Elote Seasoning Recipe (Better than Trader Joe's)

Move over, Trader Joe's! Elote Seasoning just got better at home. No need to run to the store to spice up your corn; you likely have all the ingredients you need in your spice cabinet.

This smoky, vibrant spice blend instantly elevates elote, and our homemade rendition beats the pants off of the "Everything but Elote Seasoning" from Trader Joe's.

With having tested and published over 800 from-scratch recipes here at The Anthony Kitchen, including 100+ Tex-Mex staples, it's safe to say we've got Mexican food seasoning on lock.

This blend is similar to taco seasoning, but it was made custom-made to elevate elote (grilled corn on a skewer) and all the traditional toppings that come along with it: creamy, tangy mayo-chili sauce, cotija cheese, and cilantro.

Our family loves this seasoning for corn, popcorn, dips, and various meats. I promise yours will too. And another win--no preservatives, no fillers, no additives, just simple, clean ingredients that make everything better.

Elote Seasoning Ingredients and Substitutions

When it comes to elote seasoning, most recipes are all about acid and salt—but not this one. This blend goes beyond the basics, delivering real depth of flavor that will truly set your food off. It’s smoky, a little spicy, and layered with just the right balance of warmth and zest to elevate everything from grilled corn to tacos, roasted veggies, and even popcorn. Get ready to taste the difference that bold, well-rounded seasoning can make.

The spices include:

• Kosher Salt | We love this type of salt for savory recipes and homemade spice blends because of its clean, balanced flavor. If using table salt, cut back the quantity by 25-50%.
• Granulated Sugar | It seems like a strange ingredient for savory recipes, but sugar actually adds a great deal of balance to the smoky chili powder additions.
• Chipotle Powder | Deeply flavorful, with great smoky vibes, chipotle powder gives corn a chargrilled flavor without the grill. Use chili powder in place if you can't find it.
• Smoked Paprika | This spice doubles up on the smoky, wood-fired flavor, a great complement to corn. You can use regular paprika in a pinch.
• Cumin | An earthy, savory boost that rounds out flavors, you find cumin in most Mexican dishes.
• Garlic Powder | Garlic adds subtle umami to the spice mix and is probably one of the greatest hype men for other spices, simultaneously boosting their flavor while imparting its own.
• Onion Powder | Onion adds subtle sweetness and flavor of slow-cooked onions.

Cheese | You might find elote seasoning blends with either nutritional yeast or powdered cheese in the mix. Nutritional yeast is used to add cheesy flavor to commercially produced spice blends, but since this isn't an ingredient I keep on hand (and you probably don't either), it didn't make the cut. As for the powdered parmesan, based on our "fresh is best" cooking principals around here and the fact that it will lower the shelf life of your homemade elote seasoning, we opted out of that as well. Instead, I suggest using fresh, grated parmesan or crumbled cotija cheese for garnish instead.

Lime Peel | Similarly, fresh lime zest is going to have far more flavor than its dehydrated counterpart, dried lime peel. If you want to add more "zing" to your seasoning, zest a fresh lime and rub it into the dry mix using your fingertips just before sprinkling. We do this with our lemon pepper chicken, and it works like a charm every time.

Spice | If you want to ramp up the spice in your elote seasoning, cayenne pepper will do the trick. Remember, a little goes a long way--a ¼ to a ½ teaspoon is likely enough to add the kick you're looking for.

How to Make Elote Seasoning

Mix the Seasoning | Gather your ingredients and, in a small bowl or spice jar, combine them well (until it's one solid color and texture). If you're using a spice jar with a lid, you can simply shake it to mix. Remember, if you want extra spice, to throw in that cayenne pepper!

Add Fresh Ingredients | Just before using your seasoning, enhance your spice blend with the fresh ingredients: fresh lime zest and grated parmesan or cotija cheese to your spice blend. Because these are fresh ingredients, they do not have a long shelf life and only go in before serving.

How to Store It

Keep the elote seasoning sealed in an airtight container at room temperature in a cabinet, drawer, or the pantry. Store in a cool, dry place for up to a year.

More Ways to Use Elote Seasoning

More Veggies, Please | The goodness doesn't stop with corn. This seasoning blend will amp the flavor of just about summer veggie (especially zucchini and yellow squash), fajita veggies, potatoes, and more.

Get Snacky | Use this elote seasoning recipe to add flavor to Mexican corn dip, add it to popcorn, or sprinkle over French fries. It definitely levels up the flavor of dips and dressings

Ramp Up the Protein | This spice blend actually adds great flavor to grilled meats and favorite Mexican-flavored proteins; also, a super quick way to spruce up fajitas and chicken tacos! Add big flavor to your beef in these steak quesadillas, too, and it can even be used on barbacoa.

5 Homemade Spice Blends to Try

• Chicken Seasoning
• Fajita Marinade
• Ranch Seasoning
• Shrimp Seasoning
• All-Purpose Seasoning