What is an Elote?

Elotes, also known as grilled Elote Mexicano, Mexican street corn, or Mexican grilled corn, is a popular Mexican street food. “Elote” means “corn on the cob” in Spanish, and the recipe consists of corn on the cob that has been grilled and slathered with a mayo or crema sauce, topped with Cotija cheese, and dusted with chili powder.

In Mexico, it is sold to locals and tourists from street carts much like pretzels or hot dogs in New York. Once you try elotes for the first time you'll be wondering "Where has this been all my life?!"

It's perfectly juicy and crisp, it has a delicious balance of sweet and spicy heat, the creamy coating with a zip of lime and chili powder perfectly compliments it's mellow flavor, and the cheese finish makes it amazingly crave-worthy.

This is a side dish you do not want to miss out on! I'd dare say it's a summer staple and should regularly be added to the dinner rotation.

Chicken Tinga Tacos

Tired of the same taco recipe over and over? This is a delicious, flavorful recipe to brighten up that same old rotation.

This stove-top simmered chicken tinga makes an impressive taco filling and there's really not a whole lot to it. It cooks in 30 minutes meaning you don't have to wait hours and hours like you do for a shredded beef or pork taco filling.

If however you do have more time, you could easily get away with simmering it low and slow in the crockpot instead (it should be done in about 3 to 4 hours on low heat).

Is it Spicy?

Yes chicken tinga is deliciously spicy because of the added chipotle chilies in the dish. I've listed to add 1 - 3 chipotle chilies to taste depending on the heat level you prefer (we love it with 3!).

Then there is a swap noted in the substitutes below if you want a milder version.

Easy Skillet Steak Tacos

Tacos are one of the best foods out there and these steak tacos are no exception!

They are brimming with bright lime flavor and delicious seasonings, the hint of honey in the marinade helps the steak sear beautifully, and the toppings that crown them are the perfect finishing highlight.

The key here is just to pick out good quality steak. I recommend looking for sirloin with a generous amount of marbling or using prime grade. Marbling is the fat swirled throughout the steak, more marbling means more flavor and a more tender piece of meat (I buy prime top sirloin at Costco for about $10 a pound, it's a great place to get good quality steak).

I think it's safe to say these tacos will quickly become a family favorite! They take little effort yet finish with big flavor.

Watch the Video!

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Easy Tri Tip Roast

This has been a go-to recipe at our house for the last few months because it's incredibly easy to make, you only need a handful of ingredients, and it’s made with a less expensive cut of beef.

You can usually find tri tip quite a bit cheaper than most steaks (which are getting very expensive lately). We just buy a 2-pack at $7.99 per pound at our local Costco and freeze the second one for later (for best quality use frozen tri tip within 3 months).

The key to a good tri tip is in the seasoning and the cooking method. Here we give it a nice spice rub for added flavor, let it rest at room temp a while, then roast it in a moderately heated oven, and last finish it by reverse searing (baking then skillet browning) for a few minutes in a scorching pan.

It's the perfect beef roast!

What is Tri Tip?

• Tri tip is a cut of beef that comes from the bottom of the sirloin of a cow. It is usually cut in a triangular shape.
• You'll find it has a nice beefy flavor and great tender texture when cooked to a medium doneness.
• Its name comes from its triangular shape and the fact that it's cut at a tapered tip, at the very tip of the sirloin.
• Options available are select, choice and prime grades. Select is lowest quality, choice is good quality, and prime the best quality. I recommend buying only choice or prime.

Easy Ground Turkey Tacos Recipe

Weeknights usually call for quick recipes, like these simple turkey tacos.

They have a quick prep and can be ready in 30 minutes! We even simplify with a store-bought salsa to save time, and you could also go the pre-shredded lettuce and pre-shredded cheese route for more short-cuts.

Or just assign help with toppings to a family member or friend if they'll get to enjoy the meal too and you can have dinner ready in a flash!

These healthy turkey tacos are definitely an upgrade from your standard taco seasoning packet tacos. The secret is to add some freshness (bright salsa, garlic, cilantro) and your own blend of spices.

It's a recipe destined to become a regular on the dinner menu!

Watch the Video!

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Wondering what to serve with tacos?

Here are a few classic options:

• Black Beans
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Mexican Rice
• Refried Beans
• Then for dessert finish with easy fried ice cream!

What is Carne Asada?

Carne Asada is a Mexican dish made with marinated beef (using less expensive cuts of steak such as skirt, flank, tenderloin, or rib) and it's usually cooked on a grill or in a heavy skillet.

Most frequently it's served alone or in tacos but can also be added to many various dishes (see ideas below).

Personally, it's one of my favorite things to order when eating out at Mexican restaurants, but of course I also love to make it at home.

This recipe is the best blend I've come up with, with a little of this and a handful of that. And together it creates one perfectly harmonious blend of flavors. Chef's kiss on this one!

These ribs are unbelievably tender. We've had bad ribs that you have to chew of the bone and that are unfavorably tough. These are anything but. The meat falls right off the bone and melts in your mouth!

Slow Cooker Ribs with a Homemade BBQ Sauce

Another thing I really love about this recipe is this homemade bbq sauce. It's flavored just how I like. It's lightly sweet and tangy, it's rich and has good depth, and it's slightly smokey with a little kick.

The other great thing is that there will be extra sauce so you can grill chicken the next day and slather it with lots of this bbq sauce.

When in a rush you can use some of your favorite bottled barbecue sauce but I highly highly recommend trying this homemade sauce when you've got the time. It's so easy to throw together it's just a bit of measuring and simmering.

Flavorful Black Bean Soup

You need to make this easy black bean soup! Yes it may seem boring if you've never had it, but if you flavor it right by adding in things like bacon, poblano peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, some cumin and some ancho chili powder then incredibly delicious things happen!

Then of course if you finish it off with the bright tones of lime juice and the freshness of cilantro along with the creaminess of avocados and sour cream (or Mexican crema) you just know it's got to be good.

I mean if anything has bacon and avocado in it then I'll always approve.

Collection of Black Bean Recipes I Love:

• You can add black beans to tacos (like I've done in each here 1, 2, 3).
• You can toss them in to up the protein and fiber of a dish - like in this quick 30 minutes meal.
• Of course they are wonderful in soups (like these options here 1, 2, 3, 4).
• You can add them as part of the stuffing for bell peppers (1) or sweet potatoes (2).
• And don't we all love them tossed into a green salad?

Mexican Pasta Salad

There is just so much goodness going on in this easy pasta salad — between the tender macaroni, charred fresh corn, sweet tomatoes, salty Cotija cheese, creamy black beans and avocados, the light bite from the red onion and the zip from the cilantro lime dressing, my oh my! So good!

This is a perfect pasta salad recipe for bbq's, parties and potlucks, but of course it's just the perfect summer side dish to serve with your favorite grilled chicken and steak.

Try this Mexican macaroni salad for yourself and see what I'm talking about. It's just so tasty!

Mexican Pasta Salad Ingredients

For this homemade pasta salad, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Fresh yellow corn
• Elbow macaroni
• Roma tomatoes
• Black beans
• Avocado
• Cotija cheese
• Red onion
• Salt and pepper

And for the creamy pasta salad dressing, you'll need:

• Mayonnaise
• Greek yogurt
• Lime juice
• Cilantro
• Garlic
• Ancho chili powder
• Ground cumin

How to Make Mexican Pasta Salad

• Grill the corn for a few minutes over medium-high heat, just until charred.
• Let the corn cool slightly before cutting off the kernels.
• Cook pasta until al dente, then drain and let cool.
• Whisk together the dressing ingredients and let chill in the fridge until ready to use.
• Toss together the pasta salad ingredients and the dressing and serve immediately.

How Long Should I Grill Corn?

You'll want to turn your grill to medium-high heat, or about 450 degrees F. In total, the fresh corn will be grilled for about 8 minutes, but you'll need to turn the corn every 2 to 3 minutes to char it on all sides.

Depending on how hot your grill burns, you may need to grill the corn for more or less time than the recipe calls for!

Can I Use Another Type of Pasta?

Of course! Although I think the best pasta for pasta salad is elbow macaroni. If you use another type of pasta, make sure it's short and holds its shape well (like penne or bow tie pasta).

Can I Use Regular Chili Powder?

If you don't have ancho chili powder, regular chili powder may be substituted but I love that depth of flavor the lightly smoky ancho chili powder brings so try it in the future.

Tips for the Best Pasta Salad

• Be generous with the cilantro, it really is about one small full bunch once you mince it up finely. It brings a lot of flavor to the dressing.
• Don't over cook the pasta. It'll soak up the dressing as it sits in the fridge, so you don't want it to be too soft to begin with.
• Canned or frozen corn can be used in place of fresh, but the grilled corn adds great flavor to this Mexican macaroni salad.

More Pasta Salad Recipes You'll Love:

• Garden Veggie Pasta Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Classic Macaroni Salad
• Avocado Caprese Pasta Salad
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
• Poppy Seed Chicken and Grape Pasta Salad

Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe

I've always craving Mexican, and I'll never get sick of it. I just love the flavors of the classic Mexican herbs and spices (the wide range of dried chilies and chili powders, cumin, cilantro, Mexican oregano), and they are a go-to at my house.

Plus, I love all the fresh salsas and veggies that are found in Mexican food. And I could live on fresh flour tortillas. But that's for another day. Because these chicken quinoa bowls are all about keeping it healthy.

These protein-packed chicken burrito bowls are brimming with so much delicious fresh flavor, and it's a recipe the whole family will love!