 So glad you’re loving the recipes.
My husband and I love this recipe! We added extra jalapeño for a nice spicy kick. The tang from the lime juice complements the sweet corn, onion and jalapeño perfectly. We can’t stopping eating it! I will definitely share this one with friends and highly recommend. Thanks EBF!
★★★★★
Ahh yay! So pumped this recipe was a hit. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Emily. I really appreciate it. 🙂
We loved this, thank you!
★★★★★
Ok, there should be some kind of Summer Salad Achievement Award for this gem, & I would like to hand it to you personally (or gently toss to you from 6ft away 😉). I Fire roasted frozen corn w/o thawing, fell in love w/cotija cheese, & husb bought even more corn so we can have this whenever the mood strikes. Incredible! Thank you so much, Brittany!
★★★★★
Haha!! This makes me so happy to hear, Jennifer! I will gladly accept the award. 🙂 I’m so glad this salad was a hit – thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating!
Phenomenal! I love Mexican street corn but it’s so messy to eat so this is a perfect solution! I used a little more Greek yogurt and a little less mayo and it was still really good because our corn was so sweet. We will probably use that dressing in a lot of ways!
★★★★★
Yay! I’m so pumped you loved this salad, Katie. I really appreciate you trying it and coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
Absolutely delicious! My personal spin: cooked corn in a few Mexican spice mixes and chili powder. The chicken was marinated in lime, two Mexican spice mixes, Sriracha sauce and some olive oil. So good!!! Love the crunch of the tortilla chips and creaminess of the corn salad! So easy to find it togethe, too! Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! So glad you enjoyed this salad, Melissa. Thanks for sharing the subs you made, it’s super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
This was so easy to make, and unbelievably delicious! I used frozen corn and sautéed it, and substituted feta cheese. So creamy and good! Perfect to serve as a dip with nacho chips.
★★★★★
Ahh yay! So glad you enjoyed this salad, Samantha! Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. 🙂
OMGosh Brittany! This was AWESOME! I made grilled Mahi Mahi tacos last night and decided to serve this salad with them. My family was so impressed! Everyone, even the picky eater lol, loved it! Thank you for this recipe! <3
★★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Andrea!! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit with everyone, especially the picky eater. 🙂 Thanks so much for making this recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating.
New favorite summer salad! Even my 15 month old was eating it by the fistful!
★★★★★
Oh yay!! So glad this salad was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating, Janelle. I appreciate it.
Had a mexican dinner on past Saturday night, this was the perfect salad for it.
Everyone LOVED it and I will say when the weather is warm (hot), this is delightfully cool!
Make it! You will love it.
Thank you, Brittany.
★★★★★
Oh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Marylou. I’m so glad this salad was a hit at your dinner. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Sweet corn is my absolute favorite. I do try adding something spicy like pepper, salt and lemon but I had never tried Mexican street corn. This was absolutely the most delicious corn dish I ever tasted. Gorgeous and creamy. Loved it so much. It goes so well with my new lifestyle of eating more fresh produce and less processed stuff. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
★★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear!! So glad this salad was a hit. 🙂 Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me.
The truth is that salads are not only useful for summer but also have their place during winter.
The high nutrient herbs in this salad provide anti-inflammatory benefits and will boost your immune system during the time of year when we are all susceptible to our immune systems being compromised.
What is wonderful though, is that this salad is also flavor packed and fresh tasting and brings some well needed brightness to our plate.
I love street corn so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to make it! My boyfriend who doesn’t even like corn that much loved this salad! Its so fresh and tasty. Once I finished assembling everything I added about 1 tbsp more of mayo and added 2 jalapenos instead of the 1. I definitely will be making this again!! And sharing the recipe with my family
★★★★★
Woot woot!! So glad this salad was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
So good! Made this tonight to go with our pork Carnitas tacos and it was delicious! Decided to add some black beans for some protein. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Ahh yay!! So glad this salad was a hit. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me. <3
Doesn’t disappoint! Made is using corn fresh from the garden and it was amazing!
★★★★★
Ahh I love that!! So glad to to hear that you enjoyed this salad, Kori. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3