Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos

These Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos put a fun twist on elotes or grilled Mexican corn on the cob that’s slathered in a tangy cream sauce and sprinkled with chili powder. Plus, they come together in just 20 minutes!

I’m trying to remember back to the first time I tried Mexican Street Corn … I can’t recall exactly when it was, but I do know that I was instantly hooked! It’s grilled corn that’s slathered in a tangy cream sauce and sprinkled with chili powder, cotija cheese and fresh cilantro. Really, it’s hard for me to eat corn on the cob any other way now.

So, in an effort to get even more Mexican Street Corn into my life I came up with the idea of topping my tacos with a corn mixture that’s got all those same flavors going on. Instead of serving the corn on the cob, in the traditional method, I cut the kernels off and turned them into a corn salad of sorts – preserving all those same great flavors. I wanted a creamy corn mixture, with a good amount of tang and a bit of heat, but I really wanted that fresh corn flavor to shine through too.

Here’s a tip for getting those kernels off the cob – First shuck your corn and then seek out that bundt pan that’s buried way in the back of your cupboard. Place the corn, stalk side down into the hole of the bundt pan and then cut around the cob. The kernels will fall right down into the pan and will make for much easier cleanup – You won’t have to be chasing those kernels all over the place.

Pop those bright yellow kernels into a hot skillet with a bit of olive oil and let them get nice and charred – flipping them once while cooking. Once they’re nice and charred, it’s time to dress them up. I used a tiny bit of mayonnaise (you could also use sour cream or Greek yogurt if you prefer), a good squeeze of lime juice, a bit of jalapeno for heat, garlic, chili powder, and a dash of cilantro at the end to add some freshness. Let those flavors all mingle together while you prepare your chicken.

Using the same skillet for the corn, cook the chicken – less dishes are always appreciated, right? I thin sliced a couple of chicken breasts, seasoned them with a bit of taco seasoning (the kind you find in the packets), and added them to the hot skillet. The chicken cooks up really quickly – just a few minutes on each side is all it should take.

Assembling Street Corn Tacos

After that, it’s time for the assembly process. I layered everything into some tortillas. Then, just pile on your chicken and the corn mixture. I also added a bit of red onion at the end for a bit of extra color and crunch, but that step is totally optional. These Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos would also be great topped with a bit of fresh avocado too!

Are you a fan of Mexican Street Corn? Have you tried any fun variations on this traditional side dish? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos Recipe

Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: chicken tacos, mexican street corn, street corn tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 454 kcal

Author: Platings and Pairings

These Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos put a fun twist on elotes or grilled Mexican corn on the cob that's slathered in a tangy cream sauce and sprinkled with chili powder. Plus, they come together in just 20 minutes! 

Print

Ingredients

Mexican Street Corn

• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 ears corn shucked, kernels removed
• 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
• 2 Tablespoons cotija cheese crumbled
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 jalapeno seeded and minced
• 1 clove garlic finely minced or grated
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• Kosher salt to taste

Chicken

• 2 chicken breasts thinly sliced (about 1 pound)
• 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Tacos

• 1 package flour tortillas warmed
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion (optional)

Instructions

Mexican Street Corn

1. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add corn, season to taste with salt, and cook without moving until charred on one side, about 2 minutes. Toss corn, stir, and repeat until charred on second side, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a large bowl and clean skillet. 
   

2. Add mayonnaise, cheese, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, and chili powder and toss to combine. Season with salt to taste. 
   

Chicken

1. Heat oil in the same skillet used for corn over medium-high heat. Add sliced chicken and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Stir to combine and sautee until fully cooked, about 5 minutes. 

Assembly

1. Top tortillas with Mexican street corn and chicken and sprinkle with chopped red onions, if desired. Serve immediately. 

Nutrition Facts

Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos

Amount Per Serving

Calories 454 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Fat 19g29%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 81mg27%

Sodium 790mg34%

Potassium 526mg15%

Carbohydrates 37g12%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 270IU5%

Vitamin C 5.4mg7%

Calcium 123mg12%

Iron 2.8mg16%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Wine Pairings for Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos:

• Try a creamy, fruit forward Viognier or unoaked Chardonnay with these Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos. Fruit-forward, with a bit of body to them, they stand up nicely to the spices in these tacos.