Crazy Good Street Corn Tacos (Printable)
Juicy chicken meets zesty street corn in warm tortillas.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp chili powder
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
09 - Juice of 1 lime
→ For the Street Corn Topping
10 - 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned; about 3 ears)
11 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
12 - 2 tbsp sour cream or Mexican crema
13 - 1/4 cup cotija or feta cheese, crumbled
14 - 1 small bunch cilantro, chopped
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - Juice of 1/2 lime
17 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
18 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ For Assembly
19 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas
20 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
21 - Additional crumbled cotija/feta cheese (optional)
22 - Lime wedges, to serve
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a bowl, combine olive oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat evenly. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
02 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken for 4–5 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and lightly charred. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice or chop into bite-sized pieces.
03 - If using fresh corn, char the kernels in a hot dry skillet for 3–4 minutes until slightly blackened. In a separate bowl, mix corn, mayonnaise, sour cream, cotija or feta cheese, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
04 - Heat tortillas on a dry skillet or directly over a gas flame until pliable and slightly toasted on both sides.
05 - Place the cooked chicken in the center of each tortilla. Generously top with the street corn mixture. Garnish with sliced red onion, extra cheese, and chopped cilantro. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy corn topping adds a rich texture that perfectly balances the smoky spices.
- It comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like it came from a food truck.
02 -
- Dont skip resting the chicken after cooking or the juices will run out onto the cutting board.
- The street corn topping needs to sit for five minutes to let the flavors meld together.
03 -
- Use a cast iron skillet if you have one to get the best char on the corn and chicken.
- Crumble the cheese by hand for the best texture rather than buying it pre crumbled.