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Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn is delicious and FULL of flavor. Made with corn on the cob, crumbled feta cheese, fresh chopped cilantro, butter, and more. This recipe is our own recreated take on this traditional dish!
Why I Love This
I love a good side dish and this Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn is one of my new favorites! Made with the perfect blend of seasonings that give this dish a little kick.
If you’re looking for something to serve this with, you should also try these Air Fryer Quesadillas, Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas, Air Fryer Chicken Street Tacos, and Air Fryer Nachos.
Table of Contents
I love making Mexican Street Corn and it’s the perfect addition to Taco Tuesday. In fact, it’s such an easy side dish you probably have all of the ingredients on hand.
Here are a few of our FAVORITE recommendations.
Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer – Digital Meat Thermometer – Air Fryer All Day
Ingredients:
- corn on the cob
- chili powder
- cilantro
- salt
- pepper
- butter
- feta cheese
You can also add additional flavor such as lime juice to top it with.
How to Make Mexican Street Corn in the Air Fryer
Step 1
Add the corn to the prepared air fryer basket.
Step 2
Brush both sides of the corn with the melted butter.
Step 3
Air Fry the corn at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping the corn halfway through the cook time.
Step 4
Add the chili powder, ground black pepper, and salt to the remaining butter.
Step 5
Remove the corn from the air fryer. Brush the seasoned butter onto the cooked corn.
Step 6
Top the corn with the crumbled Feta cheese and then garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
Note: All air fryers are manufactured differently and cook differently. This recipe was made using a Cosori 5.8 qt air fryer. If you’re using a different air fryer, you may need to add or take away a minute to ensure this recipe is fully cooked. I would recommend checking the recipe for doneness with 1-2 minutes remaining in cook time.
Expert Tips
Look for fresh, plump ears of corn with bright green husks and moist silks. Freshness is key to getting that sweet, juicy crunch.
Traditionally, elote is grilled with the husks on to steam the corn and then finished with the husks off to get some char on the kernels. The charring adds a smoky flavor that is signature to elote.
Chili powder is commonly used, but for more authentic flavor, try Tajín, which is a Mexican seasoning made with chili peppers, lime, and salt. Paprika can also be used for color and flavor.
Cotija cheese is the traditional choice for elote. It’s a salty, crumbly cheese that doesn’t melt, adding a distinct texture and taste. If you can’t find cotija, Parmesan or feta can be used as substitutes, though the flavor will differ.
Chopped cilantro adds a fresh, herbal note that contrasts beautifully with the rich, creamy elements.
Storage
Elote is best enjoyed warm and fresh. The contrast between the hot, juicy corn and the cool, creamy toppings is part of what makes it so delightful. Because of this, we don’t recommend storing leftovers.
FAQs
Most recipes call for Cotija cheese, but you can also use Feta cheese and parmesan cheese.
Corn is perfectly cooked and roasted when cooked at 400° Fahrenheit for 10 minutes in the air fryer.
Yes! While this recipe doesn’t call for a sauce, some recipes do! You can use mayonnaise, sour cream, or even plain greek yogurt as your base and add the seasonings, including lime juice to it before brushing it on the cooked corn.
This is one of my family’s favorite air fryer side dishes. It’s a simple air fryer corn recipe and one that packs a lot of flavors!
If you’re looking for more easy air fryer recipes, check out some of our favorites!
MORE MEXICAN INSPIRED AIR FRYER RECIPES
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Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 corn on the cob
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 Tablespoons cilantro, fresh, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup Feta cheese
- 1 teaspoon lime juice, freshly squeezed, optional
Instructions
- Add the corn to the prepared air fryer basket.
- Brush both sides of the corn with the melted butter.
- Air Fry the corn at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, flipping the corn halfway through the cook time.
- Add the chili powder, salt, and pepper to the remaining butter. Mix until combined.
- Brush the seasoned butter onto the cooked corn. Top the corn with the crumbled Feta cheese and then garnish with fresh cilantro and lime juice before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
