Crazy Good Street Corn Chicken (Print Version)

Juicy chicken meets zesty street corn in warm tortillas for a vibrant, creamy, and satisfying meal.

# What You 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

# Directions:

01 - In a bowl, mix olive oil, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Add chicken pieces and toss to coat. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes.
02 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side, or until fully cooked and lightly charred. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice or chop.
03 - If using fresh corn, char the kernels in a hot dry skillet for 3–4 minutes until slightly blackened. In a bowl, combine corn, mayonnaise, sour cream, cotija/feta, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
04 - Heat tortillas on a dry skillet or directly over a gas flame until pliable and slightly toasted.
05 - Place chicken in the center of each tortilla. Top generously with street corn mixture. Garnish with sliced red onion, extra cheese, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
06 - Serve immediately and enjoy!

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It brings the messy, vibrant joy of street food right to your kitchen table.
  • The combination of smoky chicken and tangy corn topping is addictive.
02 -
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken or it will steam instead of sear.
  • Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing to keep the juices inside.
03 -
  • If using frozen corn, thaw it completely and pat it dry to get the best char.
  • Don't skip the fresh cilantro as it brightens the whole dish.

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