Grilled Steak Elote Tacos (Print Version)
Juicy grilled steak meets Mexican street corn in vibrant tacos with tangy crema, cotija, and fresh cilantro.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Steak
01 - 1 lb flank or skirt steak
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp chili powder
04 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
09 - Juice of 1 lime
→ For the Elote
10 - 2 ears fresh corn, husked
11 - 1 tbsp mayonnaise
12 - 1 tbsp sour cream
13 - 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
14 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
15 - 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - 1 tsp lime juice
→ For Assembly
17 - 8 corn tortillas
18 - 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
19 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1/4 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
21 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
22 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
02 - In a small bowl, mix olive oil, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Rub all over the steak and let marinate while preparing other ingredients.
03 - Brush corn with a little oil and grill for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred on all sides. Remove and let cool slightly.
04 - Grill steak for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare or to desired doneness. Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and rest for 5 minutes.
05 - Cut corn kernels from the cob and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, sour cream, cotija, chili powder, cilantro, and lime juice. Stir to combine.
06 - Slice steak thinly against the grain.
07 - Warm tortillas on the grill or in a dry skillet.
08 - Layer sliced steak on each tortilla, top with a generous spoonful of elote mixture, extra cotija, cilantro, red onion, and a drizzle of crema or sour cream. Serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast of hot grilled steak against cool tangy elote is the kind of balance that makes you pause mid-bite
- Everything cooks on the same grill, meaning less cleanup and more time eating with friends
02 -
- Cutting the elote kernels off the cob makes these tacos actually eatable, whole grilled corn looks pretty but falls apart in your hands
- Letting the steak rest is the difference between juicy and dry, those five minutes matter more than almost anything else
03 -
- Grill extra corn and make elote salad the next day with the leftovers
- If your tortillas crack when folding, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 20 seconds