If you love Mexican Street Corn, you’ll love this Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning recipe! It combines all of the robust roasted corn flavor with the citrus tang of the elote spices, into an irresistible popcorn snack.
This Mexican Street Corn Style Popcorn perfectly captures the savory and citrusy grilled corn flavor that makes the traditional Elotes (Grilled Mexican Street Corn) so popular.
While there are many different spin-offs of Mexican Street corn, like this delicious Elote Corn Salad, this Mexican street corn popcorn seasoning recipe is really unique.
It carries the classic taste of this Mexican street food, yet offers the light & airiness of homemade popped popcorn – making this an excellent snack for your next wine gathering, or movie night.
Why This Recipe Works
If you are a fan of Mexican Street Corn recipes, you should first check out my Elotes (Grilled Mexican Street Corn) or my Elote Corn Salad (Mexican Street Corn Salad).
But if you want that same deliciously savory and citrusy grilled corn flavor, in your popcorn, then you’ll really love this recipe. The mixture of Tajin, cotija cheese and the freshly dried lime zest brings the authentic taste of elotes directly to your mouth, in the form of a delicious popcorn snack.
Key Elements Of This Recipe
- Tajin: This tart and slightly sour spice blend excellently replicates the taste of freshly roasted elotes.
- Dried Lime Zest: When you freshly dry real lime zest, it produces a very fragrant and robust lime flavored seasoning.
The Ingredients for Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning Recipe
- Popping Corn
- 2 cups Popping Corn (kernels)
- 3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2/3 cup Cotija Cheese (grated)
- Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Tajin
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 3 tablespoons Dried Lime Zest (about 5 whole limes)
The Equipment Needed
How To Make Popcorn with Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning
The key to this recipe is popping your corn directly in your pot, on the stove, with a base of olive oil and butter. Then, you add in your special blend of Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning, tossing thoroughly to incorporate the spice mix into all of the popcorn morsels.
Dry Your Lime Zest
Start by preheating your oven to 180°F. Next, wash & dry your limes.
Then, using your zester, grate the outer lime peel of the 5 limes until you have nice thin shavings.
Pro Tip: Spread out the lime shavings on the baking pan so they dry faster. Make sure you also avoid grating the white pith of the limes, as it is bitter and not fragrant.
Next, lay your thin shavings of lime peel onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Then, pop the tray into the oven and let the peels dehydrate for about 20-30 minutes or until they are fully dry.
Afterwards, remove from the oven, let them cool, ensuring that all shavings are fully dry.
Craft Your Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning
In a mixing bowl, combine all of your Mexican Street Corn Style Seasoning ingredients and give everything a good mix.
Set aside until you have popped your popcorn.
Pop Your Popcorn
In a large pot, add in your olive oil and unsalted butter. Place the pot on the stove on medium heat and let the butter melt.
Once the butter has melted, add in your popping corn kernels and give them a good stir, so the oil and butter coats each kernel.
Cover the pot and let the popcorn pop until nearly all of the kernels are popped (when popping slows to about one pop per second).
Pour all of your popped popcorn into a large mixing bowl and pour in your Mexican Street Corn Style Seasoning.
Give the popcorn a thorough toss and sprinkle on your cotija cheese as the finishing touch to this delicious snack.
Serve immediately & enjoy!
What Else Can You Use Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning On?
In addition to this fantastic popcorn recipe, here are some other great uses for this bright and savory seasoning.
- Elote Nachos: Incorporate the seasoning into nachos with roasted corn, cheese, and jalapeños for a fun take on classic nachos.
- Breakfast Burritos: Sprinkle the seasoning into breakfast burritos filled with eggs, cheese, and potatoes to add a smoky, spicy dimension.
- Spicy Margaritas: Rim the glass of a spicy margarita or other cocktails with the seasoning for a fun and flavorful addition.
- Chili or Stews: Stir it into chili, stews, or soups like tortilla soup or corn chowder to build layers of flavor.
- Roasted Vegetables: Sprinkle on roasted vegetables like cauliflower, zucchini, or potatoes to give them a zesty kick.
- Grilled Meats or Fish: Rub it on chicken, shrimp, or fish before grilling or roasting to infuse them with bold Mexican-inspired flavors.
- Avocado or Guacamole: Add a sprinkle to avocado slices or mix it into guacamole for an extra punch of flavor.
- Tacos: Elevate your taco fillings—whether it’s meat, beans, or grilled veggies—by adding this seasoning.
- French Fries or Potato Wedges: Sprinkle it over fries or wedges right after frying or baking for a delicious twist.
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Ingredients
Popping Corn
- 2 cups Popping Corn, (kernels)
- 3 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 3 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2/3 cup Cotija Cheese, (grated)
Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Tajin
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 3 tablespoons Dried Lime Zest, (about 5 whole limes)
Instructions
How To Make Popcorn with Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning
- The key to this recipe is popping your corn directly in your pot, on the stove, with a base of olive oil and butter. Then, you add in your special blend of Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning, tossing thoroughly to incorporate the spice mix into all of the popcorn morsels.
Dry Your Lime Zest
- Start by preheating your oven to 180°F. Next, wash & dry your limes.
- Then, using your zester, grate the outer lime peel of the 5 limes until you have nice thin shavings.
- Pro Tip: Spread out the lime shavings on the baking pan so they dry faster. Make sure you also avoid grating the white pith of the limes, as it is bitter and not fragrant.
- Next, lay your thin shavings of lime peel onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
- Then, pop the tray into the oven and let the peels dehydrate for about 20-30 minutes or until they are fully dry.
- Afterwards, remove from the oven, let them cool, ensuring that all shavings are fully dry.
Craft Your Mexican Street Corn Popcorn Seasoning
- In a mixing bowl, combine all of your Mexican Street Corn Style Seasoning ingredients and give everything a good mix.
- Set aside until you have popped your popcorn.
Pop Your Popcorn
- In a large pot, add in your olive oil and unsalted butter. Place the pot on the stove on medium heat and let the butter melt.
- Once the butter has melted, add in your popping corn kernels and give them a good stir, so the oil and butter coats each kernel.
- Cover the pot and let the popcorn pop until nearly all of the kernels are popped (when popping slows to about one pop per second).
- Pour all of your popped popcorn into a large mixing bowl and pour in your Mexican Street Corn Style Seasoning.
- Give the popcorn a thorough toss and sprinkle on your cotija cheese as the finishing touch to this delicious snack.
- Serve immediately & enjoy!
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is just an estimate derived by an online calculation tool.
FAQ
What is street corn seasoning made of?
This Mexican Street Corn Seasoning is made with Tajin, smoked paprika, chili powder, freshly dried lime zest and cotija cheese.
Is tajin the same as elote seasoning?
Not exactly. Tajin is a delicious Mexican spice blend that combines ground chili peppers, lime seasoning and salts but in order to be a good elote seasoning, it also has to have cotija cheese, chili powder and paprika.
Venus
Wow, this seasoning really does taste like Mexican Street Corn! The lime zest is a good touch.
Tanto
Yep, tastes just like elote seasoning
Josie
Tasted just like fresh elotes!
Jominae
Made this for our movie night, pretty good
Gerald
Loved that tajin flavor in the spice