If you’re looking for a recipe for Mexican Corn Casserole that’s not just creamy and flavorful but also delivers the perfect balance of spice and comfort, you’ve found it! This version is packed with bold, authentic Tex-Mex flavors you crave while keeping it quick and simple for busy weeknights.
Mexican Street Corn Casserole
What sets this Mexican Corn Casserole apart is not just the ingredients but how everything comes together for maximum flavor. With my Texas roots and years of experience developing recipes, I’ve put together a casserole that feels like home without spending hours in the kitchen. The combination of fresh corn, chiles, and a creamy sauce ensures every bite is packed with the right amount of tang, richness, and zest you’ve come to know with elotes.
This is Tex-Mex comfort food at its finest. It’s an easy-to-make dish that brings big flavor without a lot of effort, making it perfect for both weeknight dinners, potlucks, and parties.
It’s my goal to help connect people to the flavors I grew up with—whether you’re new to Southern and Tex-Mex food or have fond memories of it. This casserole is a reflection of that approach and doesn’t add stress to the dinner routine.
Why you’ll love this Mexican Corn Casserole Recipe
You’ll love this Elote Casserole because it’s a perfect blend of comfort and convenience. With just the right amount of spice, it brings bold flavors without overwhelming it, making it a hit with the whole family.
You can serve it as a side dish or even as a stand-alone weeknight dinner. The best part? It’s quick to make and only needs a few ingredients, but it’ll taste like you spent hours making it.
It holds up really well as leftovers, meaning you can enjoy it for lunch the next day without losing any of the flavor.
What is elote?
Also known as traditional Mexican street corn, elote is a popular street food. It typically consists of charred, grilled corn on the cob that’s covered in a creamy and sometimes a little bit of spicy hot sauce, and sprinkled with herbs and spices.
Meaning “corn cob” in Spanish, elote is served still on the cob. When taken off the cob, mixed with the other ingredients, and served in a cup, it’s called esquites.
As such, you could also call this corn casserole Esquites Casserole!
Mexican Corn Casserole Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to stock up on to make this easy Mexican corn casserole:
- mayonnaise – I suggest using regular mayonnaise instead of light, but use what you have on hand.
- sour cream – Be sure to grab the full fat kind. The fat free variety isn’t going to give you the same taste.
- chili powder – This will bring the heat to your dish. You could also substitute it with cayenne pepper.
- garlic powder – Make sure it isn’t expired. You want it to have a bold taste.
- ground cumin – Stick with a quality brand for your ground cumin. Some brands give you an overwhelming earthy flavor that can ruin the entire thing.
- salt – I always use coarse kosher salt. Morton is the brand I typically grab.
- frozen corn – Yellow corn and white corn will both work. You can also use fresh or canned corn. If using canned corn, be sure to drain it completely to avoid a soggy casserole. While cream style corn is delicious, I would pass on adding that in here.
- cotija cheese – Use queso fresco cheese for a more traditional substitute. Feta cheese could also work in a pinch.
- fresh cilantro – It’s inexpensive and adds great flavor to this.
- fresh limes –You’ll need the zest and the juice, so I don’t recommend using bottled lime juice. You’ll want fresh lime juice for this. Trust me—it makes a difference.
Mexican street corn seasoning
Elote typically contains a spice mix of chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and salt.
Tajín, which is chili lime seasoning, is another popular topping for elote.
The grocery chain Trader Joe’s sells its own Everything but the Elote Seasoning, which includes cane sugar, salt, corn flour, parmesan cheese, chipotle powder, dried cilantro, and cumin, plus other flavorings and preservatives.
The Spice Lab also makes a great blend.
How to make Mexican Corn Casserole
- The first thing to do is thaw the corn. This is an important step or your casserole might be soggy! Here’s a tutorial on thawing frozen corn if you are in a hurry. Be sure to drain any extra water that might come off.
- Then, preheat the oven to 350°F. Get out a 9×13-inch baking dish and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the mayo, sour cream, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, lime zest, and lime juice. Stir until everything is well mixed.
- Next, fold in the corn and cotija cheese until evenly coated and distributed.
- Then pour the corn mixture into the baking dish and pop it in the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Before serving, you can top it with additional seasonings, cotija cheese, and chopped fresh cilantro if desired.
Elote Casserole Substitutions & Variations
This casserole can be customized any way you like. While not exactly the traditional elote, a few fun ways to change it up include:
- Sprinkling green onions on top
- Adding in jalapeno pepper
- Make it even creamier with some cream cheese in the sour cream/mayo mix
- Use ancho chili powder in place of standard chili powder
- Add in cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese to make it extra cheesy
- Sprinkle in some black pepper
- Add in red pepper flakes for extra spice
- Add in roasted green chiles or extra chili powder to add a little heat
Mexican Corn Casserole Recipe Tips & Tricks
- It’s important that the corn is fully thawed before you cook with it. If not, it can cause the casserole to be watery.
- Make sure your spices aren’t expired. It’s a good idea to check them at least once a year!
- If you want to make this into a one-dish meal, you can add some cooked lean ground beef that’s been seasoned with taco seasoning for a full meal.
How to store this Mexican Street Corn Casserole Recipe
To store leftover street corn casserole, allow it to first come to room temperature. Once it has cooled completely, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for 3-4 days.
products used to make Mexican Street Corn Casserole
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Buy Now → Mexican Street Corn Casserole FAQs
If you made a corn casserole with frozen corn or undrained canned corn, you should have thawed the corn first. Skipping this step will result in a watery casserole.
Mexican street corn can be enjoyed with other Mexican foods like tacos, enchiladas
The seasoning for elote typically contains a spice mix of chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and salt. Chili lime seasoning is another popular topping for elote. You can also sometimes find pre-mixed elote seasoning at specialty grocery stores.
“Street corn” is the English name for the Mexican corn-on-the-cob dish known as “elote.”
Because of the water content of corn, corn casserole does have a wet quality. However, corn casserole shouldn’t be watery and soggy. Using unthawed frozen corn or undrained canned corn can cause this.
Elote is grilled corn on the cob, traditionally slathered with mayonnaise or crema, then sprinkled with cheese, chili powder, and lime juice. Esquite, on the other hand, is a Mexican street corn salad made by cutting the kernels off the cob and mixing them with similar toppings, allowing for easier eating with a spoon. Both dishes offer the same bold, creamy flavors, but esquite is more portable and often served in cups.
More Corn Recipes
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Elote Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 30 ounces frozen corn thawed
- 6 ounces cotija
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- limes zested and juiced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the mayo, sour cream, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, lime zest, and lime juice. Mix to combine well.
- Add the corn and cotija cheese to the mix and stir to combine.
- Pour the corn mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Top with additional seasonings, cotija cheese, and cilantro if desired.
Video
Notes
- It’s important that the corn is fully thawed. If not, it can cause the casserole to be watery.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
