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Shared Mexican Street Corn Dip

Creamy Mexican street corn dip with crispy toppings in a vibrant close-up.

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This warm, creamy dip captures all the smoky, tangy joy of elote in a scoopable, shareable form. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer for parties, game days, or any gathering. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a celebration in a bowl.

Ingredients

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  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium white or yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen and thawed)
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream or Mexican crema
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled, plus more for garnish
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, seeds removed and finely diced (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
  2. Add corn kernels to the skillet. Cook undisturbed for a few minutes to char, then stir and repeat until corn has golden-brown spots, about 8-10 minutes total.
  3. Reduce heat to low. Push corn mixture to the sides. Add cream cheese to the center, let soften for a minute, then stir into the corn until mostly melted.
  4. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in mayonnaise, sour cream, half the cotija cheese, smoked paprika, chili powder, most of the cilantro, jalapeño (if using), and lime juice. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  5. Transfer to a serving bowl. Top with remaining cotija cheese and reserved cilantro. Serve warm with sturdy tortilla chips.

Notes

For best results, pat thawed frozen corn very dry to prevent a runny dip. Remove skillet from heat before adding mayo and sour cream to prevent separation. Cotija can be substituted with feta cheese.

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