10 Elote Recipes That Are Full of Color and Flavor

This is the iconic elote dish, the one that probably flamed your love for the flavors of the famous Mexican street food. Grilled until just tender, this corn on the cob gets the works: It's rolled in butter, smeared with a little mayonnaise, then sprinkled with cotija cheese and lime juice. 

Ready in just 15 minutes, this elotes — Mexican corn in a cup — makes for a delicious side or impressive appetizer. Don't skip the Tajin seasoning used here. It's worth seeking out for it's tangy and mildly spicy flavor. It can be found in the Hispanic section of most grocery stores. 

"This recipe turns one of my favorite street foods into a delicious meal and is a strong contender for my family's favorite 'meatless Monday' dish," says recipe creator BG. "The mix of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors turn an ordinary weeknight into a fiesta."

Make these individual cups of elote to serve up at your next backyard barbecue or taco Tuesday. Or make a build-you-own elote bar with cups of buttered corn and let guests serve themselves to toppings like lime wedges, cotija cheese, and hot sauce.

Get all the flavor of elote but in a spoonable salad form. Freshly grilled corn is tossed with a creamy chili-lime mayonnaise, scallions, and cilantro. Eat it on the side, or spoon over tacos and salads for a burst of flavor. 

This twist on elote will make you wonder why you didn't try this flavor combo sooner. These simple swaps — lemon juice instead of lime, feta in place of cotija, and fresh basil replacing cilantro — give the dish a Mediterranean-inspired flair.

What makes this elote recipe stand out from the rest is the choice of seasoning blend. Penzey's Arizona Dreaming is made from a blend of ancho chili pepper, cumin, Mexican oregano, and more. It adds a little spice and smokiness to this creamy corn salad. 

The serrano pepper is native to Mexico, and brings the heat in this elote-inspired dip. Serve with corn chips. 

"If you like Mexican street corn, you'll love this rich and creamy dip. Serve with tortilla chips," says recipe creator Soup Loving Nicole. This rich and creamy dip is made with Mexican-style hot sauce for an added kick. 

When grilling isn't an option, fire up the skillet instead to make this off-the-cob elote. 

Serve this fresh-tasting recipe as a side or as a main dish with warm tortillas. "This was an excellent flavorful dish with lots of awesome veggies in it," says reviewer ZeldaSayre.

"Esquites are an off-the-cob version that makes a refreshing salad on a hot summer day," says recipe creator CJ, who suggests topping with Cotija cheese and a dusting of Tajin.