Elote In A Cup (Corn In A Cup) - Midwestern HomeLife

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elote recipe with canned corn in a clear plastic cup.

This Elote with Canned Corn recipe is like Mexican street corn salad served in a handy-dandy cup. Made with fresh, frozen, or canned corn, these easy 10-minute Mexican corn salad cups are creamy, flavorful, and topped with crunchy Fritos!

Be sure to try Mexican Street Corn Pinwheels and Corn Dip with Cream Cheese next.

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You're Going to Love This
Ingredients
Substitutions
Variations
How to Make Elote with Canned Corn
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
More Easy Recipes
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Elote en vaso, aka esquites, or corn in a cup, is a popular Mexican street food made with corn, onions, lime juice, chili powder, cotija cheese, and mayonnaise served in a plastic or styrofoam cup.

My easy recipe for corn in a cup may not exactly be authentic, but it sure is a fun appetizer or snack to serve at parties, picnics, or out on the boat on a hot summer day. To learn how to make the real deal, try this authentic Mexican esquites recipe.

You're Going to Love This

Elote in a cup has all the flavors of Mexican street corn in a cute cup!
Fun appetizer or snack for holidays, picnics, parties, and game day -- everyone loves having their own individual appetizer!
Perfect side dish to serve with your favorite Mexican dishes for Cinco de Mayo
Delicious elote recipe, off the cob (less messy!)
Crunchy Fritos add great taste and texture to these creamy corn cups

Ingredients

See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.

Sweet corn. Canned corn or frozen and thawed corn kernels work great in elote in a cup. I especially like fire-roasted corn. If you have fresh corn, you can use it fresh raw, boiled, or grilled.

Sour cream. Sour cream adds tang to the mayonnaise dressing.

Cotija cheese. Cotija cheese is a white, crumbly Mexican cheese with a salty flavor.

Fritos. The crunchy Fritos just might be the best part of this whole recipe.

Fresh cilantro or parsley. Cilantro is a natural pairing with Mexican cuisine, but if you're like me and can't do cilantro, use parsley.

Substitutions

Instead of sour cream, use Mexican crema or Greek yogurt.
If you can't find cotija cheese, queso fresco, feta cheese, or Parmesan cheese are all great substitutes.
No green onions in the fridge? Try one of these substitutes for scallions. Red onion is a great one.
Try crushed-up tortilla chips or Flamin' Hot Cheetos instead of Fritos!

Variations

Stir black beans, diced red pepper, jalapeño pepper, or radishes into the creamy corn salad
For even more flavor, add a little cayenne, hot sauce, or tajin seasoning!
Instead of serving this elote recipe in individual cups, spoon it into little scoops corn chips and serve with salsa fresca

How to Make Elote with Canned Corn

Step 1: Stir mayonnaise, sour cream, 3 tablespoons of cotija, chili powder, garlic powder, lime juice, green onions, and parsley (or cilantro) in a small bowl.

Step 2: Add the corn and stir the mixture together.

Step 3: Spoon the corn mixture into 4 individual cups. If you're serving them right away, layer them with Fritos in the middle, like a parfait. If you're making for later, add the Fritos on top right before serving.

Step 4: Top with the remaining cheese, parsley, green onion, a sprinkle of chili powder, and lime wedges from the other ½ of the lime.

Serve corn cups with a full Mexican-inspired meal with Cucumber Pico de Gallo, Green Chicken Enchiladas, and Elote Fries.

Expert Tips

Can't find cotija cheese? Use feta or Parmesan cheese instead.
If making elote in a cup ahead of time, add the Fritos on top right before serving or they'll get soggy.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this elote recipe with canned corn ahead of time?

Yes, corn in a cup is a great make ahead recipe! Assemble the Mexican street corn salad and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Right before serving, spoon the corn mixture into cups with the Fritos and the rest of the toppings.

What is the difference between elote and esquites?

Elote is Mexican street corn served on the cob, while esquites is Mexican street corn that is served in a cup.

What kind of corn can I use in elote in a cup?

You can make elote in a cup with fresh corn -- raw, boiled, or grilled, frozen and thawed corn, or canned corn that's well-drained. If you prefer to boil, sautee, or broil the frozen corn first, you certainly can.

More Easy Recipes

Cucumber Pico de Gallo
Mexican Street Corn Pinwheel Appetizers
Roasted Chili Corn Salsa
Watermelon Goat Cheese Salad with Cucumber

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Elote in a Cup (Frozen or Canned Corn)

Cara Lanz This Elote with frozen or canned corn is like Mexican street corn served in a handy-dandy cup! This fresh sweet corn salad is full of fresh flavor and topped with crunchy Fritos, cheese, and seasonings for the ultimate appetizer or snack. 4.34 from 18 votes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe! Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 0 minutes Total Time 10 minutes Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish, SnackCuisine American Servings 4Calories 377 kcal

Ingredients 1x2x3x

▢ 3 cups corn, frozen (thawed), or 2 cans of corn (well-drained)
▢ 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
▢ 3 tablespoons sour cream
▢ 4 tablespoons cotija cheese, or feta -- divided, save some for garnish
▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder, plus more for garnish
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 lime, divided ½ juiced, ½ cut into wedges
▢ 3 green onions, sliced -- divided, save some for garnish
▢ 3 tablespoons chopped parsley -- divided, save some for garnish or cilantro
▢ 1-2 cups Frito chips amount varies if using in layers or only as a topping

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Instructions

Stir mayonnaise, sour cream, 3 tablespoons of cotija, chili powder, garlic powder, juice from ½ of a lime, 2 sliced green onions, and 2 tablespoons parsley (or cilantro) together in a small bowl. Add corn and stir to combine.
Spoon the corn mixture into 4 individual cups. Optional, add a layer of Fritos in the middle, like a parfait, if serving right away. Otherwise, add Fritos on top right before serving.
Top the cups with the remaining cheese, parsley, green onion, a sprinkle of chili powder, and fresh lime wedges.

Notes

Make Ahead: Assemble the corn salad and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Right before serving, spoon the corn mixture into cups and add the Fritos and the rest of the toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 9gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 390mgPotassium: 385mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 937IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 146mgIron: 1mg Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comments

So delicious!!! My favorite street corn recipe!!!
Reply
- That's awesome, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Cara
  Reply

4.34 from 18 votes (17 ratings without comment)

Hi, I'm Cara!

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