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If you love the flavor of Mexican street corn, this Elote seasoning is one you’ll want to keep on hand. It’s quick to mix up, uses pantry staples, and adds bold, smoky, cheesy flavor to more than just corn. Make a batch now and you’ll be reaching for it all week!
Mexican Street Corn Seasoning
I really enjoy mixing up my own seasoning blends. It lets me control the flavor, skip the preservatives, and use what I’ve already got in my pantry. Plus, with a blend like this one, it’s easy to make it your own—want it smokier, spicier, or with more tang? You’re in charge. Once you start customizing your own mixes, store-bought versions just don’t compare.
What is Elote Seasoning?
Elote seasoning is a dry spice blend inspired by Mexican street corn—Elote. The real deal is corn on the cob slathered in mayo or crema, dusted with chili powder and cheese, and finished with a squeeze of lime. This seasoning blend captures all that bold, tangy, cheesy goodness in a jar.
You’ve probably seen something similar at the store—Trader Joe’s “Everything But the Elote” seasoning is a popular version. While you won’t find a spice mix like this in Mexico, the flavors—smoky, spicy, citrusy, and savory—come straight from how traditional street corn is seasoned and packed into a spice blend.
Elote Seasoning Ingredients
- Chipotle Powder: Chipotle Powder: This brings the smoky element to the blend. It’s made from smoked, dried jalapeños that are ground into a powder. If you’re out, smoked paprika is a decent backup.
- Dried Lime Zest: Adds a bright, citrusy zing that wakes up the whole blend. True Lime powder or citric acid is a great shortcut if you don’t have zest on hand.
- Dehydrated Parmesan Cheese (green bottle): Gives that salty, cheesy layer we love in Elote. The shelf-stable kind (like Kraft) keeps longer and works beautifully in a dry mix. If you are using it right away, you could use freshly grated.
- Salt: Adjust to your taste or skip it entirely (it’s optional)—especially if your cheese brings enough salty punch for your liking.
Variations and Substitutions
- Chili Powder Options: You can use regular chili powder, or switch things up with a blend like ancho chili powder for a deeper, slightly sweeter flavor. Guajillo chili powder brings a mild, earthy warmth, while New Mexico chili powder adds just a hint of fruitiness. They all work—just go with what you have on hand or what fits your taste best.
- No Chipotle Powder? If you don’t have chipotle powder, a pinch of cayenne pepper will add heat, though it won’t have the smoky flavor. You could also use a bit of smoked paprika with the cayenne to mimic that chipotle vibe.
- For a dairy-free option, try nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
How To Make Homemade Elote Seasoning Spice Blend
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
- Gather and measure ingredients.
- Add to a bowl and whisk together or add to a jar and shake well.
- Store in a glass jar or an airtight container.
Recipe Tips
- If you’re using this to make classic Elote, you can skip the dried Parmesan in the mix and just sprinkle on fresh grated Parmesan or Cotija when serving.
- For longer storage, always use fully dried Parmesan—the kind in the green bottle. Fresh cheese in the mix will shorten the shelf life.
- Want more heat? Add 1–2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper with the paprika to turn up the spice.
- Give the mix a good stir before each use—heavier ingredients like cheese can settle at the bottom.
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Recipe FAQs
It’s best to stick with dried Parmesan if you’re storing it. Fresh cheese will shorten the shelf life. For fresh Elote, just add the cheese when serving.
It has a mild, smoky warmth from the chipotle powder. Want more heat? Add a little cayenne to dial it up.
Yes! It scales easily. Just keep the same ratios and store what you don’t use right away.
Not quite. Tajín is mostly chili, lime, and salt—it’s tangy and a little spicy. Elote seasoning includes more spices like cumin and chipotle, plus cheese and sugar for that savory-sweet balance. They’re similar, but not interchangeable if you’re going for that true street corn flavor.
If you’re out of a Mexican-style seasoning blend, a mix of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of oregano can do the trick. It won’t have the creamy, tangy element of Elote seasoning, but it works for general Mexican-inspired flavor.
Storage
Make Ahead:
You can mix this seasoning up ahead of time and keep it ready to go. It’s great for meal prep or whenever you want to add a quick pop of flavor.
Storage:
Store in an airtight container or spice jar in a cool, dry place. It’ll stay fresh for about 2–3 months if made with dried ingredients like the green bottle Parmesan.
Freezer:
Freezing isn’t necessary, but if you’re using fresh zest or cheese, keep the mix in the fridge or freezer and use it within a week or two.
How to Use Elote Seasoning
This blend is more than just a corn topper. Here are some favorite ways to use it:
- Grilled or Roasted Corn: Sprinkle over buttered corn on the cob or mix into esquites (Mexican street corn salad).
- Popcorn: Toss with hot popcorn and a little melted butter for a smoky, cheesy snack.
- Eggs: Add to scrambled eggs or sprinkle over a fried egg for extra flavor.
- Avocado Toast: Enhance your avocado toast with a sprinkle of this seasoning.
- Roasted Veggies: Season roasted vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or potatoes.
- Tacos and Burritos: Use as a finishing touch on tacos, burritos, or quesadillas.
- Slaw: Add flavor to your slaw for tacos or as a Mexican Street Corn Slaw for a side dish.
- Grilled Meats: Rub onto chicken, shrimp, or pork before grilling or roasting.
- Dips: Mix into sour cream or Greek yogurt for a quick, flavorful dip.
- Rice Bowls: Sprinkle over rice bowls or grain salads for added zest.
- Nachos: Add to nachos for a cheesy, spicy kick.
- Deviled Eggs: Incorporate into the filling for a unique twist.
- Pasta Salad: Mix into pasta salads for a smoky, tangy flavor.
- Cornbread: Stir into cornbread batter for a savory upgrade.
- Hot Dogs and Burgers: Sprinkle over hot dogs or burgers for an extra layer of flavor.
- Fruit: Try on fresh fruit like mango or pineapple for a sweet and spicy combination. Use instead of the Tajin in my Mexican Fruit Salad.
- Chips: Dust over tortilla chips for a quick snack.
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Elote Seasoning Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika, (or smoked paprika)
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder, (can use more chili powder)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1 teaspoon dehydrated grated parmesan cheese, (like Kraft, shelf stable)*
- 1 teaspoon dried lime zest, ( substitute true lime or citric acid)
- ½ teaspoon white sugar, (cane sugar)
- ½ teaspoon salt, optional or to taste
Instructions
- To a bowl, add all of the ingredients and whisk or stir until completely incorporated. You can also shake them together in a jar.
- Store it in a spice jar or an airtight container, in a cool, dark pantry.
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Notes
* You can use fresh Parmesan or Cotija if you’re using the seasoning right away. For longer storage, stick with the dehydrated Parmesan—the shelf-stable type. Or just leave it out and add the cheese when you’re actually making your Elote.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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