Description

Bold, smoky, and bursting with flavor, these Grilled Steak Elote Tacos are the ultimate fusion of juicy grilled steak and classic Mexican street corn. Tender slices of marinated steak are tucked into warm tortillas and topped with creamy, cheesy elote-style corn for a taco night like no other. Perfect for summer cookouts, game day, or weeknight feasts, these tacos are messy—in the best possible way.

Want recipes like this delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe now for fresh, flavor-packed meal ideas with a creative twist.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Grilled Steak:

1½ lbs flank steak or skirt steak
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Topping:

2 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
2 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta)
1 tbsp lime juice
½ tsp chili powder
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Salt to taste

For Assembly:

8 small corn or flour tortillas
Extra cotija cheese and cilantro for garnish
Lime wedges for serving
Optional: diced red onion, jalapeños, avocado slices

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Step 1: Marinate the Steak
In a bowl or zip-top bag, combine olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Add steak and toss to coat. Marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.

Step 2: Make the Elote Topping
Char corn in a dry skillet or on the grill until slightly blackened. Let cool slightly.
In a bowl, mix charred corn with mayo, sour cream, cotija cheese, lime juice, chili powder, cilantro, and a pinch of salt.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.

Step 3: Grill the Steak
Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high.
Grill steak for 4–6 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until medium-rare to medium (internal temp 130–135°F).
Rest for 5–10 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.

Step 4: Warm the Tortillas
Heat tortillas on the grill or in a skillet until soft and pliable.
Keep warm wrapped in foil or a towel.

Step 5: Assemble the Tacos
Fill each tortilla with slices of grilled steak.
Top with a generous spoonful of elote mixture.
Sprinkle with extra cotija, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
Add any extras like red onion, avocado, or jalapeños if desired.

Notes

Marinate for Flavor – Longer marinating = deeper flavor and juicier steak.
Char That Corn – Adds authentic smoky flavor to the elote topping.
Rest the Steak – Keeps it juicy and easy to slice.
Use Warm Tortillas – Prevents tearing and makes for better bites.
Go Big on Garnish – Lime, cilantro, and cotija take the flavor over the top.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired