Cinco de Mayo Street Corn (Printable Page)

Flavor-packed quesadillas with roasted corn, cheese, and smoky chipotle crema for a festive meal.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
02 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
03 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
05 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

→ Dairy

06 - 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
07 - 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese, plus extra for garnish
08 - 1 cup sour cream, divided

→ Spices and Pantry

09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
14 - 8 medium flour tortillas
15 - 1 to 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
16 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
17 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

# Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
02 - Add diced red onion and chopped jalapeño to the skillet. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat and fold in fresh cilantro and crumbled Cotija cheese.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sour cream, chopped chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
04 - Lay out 4 flour tortillas. Evenly distribute half of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese over each tortilla. Top with the corn mixture, then sprinkle with remaining cheese. Place the remaining 4 tortillas on top and press gently.
05 - Heat a clean skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook each quesadilla for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is fully melted.
06 - Slice quesadillas into wedges. Drizzle with chipotle crema and garnish with extra Cotija cheese and fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The charred corn gives you that authentic street food depth without needing a fancy cart or special equipment.
  • Chipotle crema sounds fancy but tastes like the easiest, most addictive dipping sauce you'll ever make.
  • These come together in under 40 minutes, making them perfect for weeknight cravings or last-minute entertaining.
02 -
  • Don't skip the charring step with the corn—those dark bits are where the flavor lives, and boiling or steaming it just makes it taste like frozen vegetables.
  • The chipotle crema gets darker and more intense as it sits, so make it fresh or it'll taste more like smoke than spice after a few hours.
03 -
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, prep all your quesadillas ahead of time and cook them to order—they take just minutes per batch and taste infinitely better warm and fresh off the griddle.
  • A sprinkle of Tajín seasoning on top adds a whole extra layer of tang and spice that makes people lean in closer and ask what that is.
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