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This Grilled Corn in Foil recipe combines a classic summer staple with the crave-worthy flavors of chipotle lime and melted butter. Topped with Cotija cheese and fresh cilantro for an easy and delicious side dish that promises to be the star of the cookout!
Here are more delicious corn recipes: Grilled Corn in Husk, Sweet Southern Cornbread, Southern Hoecakes, Corn Maque Choux, and Sweet Corn Waffles.
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If you’re on the hunt for tasty summer side dish ideas, this easy recipe for grilled corn in foil with chipotle lime is an excellent choice. With just 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes on the grill, grilled corn in foil is a no-brainer on hot summer days when you plan on having a cookout with friends or family.
I love corn during the summertime (aka corn season) as it is, but I especially love grilled corn for the mouthwatering flavors that the grill brings to the dish. There are tons of easy seasoning ideas for corn on the cob that you can try, but the combination of spicy chipotle and vibrant citrus with rich butter is just out of this world. Add in some fresh herbs and salty cheese. Now you’ve got the perfect summer side dish!
By wrapping corn on the cob in aluminum foil, you can lock in the juiciness and keep your corn from burning, drying out, or cooking too quickly. This grilled corn method also helps infuse plenty of glorious smoky flavors into the corn. Grab a handful of fresh corn at the farmer's market or grocery store, and get ready to impress your friends with some serious grilling skills!
Key Ingredients
Corn
Be sure to choose corn on the cob with silk that looks fresh and bright green. The tassels should be brown and sticky to the touch. From my experience, this always yields a beautiful ear of corn without any blemishes.
Adobo Peppers
Adobo peppers are smoked jalapenos in a sauce that adds tons of smoky and delicious flavor to grilled corn in foil.
Cotija Cheese
Think of Cotija as the Mexican version of Parmesan cheese. This adds a nice, salty finish to the corn and melts into a creamy coating.
Lime
The lime juice and zest balance the flavors and tame the heat of the chipotle peppers. Make sure to use fresh limes.
Unsalted Butter
This serves as the rich and savory base for the chipotle lime butter we use to top our Mexican corn on the cob in foil. Feel free to swap out the butter for olive oil or avocado oil if preferred.
How to Make The Best Grilled Corn in Foil Recipe
Ready to make the best foil-grilled corn on the cob ever? Follow the easy steps below.
Step 1: Prepare Corn For Grilling
Heat your grill to 400°F with the indirect cooking method. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and corn, then cook for 1 minute. Place each corn on the cob in foil and wrap tightly to seal the foil around the corn.
Step 2: Grill Corn on the Cob
Place corn directly over heat for 5 minutes, flipping halfway through, then move to the cool side of the grill. Cover and cook corn for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Make Chipotle Lime Butter
While corn cooks, add butter, chipotle peppers, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, and salt to a food processor. Blitz on high until smooth.
Step 4: Garnish and Serve
Once the corn has finished cooking, remove them from the aluminum foil and spread 1 heaping tablespoon of chipotle butter over the top of each. Garnish with Cotija cheese and cilantro, then serve corn immediately.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my top tips to help you prepare the best-grilled corn on the cob:
- Don’t skip the step of boiling the corn before grilling. This method helps to speed up the grilling time and ensures that the grilled corn in foil will be fully cooked in 20 minutes.
- If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves, you can swap them out for 2 teaspoons of granulated garlic powder.
- Worried about the heat? While the lime juice and butter tame the heat of the adobo peppers, you can reduce the amount to one pepper if desired.
- Don’t have a grill? No problem. You can cook corn in foil in the oven for the same amount of time at 450°F.
Best Grilled Corn Seasoning Ideas
If you want to try other seasonings for grilled corn on the cob, here are some great options:
- Garlic salt (or granulated garlic powder)
- Granulated onion powder
- Chili powder
- Cajun seasoning
- Parmesan cheese
- Smoked paprika
- Elote seasoning
- Cayenne pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Creole seasoning
Make-Ahead and Storage
If you want to prepare the dish for the grill ahead of time, you can remove the husks and wrap the corn in aluminum foil. For campfire grilling, wrap the corn in a double layer of aluminum foil. Then, store it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
To store leftover grilled corn, seal corn in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Pro Tip: Leftover grilled corn makes for a delicious garnish for tacos, sandwiches, or salad!
Grilled Corn in Foil FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the top questions about this easy grilled corn in foil recipe:
How long to cook corn on the cob on the grill?
For this grilled corn in foil recipe, you’ll need about 20 minutes on the grill at 400°F over indirect heat. If you choose to forgo the boiling step that comes before we grill corn, you may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.
Is it better to grill corn with or without foil?
This is more of a personal preference. Some people stick to grilling corn in husk, others choose to grill fresh corn without the husk, and others opt for the easy grilled corn method of grilling the corn in foil.
I think one of the easiest and tastiest ways to cook corn is to grill it with foil because it locks in the smoky grill flavors and helps prevent burning. This method also keeps the corn warmer for longer, which is great for entertaining.
Does corn on the cob need to be soaked before grilling?
If you’re grilling your corn in the husk, you should soak it first to prevent the husk from burning. However, if you’re grilling corn in a foil pack using heavy-duty foil, you don’t need to worry about soaking the corn beforehand. The foil pack acts as a protective covering.
More Delicious Summer Grilling Recipes
If you liked this foil grilled corn recipe, try these summer grilling recipes next:
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Spicy Vegetable Relish
- Cajun Herb Salmon with Tartar Sauce
- Grilled Mushroom Pesto Pizza
- Beef Ribs with Black Cherry Cola Glaze
- Grilled Shrimp Chile Rellenos
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📖 Recipe
Grilled Corn in Foil with Chipotle Lime
Ingredients
Grilled Corn:
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 8 ears corn shucked
- ¼ cup Cotija grated
- ¼ cup cilantro chopped
Chipotle Butter:
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened
- 2 adobo peppers with sauce
- 2 garlic cloves smashed
- zest of 1 small lime
- juice of 1 small lime
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat your grill with the indirect cooking method to 400°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and corn, and cook for 1 minute. Place each corn in foil and wrap tightly. Place directly over heat for 5 minutes, flipping halfway, then move to the cool side of the grill, and cover and cook for 15 minutes.
- While corn cooks in a food processor, add butter, chipotle peppers, garlic, lime zest, lime juice, and salt, and blitz on high until smooth.
- Once the corn has finished cooking, remove it from foil, spread 1 heaping tablespoon of butter over top, and garnish with Cotija and cilantro. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Don’t skip the step of boiling the corn before grilling. This method helps to speed up the grilling time and ensures that the grilled corn in foil will be fully cooked in 20 minutes.
- If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves, you can swap them out for garlic powder.
- Worried about the heat? While the lime juice and butter tame the heat of the adobo peppers, you can reduce the amount to one pepper if desired.
- Don’t have a grill? No problem. You can cook corn in foil in the oven for the same amount of time at 450°F.
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