• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Bites
    • Mains
    • Sides
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Pizza
    • Soups & Stews
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks & Libations
    • Breads, Butters, and Jams
    • Sourdough
    • Sauces & Savory Condiments
    • tips & tricks
    • Harry Potter
    • Recipe Index
  • Adventures
  • Reads
  • Shop
    • Kitchen Tools
    • Pantry Staples
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy

Whip & Wander

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Whip & Wander » Recipes » sides

    Published: Aug 18, 2021 · Modified: May 17, 2022 by Jenni · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing

    This page may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    a wooden serving spoon resting in a bowl of Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing
    wooden serving utensils and a bowl of tortilla chips resting next to a white dish filled with Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing
    a white serving dish filled with grilled corn salad, peppers, and avocado resting on a cloth lined wooden table
    wooden salad servers resting in a bowl of Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing
    a hand using a tortilal chip to scoop grilled corn and pepper salad
    a hand using a tortilla chips to scoop corn salad with honey lime dressing up
    Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing being scooped up by a tortilla chip held by a hand
    a white dish filled with Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing resting on a dark orange red cloth on a wooden table

    Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing in a large white serving bowl on a rust colored cloth with a bowl of tortilla chips and wooden salad servers resting nearby

    A Sweet & Spicy Side Dish or Appetizer

    This Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing comes together super quickly with fresh grilled corn, creamy avocado, Fresno chilis, cilantro, Cotija cheese, and a sweet and spicy honey lime dressing. This corn salad was inspired by Mexican elotes with some additions that make it perfect to serve as both a side dish or a scoopable appetizer served with tortilla chips.

    a wodden serving utensil in a dish of grilled corn salad

    two wooden utensils in a white dish of grilled corn salad

    Can I use frozen corn instead of fresh?

    I love grilling fresh corn on the cob for this salad during the summer months. Not only is it so lovely and sweet at the peak of the season, but you can control the level of blackened kernels you want this way. However, if fresh corn on the cob is not in season you can absolutely utilize frozen corn instead. This fire-roasted variety is my favorite frozen option, but you can also use traditional frozen sweet corn if you prefer. Simply defrost and add directly to the salad.

    Adjusting the heat level

    This corn salad has a fair amount of heat, owing to the sriracha chili sauce, paprika, and Fresh Fresno chilis -- the latter of which has a similar (and sometimes hotter) heat profile as a jalapeno pepper. However, I find that the heat is well-balanced by the honey and lime juice. If you have a milder palate and wish to lessen the heat slightly, you can omit the Fresno chilis in favor of mild Spanish piquillo peppers, which are sweet and smokey, or for pickled jalapenos, which you can often find specifically labeled "mild."

    a bowl of tortilla chips resting next to a big white bowl of Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing

    a hand scooping Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing up with a tortilla chip

    What should I serve this Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing with?

    I love pairing this Grilled Corn Salad as a side for grilled fish, steak, chicken, or pulled pork. It also works really well with Mexican main dishes like burritos, tacos, or enchiladas. This dish also works beautifully served as an appetizer with tortillas chips to scoop. Some of my other favorite recipe pairings are:

    • Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef
    • Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
    • Salmon with Adobo Sauce and Blackberry Cucumber Avocado Salsa
    • Salmon Tacos with Spicy Cabbage Slaw and Lime Crema
    • Beef Stuffed Poblano Peppers
    • Chicken Quesadillas with Spicy Jalapeno Sauce
    • Grilled Chicken Wings with Carolina Gold Mustard BBQ Sauce
    • Grilled Chicken Wings with Chipotle Peach BBQ Sauce

    a hand scooping up corn salad

    a big white dish filled with Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing in a rust colored cloth on a wooden surface

    What tools do I need to make this recipe?

    • A grill (gas or charcoal)
    • Grilling tongs
    • A cutting board
    • A chef's knife
    • A kitchen scale -- OR -- measuring cups (for less precise measurements)
    • Measuring spoons
    • A large mixing bowl
    • A small mixing bowl
    • A fork
    • A wooden spoon -- OR -- silicone spatula

    Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.

    a big white dish filled with Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing in a rust colored cloth on a wooden surface

    Looking for more appetizer & side dish inspiration?

    Love this Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing? Here are some additional appetizer & side dish recipes I love:

    • Chili Lime Watermelon with Labneh and Honey
    • Blistered Shishito Peppers
    • Jalapeno Poppers with Sausage and Cream Cheese
    • Spicy Cabbage Slaw
    • Smashed Potatoes with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
    • Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado
    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing in a large white serving bowl on a rust colored cloth with a bowl of tortilla chips and wooden salad servers resting nearby

    Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing

    ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆ No reviews
    • Author: Whip & Wander
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 10 servings 1x
    • Category: Appetizers & Bites, Salads & Dressings, Sides
    • Method: Grill
    • Cuisine: Mexican
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This Grilled Corn Salad with Spicy Honey Lime Dressing comes together super quickly with fresh grilled corn, creamy avocado, Fresno chilis, cilantro, Cotija cheese, and a sweet and spicy honey lime dressing. This corn salad was inspired by Mexican elotes with some additions that make it perfect to serve as both a side dish or a scoopable appetizer served with tortilla chips.


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the Grilled Corn Salad:

    • 5 ears sweet corn, husks and silk removed (about 710 g corn once removed from cob)
    • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
    • ¾ tsp Kosher salt, plus more to taste
    • ¼ tsp cracked black pepper, plus more to taste
    • 1 large avocado, pitted and chopped (about 150 g)
    • 2 Fresno chili peppers, thinly sliced (about 26 g)
    • 6 oz Cotija cheese, crumbled
    • 15 g (about ¼ cup) cilantro, chopped
    • Zest of 1 lime (about 2 tsp)

    For the Honey Lime Dressing:

    • 3 tbsp lime juice
    • 2 tbsp honey
    • 2 tbsp garlic-infused olive oil -- OR -- 2 tablespoon traditional olive oil + 2 cloves minced garlic
    • 2 tbsp sour cream
    • 2 tsp sriracha sauce
    • ½ tsp paprika

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the grill on high heat until it reaches between 400-450 degrees. Place corn cobs directly on the grill and close the lid. Open the lid and turn the corn every 4-5 minutes until all sides are cooked and there is light blackening of kernels in some areas, about 20 minutes in total. Remove from heat and reserve to the side to cool slightly.
    2. Once the corn is cool enough to be handled, slice the kernels off the cob. I find the easiest way to do this is to place a small bowl upside-down in a larger mixing bowl. Balancing the corn tip down and holding the stem, carefully cut the corn kernels straight down off of the cob. This helps prevent the kernels from flying everywhere so they are collected in the larger bowl. Remove the smaller upside-down bowl when finished.
    3. Add the butter, kosher salt, and pepper and toss through the corn to combine fully.
    4. In a smaller mixing bowl, combine the lime juice, honey, garlic-infused olive oil (or olive oil + minced garlic cloves), sour cream, sriracha, and paprika with a fork until well-combined. Add the dressing to the corn and toss gently to combine.
    5. Add the avocado, Fresno chili peppers, Cotija cheese, cilantro, and lime zest and gently toss again to combine. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust if needed.
    6. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    Notes

    Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.


    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving (1/10th of recipe)
    • Calories: 196
    • Sugar: 8 g
    • Sodium: 247 mg
    • Fat: 12 g
    • Saturated Fat: 5 g
    • Carbohydrates: 19 g
    • Fiber: 3 g
    • Protein: 6 g
    • Cholesterol: 15 mg

    Keywords: corn, cotija, avocado, lime, honey, fresno chili

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @whipandwander on Instagram and hashtag it #whipandwander

    Related

    « Couscous Summer Salad
    Classic French Crepes (with a gluten-free option) »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Pleased to meet you, I’m Jenni!

    Welcome to my little slice of the web where I share recipes for food, travel, books, and life!

    More about me →

    Thanksgiving Feast Essentials

    • a large orange cassrole dish with potatoes au gratin and a gold serving spoon resting on a dark teal cloth
      Pumpkin Potatoes au Gratin
    • A Maple Pumpkin Pie resting on a wooden surface on top of a wire rack and a gauzy cloth next to a gold pie server
      Maple Pumpkin Pie
    • a wooden butter knife cutting through a stick of honey orange compound butter with additional sticks nearby on a wood cutting board
      How To Make Compound Butter + My Favorite Compound Butter Recipes
    • a gold spoon resting in a dish of artichoke spinach dip
      Artichoke Spinach Dip

    Cozy Dinner Recipes to Welcome Fall

    • pork tenderloin with horseradish and dijon on top nestles between cabbage and potatoes
      Sheet Pan Horseradish Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes and Cabbage
    • an enchilada in a shallow bowl with a gold fork
      Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas with Chipotle Pumpkin Sauce
    • a bowl of wild rice salad with seared apple chicken sausage
      Wild Rice Salad with Sweet Potatoes, Kale, and Balsamic Mushrooms
    • Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Sausage, Kale, and Red Pepper in a glass casserole dish
      Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with Sausage, Kale, and Red Pepper

    Homemade Fall Soup Recipes to Enjoy

    • Chili with Butternut Squash in a large white bowl on a merigold colored cloth
      Chili with Butternut Squash
    • Roasted Broccoli Cauliflower Soup in a white bowl on a mauve colored cloth
      Roasted Broccoli Cauliflower Soup
    • French Lentil Soup in a white bowl resting on a piece of cheesecloth with a wooden tray of pumpkin sourdough
      French Lentil Soup
    • a white bowl with sausage and potato soup with dark rye croutons resting on a red cloth
      Sausage, Potato, and Sauerkraut Soup with Rye Croutons

    Popular Recipes

    • a hand pulling a square of cheesy pizza from its tray
      Easy Same-Day Pizza Dough
    • a cast iron skillet with corn bread next to a plate with a slice of cornbread and pat of butter
      Brown Butter Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread
    • a white bowl with instant pot artichokes and lemon wedges in a copper dish
      Pressure Cooker Artichokes
    • a wooden spoon resting in a skillet full of Pasta with Olive Tapenade on a dark teal cloth
      Pasta with Olive Tapenade

    Cozy Morning Feasts: Fall Brunch Recipes

    • a hand grabbing a slice of Eggs Benedict Pizza off of a baking tray
      Eggs Benedict Pizza
    • a low bowl with Oatmeal with Roasted Pears, Walnuts, and Toasted Cream and a gold spoon
      Oatmeal with Roasted Pears, Walnuts, and Toasted Cream
    • a cast iron skillet of shakshuka topped with feta and cilantro resting on a wooden surface with a wooden cutting board with sourdough toast and a white towel with a plate of feta cheese nearby
      Shakshuka (Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce with Sausage, Peppers, and Feta)
    • Blueberry sauce ont op of a stack of pancakes that have been cut into resting on a lilac cloth
      Sourdough Discard Buttermilk Pancakes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes

    • Appetizers
    • Mains
    • Sides
    • Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Pizza
    • Harry Potter
    • Sourdough

    Whip & Wander

    Copyright © 2022 Whip & Wander. All Rights Reserved.

    Privacy Policy / Disclosures

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    More to consume

    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Shop Tools
    • Shop Pantry
    113 shares
    • 2
    113 shares
    • 2