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One dish that has become popular in recent years in the US is Mexican street corn. This savory side dish is perfect when paired with a Mexican main course. I love to pair this with my salsa chicken recipe! They are both simple to make and so tasty!
Summer is a great time to make this dish. Once the summer corn crop has come in, it is much easier to find and it is also inexpensive. I find it to be much sweeter and more tender during the summer months as well.
Mexican street corn, also known as Elote, is not a new dish. Although we do not know exactly when it was first conceived, its origins may go back as far as the Aztecs or Mayans. It is easy to find this dish throughout Mexico to this day. It is popular with street vendors and restaurants.
In the US it has only gained popularity within the past decade. But now it is easy to find at street fairs, outdoor markets, food trucks, and as a summer side dish at many Mexican restaurants. This recipe has been adapted to be suitable for one person. It is naturally gluten-free. You can easily adapt it to serve more people.
I’m not going to lie…I often double this recipe and eat both ears of corn. It’s just so good!
Here’s my simple recipe for Mexican street corn (Elote) that you can make for one person:

Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your air fryer at 400 F.
- Place the corn in the air fryer and cook, turning once halfway through, until the kernels are charred in spots and fully cooked (approximately8-10 minutes).
- In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and sour cream.
- Brush the grilled corn with the mayonnaise and sour cream mixture.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the corn. Make sure it sticks to the mayo mixture.
- Dust corn with chili powder and smoked paprika.
- Squeeze lime wedge over the corn for added flavor.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and add a pinch of salt.