Mexican Street Corn Skillet with Beef

• •1 tablespoon olive oil
• •1 lb ground beef, lean
• •0.5 cup yellow onion, chopped
• •2 cloves garlic, minced
• •1.5 teaspoon chili powder
• •1 teaspoon ground cumin
• •0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
• •0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
• •0.8 teaspoon salt
• •0.3 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• •4 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed (or fresh)
• •0.3 cup mayonnaise
• •0.3 cup sour cream or Mexican crema
• •2 tablespoon lime juice, fresh
• •0.5 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled
• •0.3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• •0.5 teaspoon chili powder (for sauce)
• •0.3 teaspoon cayenne pepper or Tajín seasoning
• • to taste Cotija cheese, crumbled (for garnish)
• • to taste fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
• • to taste lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.

2. 2

   Add chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic, 1.5 teaspoons chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, 0.75 teaspoon salt, and 0.25 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for another minute until fragrant.

3. 3

   Add the thawed frozen corn kernels to the beef mixture. Stir well and cook for 3-5 minutes, allowing the corn to heat through and slightly char if desired.

4. 4

   While the corn cooks, prepare the elote sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream or Mexican crema, fresh lime juice, half of the 0.5 cup Cotija cheese, half of the 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, 0.5 teaspoon chili powder (for sauce), and cayenne pepper or Tajín seasoning. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

5. 5

   Pour the prepared elote sauce over the beef and corn mixture in the skillet. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients, ensuring everything is evenly coated. Cook gently for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is warmed through and creamy. Do not boil.

6. 6

   Remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish generously with the remaining Cotija cheese and fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for an extra squeeze of freshness.

Chef's Tips

• 💡For extra flavor, char fresh or frozen corn kernels in a separate dry skillet or under the broiler before adding to the beef mixture.
• 💡Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper or Tajín seasoning to your preferred spice level. For a milder dish, omit it.
• 💡If Cotija cheese is unavailable, crumbled feta cheese can be used as a substitute, though the flavor profile will be slightly different.
• 💡Serve this skillet meal as is, or with warm tortillas, rice, or a simple side salad for a complete dinner.
• 💡Mexican crema can be found in the international aisle of most grocery stores and offers a richer, tangier flavor than regular sour cream.