Elote Dip (Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipe)

If there's one dip that disappears faster than you can say "Mexican Street Corn," it's this dip. This Elote Dip is bold, bright, zesty, and downright addictive. With sweet corn, jalapeno, cream cheese, flavorful spices, and lime, it's the kind of crowd-pleaser your company won't be able to stop eating it!

You've got the most perfect mix of the best flavors in this super-easy dip: sweetness, tanginess, smokiness, just the right amount of spice, and fresh flavors to round it out. While the creaminess of the sour cream, cream cheese, and mayo combo brings a richness to the dish, the fresh lime juice cuts through any heaviness, keeping the dip from feeling heavy. Is there a more perfect flavor profile for a go-to summertime appetizer? The best part? It only takes 15 minutes to throw together. You've got yourself a cookout appetizer win!

Perfectly dippable, this elote dip recipe is great for summer gatherings, BBQs, fiestas, and more. This dip combines sweet, smoky, tangy, creamy, and mildly spicy elements, making it a delightful and crowd-pleasing dish.

When it comes to elote, I've tasted the good, the bad, and the renditions that fell really short. The good news? It's actually super easy to recreate "the good" at home; you just need the right list of ingredients for authentic flavor and the right quantity for balance.

This Mexican street corn dip balances flavor, texture, and convenience while staying true to the essence of authentic elote. It has similar creamy corn vibes to our corn dip recipe but elevated in spice and authentic Mexican food flavor to give it that extra pizazz.

This recipe was developed and refined with authentic elote flavors at the forefront of mind and transformed into an easy-to-eat, delicious dip you and your guests will love.

Elote Dip Ingredients

This elote corn dip recipe stays true to traditional elote flavors. It's just as easy to make and seriously addictive with every bite.

Sweet, Buttery Corn | The base of the dish is sautéed canned corn, browned in butter with jalapeno and garlic, which elevates the flavor due to the stovetop char, enhancing its natural sweetness and adding a rich, savory depth.

Creamy & Tangy Sauce | A blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise forms the creamy component, providing a smooth texture and a tangy contrast to the sweet corn. Fresh lime juice and zest are incorporated to introduce a bright, citrusy note.

Smoky & Spicy Seasoning | Feel free to use our homemade elote seasoning here. This Mexican street corn dip seasoning is simpified and made with sugar, garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, and Kosher salt. This combination delivers smoky, slightly spicy flavors, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.

Salty & Savory Cheese | Crumbled cotija cheese is sprinkled on top, adding a salty, umami-rich element that complements the other flavors.

Fresh & Zesty Garnishes | The dish is finished with chopped fresh cilantro for a herbal freshness, a sprinkle of Tajín seasoning for an extra kick, and a lime wedge to allow for additional citrusy brightness.

How Make Elote Dip

Sauté Corn + Jalapeno | Because we use canned corn for simplicity and speed, there is no shucking required for this one-pan recipe (you're welcome, for minimal cleanup!). This perfect Mexican dip is easily transportable and ideal for self-serve, making it a great choice for parties. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, toss in your butter. Once melted, add the corn and chopped jalapeno.

Add Garlic | Continue to sauté the corn and jalapeno, stirring often, for about 4-5 minutes. Add your garlic, stir, and cook for 1 more minute.

Melt the Cream Cheese | Turn down the heat to medium-low. Add the cream cheese, mayo, lime juice, chile powder, smoked paprika, and salt.

Stir | Stir until the cream cheese is smooth and melted and all ingredients are well combined.

Break Out Your Toppings | Remove from the heat and garnish with cotija cheese, cilantro, green onion, and Tajin, if desired.

Serve + Enjoy! | Serve with tortilla chips or Fritos and enjoy!

For a few other dishes that this dip would knock out of the park, try it with shrimp tacos, beef enchiladas, or chicken enchiladas!

Serving Suggestions

How to Serve | Elote dip can be served right away or at room temperature. It's definitely best right after the cream cheese melts and the garnishes hit the top. Serve with tortilla chips or Fritos, but carrots and bell pepper strips would also make a great healthy addition.

Serve Alongside | This dip is so perfect with Mexican street tacos, fajita nachos, chicken flautas, steak quesadillas, and don't forget margaritas! The tangy balance of the dip complements each of those recipes so well, leveling up their Mexican flavors tenfold. Include lime wedges on the side and pickled jalapenos for those who love an extra pop of spice.

Make Ahead | If you'd like to make this recipe in advance, bring the dish together as directed up to two days in advance, but do not add any garnishes. Transfer to a heat-proof container, seal, and refrigerate. Just before serving, reheat in the microwave for one-minute increments, stirring after each minute. Transfer to the desired serving vessel and garnish as directed.

5 More Mexican Dips You’ll Love

• Authentic Queso | A rich, creamy Tex-Mex dip made with real cheese, fire-roasted tomatoes, green chiles, and sautéed aromatics for a smooth, flavorful kick that tastes like the real deal—no Velveeta allowed!
• Guacamole | A fresh, flavorful blend of creamy avocados, lime juice, garlic, and salt—perfectly balanced and easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.
• Salsa Fresca | A vibrant, chunky mix of fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice, delivering bright, zesty flavor with just the right amount of heat.
• Refried Bean Dip | A warm, creamy, and cheesy layered dip made with seasoned refried beans, sour cream, and melty cheese, perfect for scooping with tortilla chips or serving alongside your favorite Tex-Mex dishes.
• 7 Layer Dip | A crowd-pleasing Tex-Mex classic featuring flavorful layers of refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese, olives, and green onions for a colorful, creamy, and zesty party favorite.