Elote Style Microwave Corn (Printable)

Sweet corn with creamy sauce, lime, chili, and Cotija cheese made quickly in the microwave.

# What You Need:

→ Corn

01 - 4 ears fresh corn, husked

→ Sauce

02 - 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
03 - 3 tablespoons sour cream
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

→ Cheese & Seasoning

05 - 1/2 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled
06 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
07 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
09 - Lime wedges for serving

# How-To:

01 - Wrap each ear of corn in a damp paper towel and microwave all together on high for 5–6 minutes, turning halfway through, until tender. Let cool slightly.
02 - In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, and lime juice until smooth.
03 - Carefully unwrap the corn and, while still warm, brush each cob generously with the sauce mixture.
04 - Sprinkle crumbled Cotija cheese over the coated corn, pressing gently so it sticks.
05 - Dust with chili powder and smoked paprika.
06 - Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready faster than you can boil water, but tastes like you've been cooking all afternoon.
  • The combination of creamy, tangy, spicy, and cheesy hits every taste bud at once without any complicated technique.
02 -
  • Don't skip the damp paper towel when microwaving—dry corn steams unevenly and can end up with tough, chewy spots.
  • The sauce only stays creamy if you mix mayo and sour cream together first; adding them separately changes the texture completely.
03 -
  • If you don't have a pastry brush, use the back of a spoon or even a butter knife to spread the sauce—rough and rustic is fine because it all tastes the same.
  • Make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge; it actually gets better as the flavors meld, so you can grab it whenever you need fast corn magic.
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