Mexican Street Corn Salad Without Mayo (Esquites)

This is the ultimate healthy Mexican street corn salad without mayo! It comes together with Greek yogurt and frozen corn for a healthy and easy side dish. It’s creamy, tangy, and full of classic esquites flavor, made lighter without sacrificing taste. Plus, it’s perfect as a delicious side for tacos, grilled meats, or any weeknight dinner.

Ella and I were just on a trip where we tried the most amazing Mexican street corn salad, which totally inspired this lighter homemade version! We lightened it up with Greek yogurt instead of mayo and used frozen corn to make it super easy.

One of our favorite parts about the dish was that they used green chiles instead of jalapeños, which we recreated for a mild kick and incredible flavor. For even more delicious recipes, be sure to try our Mexican street corn dip, summer corn salad, Mexican tuna salad, and air fryer corn on the cob next!

🔍 Quick Look: Healthy Mexican Street Corn Salad

• ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
• ⏱️ Cook Time: 5 minutes
• 🕒 Total Time: 15 minutes
• 🍽 Calories: ~103 kcal per serving
• 👥 Servings: 6 servings
• 🥣 Key Ingredients: Frozen corn, green chiles, red onion, cotija or feta cheese, cilantro, Greek yogurt, lime, garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin
• 📖 Dietary Information: Gluten-free, vegetarian
• 👩‍🍳 Cook Method: The corn is warmed up in a skillet on the stovetop; the rest of the ingredients are mixed in a bowl
• ⭐ Difficulty: Easy

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• No Mayo: This healthy Mexican street corn salad skips the mayo while still keeping that classic esquites taste.
• Made with Frozen Corn: This recipe uses frozen corn to make it super easy, convenient, and perfect to enjoy any time of year.
• Creamy Greek Yogurt Base: Greek yogurt keeps this recipe creamy and light without the heaviness of traditional versions.
• Quick & Easy to Make: This recipe comes together in about 15 minutes and works perfectly as a side dish for tacos, bowls, grilled meats, and more.

Key Ingredients

• Frozen Corn: Frozen corn makes this recipe quick, easy, and convenient while still delivering sweet, juicy flavor.
• Garlic: Garlic adds savory depth and enhances the overall flavor.
• Green Chiles: Green chiles add a mild heat and extra depth of flavor.
• Red Onion: Red onion adds crunch and a bit of sharpness to balance the creamy dressing.
• Cotija Cheese: Cotija cheese brings a salty, authentic Mexican street corn flavor that ties everything together. If you can’t find cotija cheese, feta cheese works well as a substitute. Use regular, light, or fat-free feta for a similar salty and tangy flavor.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro brightens the dish and adds a pop of fresh flavor to the salad.
• Greek Yogurt: The base of the lightened-up dressing is plain non-fat Greek yogurt. It adds a boost of protein and makes it creamy without mayo.
• Lime: Fresh lime juice adds acidity and helps balance all the flavors.
• Seasoning: A blend of salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin creates a smoky, slightly spicy flavor.

Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

Substitutions & Variations

• Corn Options: We love using frozen roasted corn because it adds extra smoky flavor, but regular frozen corn works just as well and is what we often use too. You can also use fresh corn cut straight from the cob or drained canned corn. This recipe is very flexible, so feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Any of these options will be delicious!
• Green Chiles Swap: You can swap the green chiles with one small diced, seeded jalapeño, if preferred. Or, add jalapeño in addition to the green chiles for extra spice.
• Onion Swap: If you prefer a milder onion flavor, feel free to swap the red onion for sliced green onions. They add a fresh, subtle flavor that works perfectly in this recipe.
• Butter Swap: You can swap the light butter with regular butter, or replace it with a light spray of olive oil instead.
• Add Avocado: For a burst of creamy flavor, you can add some diced avocado to this salad.
• Add Black Beans: You can add one cup of rinsed and drained black beans to boost the protein and fiber, and to make this salad even more satisfying.

How To Make Mexican Street Corn Salad Without Mayo

1. Add the light butter or olive oil spray, minced garlic, and frozen corn to a skillet over low to medium heat on the stovetop. Use a spatula to stir occasionally until the corn is warmed through, but not overcooked.

2. Transfer the warmed corn to a large heat-safe bowl. Add the green chiles, finely diced red onion, crumbled cotija or feta cheese, and chopped cilantro.

3. Lightly mix everything in the bowl until combined.

4. In a separate bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin until smooth and creamy.

5. Pour the dressing over the corn salad mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated and creamy. Serve and enjoy.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this healthy Mexican street corn salad warm. For extra flavor and texture, you can top it with finely diced jalapeño, crushed tortilla chips, chopped bell pepper, a drizzle of hot sauce, or extra lime wedges. You can also enjoy it with tortilla chips for dipping, or use it as a topping for tacos, burrito bowls, or salads for an extra burst of flavor.

It pairs well with our sheet pan tacos, slow cooker chicken tacos, and healthy chicken burrito bowl. We love serving it with a side of Spanish cauliflower rice or cilantro lime cauliflower rice. It also pairs perfectly with our ground turkey enchilada skillet, healthy sheet pan chicken fajitas, and healthy Mexican stuffed peppers.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover Mexican street corn salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Stir well before serving, as the dressing may thicken slightly as it sits. When ready to serve, enjoy it chilled or gently warmed.

More Healthy Mexican Recipes to Try!

Appetizers

Healthy Guacamole with Greek Yogurt

Chicken

Healthy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Charro Beans Recipe

Mains

Mexican Stuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey

If you try this recipe, please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating, ★★★★★, letting us know how it turns out for you.