There’s something addictive about the creamy, spicy, tangy flavor of Mexican street corn, and this Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipes Recipe captures all that magic in a scoopable, shareable form. It’s perfect for parties, casual get-togethers, or whenever you want that fiesta vibe without dealing with actual corn on the cob.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I love this recipe because it nails the flavors of authentic Mexican street corn while making it super easy to share. It’s a crowd-pleaser every time, and the best part? You don’t have to deal with messy corn cobs!
- Amazing Flavor Blend: The combination of cream cheese, lime, jalapeño, and feta creates that perfect balance of spice, creaminess, and tanginess.
- Simple Prep: No fancy tools needed; just blend, mix, and bake — it comes together in under 30 minutes.
- Customizable Heat Level: Leave the jalapeño seeds in for a kick or take them out for a milder dip everyone will enjoy.
- Versatile Serving: Great with chips, veggies, or spread on sandwiches for a flavorful upgrade.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient plays an essential part in building those layered flavors you crave in Mexican street corn — creamy, spicy, tangy, and cheesy. Plus, they’re easy to find almost anywhere, and you can swap according to what you have at home.
- Cream Cheese: Provides that luscious, creamy base that holds everything together without being too heavy.
- Sour Cream: Adds a little tang and smooths out the heat; Greek yogurt or mayo can stand in if you like.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic brings that subtle savory depth without overpowering the dip.
- Hot Sauce: Your secret weapon for keeping the dip vibrant and zesty — adjust to taste.
- Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice brightens everything up and mimics the elote experience perfectly.
- Pepper Jack Cheese: Melts beautifully and gives a nice mild spice; Mexican blend cheese is a great alternative for less heat.
- Corn: I use canned corn drained and rinsed for convenience, but fresh or frozen works just as well.
- Feta or Cotija Cheese: Crumbled on top for saltiness and that signature street corn flavor.
- Jalapeño: For that punch of fresh heat — I keep the seeds in when I want it spicy, but you can remove them if preferred.
- Red Onion: Adds a crisp bite and some sharpness that cuts through the creaminess.
- Cilantro: The fresh herb that ties it all together with its bright, herbal note.
Make It Your Way
This dip is a fantastic base for you to get creative. I often tweak it depending on who I’m feeding or what I have in the fridge, and honestly, that’s part of the fun.
- Variation: Once, I swapped the jalapeño for a milder poblano pepper — loved the smoky depth it added without too much heat.
- Dairy-Free Twist: I’ve experimented with dairy-free cream cheese and mayo, and it still tastes terrific — just a bit lighter.
- Extra Crunch: Toss in some roasted pepitas on top for texture; it’s a game-changer.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipes Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Blend the Creamy Base
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and prepping a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray — this helps the dip not stick and makes cleanup way easier. Then, pop your cream cheese, sour cream, minced garlic, hot sauce, lime juice, and half the shredded cheese into a blender or mixer. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. This step ensures your dip has that silky texture that everyone loves.
Step 2: Fold in the Veggies and Cheeses
Pour your creamy mixture into a large bowl and add the remaining cheese, drained corn, crumbled feta, chopped jalapeño, red onion, and cilantro. Gently stir everything together so all those flavors mingle but you don’t crush the corn. This part is fun because you can sneak a little taste and adjust seasoning!
Step 3: Bake Until Hot and Bubbly
Transfer the mixture to your prepared dish and sprinkle extra cheese on top if you like it cheesy and golden. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the dip is bubbly and warmed through. You’ll know it’s ready when you see the edges start to brown and the aroma fills the kitchen. Serve warm with your favorite chips or veggies!
Top Tip
From my many batches of making this dip, a few tweaks have made all the difference, so let me share what works best for ensuring your Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipes Recipe turns out perfectly every time.
- Use Room Temp Cream Cheese: It blends more smoothly and makes the dip creamier — cold blocks can lead to lumps.
- Don’t Skip Rinsing Canned Corn: This removes excess sodium and any canning liquid taste, keeping your dip bright and fresh.
- Balance Your Heat: Taste the dip before baking and adjust the hot sauce or jalapeño to your spice comfort zone.
- Give It a Rest: Let the dip chill slightly after baking to thicken up and develop flavors — it’s worth the wait.
How to Serve Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipes Recipe
Garnishes
I love finishing the dip with a sprinkling of extra cilantro and crumbled feta or Cotija for that salty pop. A few dashes of hot sauce or a pinch of smoked paprika on top add a beautiful color and boost the spice if you like it. Don’t underestimate the power of those small touches!
Side Dishes
This dip pairs beautifully with tortilla chips, but I also enjoy it with crunchy veggie sticks like jicama, cucumber, or bell pepper for a lighter option. If you’re hosting a bigger meal, quesadillas and grilled meats balance the richness of this dip wonderfully.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I’ve served this dip layered in individual mini ramekins topped with fresh cilantro leaves and tiny jalapeño slices — so cute and perfect for portion control. Another fun idea is stuffing mini bell peppers with the dip or using it as a topping for loaded nachos for some extra flair.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, I store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It holds up well for 3-4 days and actually tastes even better the next day when the flavors have melded. Just give it a good stir before reheating.
Freezing
I’ve frozen this dip a couple of times with decent results — just thaw overnight in the fridge and stir well to recombine any separation. It’s best to freeze in smaller portions for easy defrosting.
Reheating
To reheat, I recommend warming the dip gently in the oven at 325°F for about 10-15 minutes or in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between. Avoid overheating to keep the cheese creamy and prevent the dip from drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Fresh corn adds a wonderful sweetness and texture. Just char or sauté the kernels slightly before mixing them in to get that authentic elote flavor.
Feta cheese is a great substitute and works well in this recipe by adding that salty, tangy punch similar to Cotija. Just crumble it on top as usual.
Yes! You can mix everything up and refrigerate it unbaked for a few hours or overnight. Just pop it in the oven when you’re ready to serve.
The spiciness depends on your jalapeño and hot sauce choices. You can control heat by removing jalapeño seeds or using milder hot sauces. Taste before baking to get it just right!
Final Thoughts
This Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipes Recipe is one of those dishes that feels like an instant party starter and a comforting snack rolled into one. Every time I bring it out, I get requests for the recipe, and it’s honestly because it’s flavorful, quick, and totally addictive. I can’t wait for you to try it and make it your own — you’ll be sharing it with friends again and again.
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Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipes Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
This Mexican Street Corn Dip (Elote Dip) is a creamy, spicy, and tangy appetizer inspired by classic Mexican street corn. Made with low-fat cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, lime juice, cheeses, corn, jalapeños, and fresh cilantro, this dip is baked until hot and bubbly, perfect for parties or casual snacking.
Ingredients
Base
- 16 oz. low-fat cream cheese (room temperature, 2 bricks)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoon hot sauce
- 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
- 2 cups freshly shredded pepper jack cheese (divided, or Mexican blend cheese for milder flavor)
Mix-ins
- 30 oz. canned corn (fully drained and rinsed, 2 cans; fresh or defrosted frozen also work)
- 4 oz. low-fat feta cheese (or Cotija cheese, crumbled)
- 1 jalapeño pepper (chopped, seeds in for extra spice or removed for milder flavor)
- 2 tablespoon chopped red onion
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and set it aside to prepare the dip for baking.
- Blend Base Ingredients: In a high-powered blender or mixer, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, minced garlic, hot sauce, fresh lime juice, and half of the shredded pepper jack cheese (1 cup). Blend these ingredients until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Combine Mix-ins: Transfer the cream cheese mixture to a large bowl. Add the remaining 1 cup of shredded pepper jack cheese, drained corn, crumbled feta, chopped jalapeño, red onion, and fresh cilantro. Stir well to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble & Bake: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish. If desired, sprinkle additional cheese on top for extra cheesiness. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted, hot, and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the dip from the oven and garnish with extra cilantro, crumbled feta, and a drizzle of hot sauce if you like additional spice. Serve warm with chips or your favorite dippers.
Notes
- Using Cotija cheese instead of feta will give a more authentic Mexican street corn flavor.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeño and hot sauce based on your desired spice level.
- Fresh or thawed frozen corn can be used in place of canned corn for a fresher taste.
- This dip can be made ahead and baked just before serving to save time.
- Serve with tortilla chips, sliced veggies, or crusty bread for dipping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 361 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 764 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 72 mg
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