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Make Ahead Mexican Street Corn Dip

Creamy make ahead Mexican street corn dip with cotija cheese and tortilla chips

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This creamy, smoky dip captures all the iconic flavors of elote in a scoopable form. Perfect for stress-free entertaining, it can be prepared a day ahead, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve with tortilla chips, jicama sticks, or as a topping for grilled proteins.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen/thawed, or canned/drained)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup crumbled cotija cheese, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1-2 jalapeƱos, seeds removed and finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Char the corn: Heat oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it develops dark golden-brown charred spots. Let cool slightly.
  2. Mix the base: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, lime juice, smoked paprika, chili powder, and cayenne (if using) until smooth.
  3. Combine: Add the slightly cooled corn, cotija cheese, red onion, jalapeƱo, and most of the cilantro (reserve some for garnish) to the creamy base. Gently fold until evenly combined. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  4. Chill and serve: Transfer dip to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Before serving, stir, then garnish with extra cotija, cilantro, and a dusting of smoked paprika.

Notes

For best flavor, make this dip at least 1 hour ahead, or up to a day in advance. Do not skip charring the corn, as it provides the essential smoky flavor. For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for half the sour cream. Feta cheese can replace cotija if needed.

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