This quick and easy corn dip has all the flavor of traditional Mexican street corn, but in a zesty dip that’s ready in less than 30 minutes. Grab your favorite chips and get to dipping!
I’m a massive fan of Mexican street corn, which is why I love my Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos so much. I could be at an Italian restaurant having a fancy pasta dinner and someone could offer me street corn and I’d be like “YES PLEASE” while I knock people over to get to it.
The only problem with it is that it’s hard to find fresh corn on the cob when corn isn’t in season around here [insert corn-loving sobs here]. That’s why I like to make this Mexican Corn Dip! All the flavor, but convenient year round (and less kernels stuck in my teeth, which is an added bonus).
Tips for making Mexican corn dip
- Choice of corn: I like to use a mix of white corn and yellow sweet corn, but using just one or the other works just as well.
- Spice level: I’m a big fan of jalapenos and spices like chipotle powder and chili powder for flavor and a little heat, but I’m not a big fan of “make you sweat” kind of spicy. But if you do, you can do two things:
- Don’t remove the ribs and seeds from the jalapeno
- And add more jalapeno and spices than the recipe calls for to accommodate your preference!
- Cheeeeeese: Crumbled cotija cheese is probably my favorite cheese on the planet – but I know that it’s not always easily accessible for everyone. If you’re having trouble finding it yourself, you can substitute feta cheese.
- Saucepan choice: Grab the biggest saucepan you have, preferably a high-sided one. The corn might pop a bit and that will help keep it contained while you’re stirring everything as it cooks.
- Stir, but not too much: You’ll want to stir the mixture frequently, but not constantly. You want to give the corn enough time to lightly char against the pan, and if you’re constantly stirring it won’t get a chance.
Do I have to use fresh corn?
Fresh corn cut off the cob works the best, but it’s not your only option.
- Frozen corn that has not been thawed also works well!
- And as a last resort, you can use canned corn – but you’ll need to put in a bit of effort to dry it out as much as possible. Drain it with a colander, then let it sit on a couple paper towels and pat dry with another paper towel.
The reason the moisture is so important is that if it’s too wet it won’t char, and that’s what helps give this dip part of its signature flavor.
What to serve with Mexican corn dip
You want sturdy chips for this one this it’s a chunky dip – no weak, liquidy salsa vibes here.
So grab your favorite thick tortilla chips, pita chips, scoop-shaped corn chips, or even ridged potato chips.
Or, you know, just grab a ladle I mean… spoon.
Other uses for this dip
While this recipe is perfect simply as a dip, you can also add it to lots of other appetizers and main dishes:
- Add it as a topping to your favorite taco recipe (my favorite already has corn, but frankly I can never get enough so LOAD ME UP, SISTER)
- Use it as a filling for burritos
- Pile it on top of nachos with some shredded chicken or ground beef
- It’s also awesome on top of a fresh salad with sliced avocado and extra squeezes of lime juice
After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!
Quick and Easy Mexican Corn Dip
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cups corn kernels, fresh, frozen (but not thawed) or canned (as dry as possible)
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced (or less, to taste)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 3-4 Tablespoons cotija cheese, crumbled
- 3 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, leaves stripped and chopped
- ½ teaspoon chili powder, or more, to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon chipotle powder, or more, to taste
- Juice of 1 lime, about 2 Tablespoons
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Lime wedges, crumbled cotija and jalapeño slices for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large saucepan (preferably high-sided), melt butter over medium high heat.
- Add corn and diced jalapeño and cook over medium high heat until lightly charred, about 6-8 minutes. Add minced garlic and stir to combine for another 1 minute.
- Add mayonnaise, cotija cheese, cilantro, chili powder, chipotle powder and lime juice and stir to coat and combine. Give it a taste, then add salt and pepper as you see fit.
- Serve immediately with your favorite tortilla or corn chips and enjoy!
Erin
Tuesday 1st of June 2021
I ended up making a few substitutions and missing out a few things but it was still delicious and a big hit!
Leslie Kiszka
Wednesday 2nd of June 2021
Yay, I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, I really appreciate it <3