Grilled Steak Elote Tacos (Printable)

Juicy grilled steak paired with charred Mexican street corn, cotija, and tangy crema.

# 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 Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of smoky grilled steak and sweet charred corn is absolute magic
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when everyone's ready to eat
  • Each taco hits every flavor craving, creamy, tangy, spicy, fresh, and satisfying
02 -
  • Always let your steak rest for at least 5 minutes after grilling, or all those delicious juices will end up on your cutting board instead of in your taco
  • Cutting the corn off the cob can be messy, so do it inside a large bowl or your kitchen will look like a corn explosion
03 -
  • Pat your steak dry before applying the rub for better searing and grill marks
  • If your corn is rolling around on the grill, cut a small flat spot on one side to stabilize it