Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn (Air Fryer Elotes Recipe)

These Air Fryer Elotes (also known as Mexican street corn) are an easy and delicious Mexican side dish. Juicy charred corn on the cob coated in a homemade creamy mayo spread, topped with cotija cheese, chili powder, lime juice, and fresh cilantro.

Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn Recipe

Get ready for the flavor explosion! This sweet, salty, and savory Mexican street corn side dish is ridiculously easy, made in the air fryer, and ready in just 20 minutes! You can serve this Mexican street style corn any time of the year, but it's especially popular for Cinco de Mayo and summer parties. We love to pair this elotes corn on the cob recipe with fresh mango salsa and tequila lime chicken wings. Here are some more reasons why you will love this easy air fryer elotes recipe:

• Helps save space on the grill. If you are not in the mood to fire up the grill or do not own a grill, using the air fryer is a great alternative. You still get that juicy charred corn taste without all the mess of grilling. 
• Simple ingredients. You only need a handful of fresh ingredients to create this popular Mexican dish.
• Easy easy air fryer recipe. This Mexican corn recipe is ready in just 20 minutes, from start to finish.

Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make elote (air fryer street corn):

Ingredient Notes

• Corn Cobs: Look for ears of fresh sweet corn on the cob. Remove the husks and silk.
• Olive Oil: A small amount of oil helps crisp the air fryer corn. You could also use avocado oil or melted unsalted butter. 
• Mayonnaise & Sour Cream: This creamy sauce combines sour cream and Primal Kitchen avocado oil mayonnaise.
• Lime: You'll need fresh lime juice for the sauce, and a few extra lime wedges to squeeze over the top of the finished product.
• Mexican Cotija Cheese: This crumbly aged Mexican cheese is a key ingredient. It’s crumbly, salty, and creamy — perfect for sprinkling on top of charred corn. You can break apart and crumble the cheese with your fingers, but I highly recommend grating the block of cheese for a finer texture. If you can not find cotija cheese, you can also substitute it with parmesan cheese or feta cheese.
• Chili Powder: A dash of chili powder adds flavor to the mayo sauce, and serves as a garnish on top of the charred corn. If you are looking for a spicy flavor, add a touch of cayenne pepper.
• Cilantro: Freshly chopped cilantro adds the perfect finishing touch. 

Find the printable full recipe card with full instructions and measurements below.

How To Make Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn (Elotes)

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to make this air fryer Mexican street corn recipe.

• Step 1: Prepare the corn. Preheat your air fryer to 390° F. While you wait for your air fryer to preheat, brush each ear of corn with olive oil.
• Step 2: Air fry the corn. Once your fryer is ready, place the corn in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 6-7 minutes. (If your air fryer basket is too small to fit all of the corn, air fry in batches).
• Step 3: Rotate the corn. Halfway through, flip the corn to ensure even cooking. Air fry for another 6-8 minutes (12-15 min of air frying time). Carefully remove the corn from the air fryer basket. Set the corn aside to cool before applying the sauce.
• Step 4: Make the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, and chili powder until smooth.

• Step 5: Coat the corn in the mayonnaise mixture. Using a pastry brush, brush a thick layer of sauce all over each piece of corn.
• Step 6: Add the crumbled cotija cheese and garnishes. Sprinkle the crumbled salty cotija cheese all over each piece of corn, then top with a few sprinkles of chili powder and freshly chopped cilantro. Squeeze a small amount of lime juice over the top and serve immediately, while still warm.

 Serve as Elotes or Esquites

The key difference between traditional Mexican street corn and esquites is how they're served. Elote is enjoyed on the cob, while esquites are served in a cup, layered with the mayonnaise mixture, lime juice, and spices. You'll often find esquites sold by Mexican street vendors, complete with a spoon for easy mixing.

• Elote style (on the cob): You can use a grill or make this air fryer version to char the corn on the cob, then slather on the mayo sauce. Sprinkle on the cotija cheese, chili powder, and cilantro. and serve immediately with lime wedges. 
• Esquites (in a cup): First, using a sharp knife, carefully slice the charred corn kernels from the cobs into a bowl containing the mayonnaise sauce. Briefly stir the mixture to combine. Next, spoon the corn mixture into small, clear glass cups. Finally, garnish each cup with chili powder, cotija cheese, and cilantro. Serve immediately with a lime wedge and a spoon.

Storage

• To store: Elote is best served fresh, but any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
• Reheat: Reheat in the microwave until warm.

Expert Tips

• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket: For optimal charring, arrange the corn ears in a single layer in your air fryer. If your tray can't fit all four ears at once, cook them in batches
• Cut the ears of corn in half: For party-sized elotes, cut the corn cobs in half before cooking.
• Use fresh shucked corn. For the best flavor, use fresh corn within 1-2 days of purchase. To save time, buy pre-shucked corn.
• Sprinkle on the cheese, don’t roll. Cotija cheese tends to clump when mixed into the mayonnaise and sour cream sauce. To avoid this, sprinkle the cheese over the corn instead of rolling the corn in it.

I hope you love this Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn recipe as much as I do! If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.

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