Elote Air Fryer Recipe: My Mexican Street Corn Obsession

If, like me, you have a deep love for the traditional Mexican street corn, and if you’re a sweet corn lover (also me), then you’re in for a treat with this elote air fryer version of Mexican street style corn. 

Why This Air Fryer Street Corn Works

---

What Is Elote Style Street Corn?

Elote style street corn, is corn slathered with rich mayo, crema (or sour cream), topped with parmesany crumbled Mexican cotija cheese, fresh cilantro, and finished with fresh lime juice.

It’s rich, sweet, salty, tangy, with a hint of spice.

---

Ingredient List and Substitutions

Air Fryer Corn

1. Fresh Ears of Corn (or frozen corn cobs)
2. Avocado Oil
3. Filtered Water

Simple Ingredients For Elote Recipe

1. Mayonnaise
2. Mexican Crema (if you can’t find crema, swap it for sour cream)
3. Mexican Cotija Cheese – parmesan cheese, queso fresco, or feta cheese are great alternatives.
4. Fresh Lime Juice – if you’re out of lime juice, use lemon juice instead. (optional)
5. Fresh Cilantro

Elote seasoning

This elote Seasoning combination is made with chili powder, cumin powder, paprika, and lime chili powder (tajin), which can be optional.

I love the hint of acidity from the tajin.

Equipment

1. XL Air Fryer
2. Pastry Brush
3. Bowl or Baking Dish
4. Tongs
5. (3) Small to Medium Bowls

Step-by-Step Instructions For Air Fryer Elote

Elote Air Fryer

• Remove the husks and corn silk, and soak the fresh corn in filtered water for 20 minutes.
• Brush the corn with avocado oil.
• Preheat the air fryer for at least a minute, and place the corn in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Flip halfway through.

Prepare The Elote Ingredients

• Crumble the cotija cheese in a small bowl and set aside.
• Set the mayo and crema or sour cream aside.
• Mix the dry seasoning in a bowl and set aside.

Final Steps

• Remove the corn from the air fryer.
• Brush each ear of corn with a healthy coat of mayonnaise using a pastry brush, followed by crema or sour cream.Then add the salty cotija cheese and sprinkle on the elote seasoning and fresh cilantro.
• If you love lime on elote (I do!), squeeze fresh lime juice on the elote and serve.

How To Serve Elote

Serve with a lime wedge and freshly cut cilantro, and serve!

If you’re setting it out for a group, or party, place wax or parchment paper on a cutting board, and place the elote on the board. With lime wedges, a side of hot sauce, and a side of extra elote sauce, for those who are obsessed and want a bit more on their delicious corn.

Air Fryer Street Corn Variations

I enjoy a crunchy texture. If you also love crunchiness, then you should try these variations.

Toppings

• Crumbled tortilla chips – sprinkle them on the elote, after the lime juice, and before serving for a good crunch.
• Crumbled corn chips – these organic corn chips from Trader Joe’s are crunchy, and delicious!

Tip

Separate the elote seasoning layers.

You can make a mayonnaise mixture by mixing the spices in a bowl with the mayonnaise and sour cream and then brushing the mixture on the corn.

Storage and Reheating

Store in a glass airtight container.

No reheating recommended, allow it to sit in room temperature for a couple of minutes, then serve.

What To Serve With Mexican Elote

I love this with an easy air-fried plantain chip recipe or arañitas de platano, twice fried patacones, and these air fried yuca fries.

You can even turn this corn into a quesadilla rellena, but cutting the corn from the cob.

Looking for other recipes?

Try some of my favorites:

Pork Belly Fried Rice

Super Crispy Pollo Empanizado (Breaded Chicken)

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment or rate it. I would love to hear from you and try my best to respond to all comments.