Creamy Authentic Street Corn Elote Dip
A creamy, tangy, smoky dip inspired by Mexican street corn, perfect for snacks and entertaining. Easy to make with simple ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4–5 ears of corn) or thawed frozen corn
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- Juice of 1–2 limes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Prepare the corn by husking ears and slicing off kernels. If using frozen corn, thaw and drain well.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and sauté, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred and browned, about 8-10 minutes.
- While corn cooks, mince garlic and chop cilantro.
- In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and mayonnaise. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in minced garlic, lime juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Fold in crumbled cotija cheese and chopped cilantro gently.
- Add the charred corn to the cheese mixture and fold together until well combined.
- Taste and adjust lime juice, salt, or chili powder as needed.
- Serve warm immediately or chill for 30 minutes to meld flavors. If chilled and too thick, stir in a teaspoon or two of milk or sour cream to loosen.
Notes
Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth mixing. Char the corn properly for smoky flavor. Adjust lime juice gradually to avoid overpowering. If dip is too thick after chilling, add milk or sour cream to loosen. Cotija cheese is preferred but feta can be substituted. Frozen corn works if fresh is unavailable but must be sautéed to avoid watery dip.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 9
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: street corn dip, elote dip, creamy corn dip, Mexican dip, appetizer, snack, party dip