Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chipotle Honey Lime Butter

Grilled corn on the cob never tasted so amazing brushed with delectable Chipotle Honey Lime Butter sprinkled with cilantro and cotija cheese!  And bonus, I’ve included directions on how to cook corn on the cob in the oven too!

Grilled Corn on the Cob bursting with sweet, juicy, slightly smoky kernels grilled to perfection in their own husk and just begging to be doused in butter. And not just any butter. Chipotle Honey Lime Butter!  Seriously this butter is WOW.  Combine this Grilled Corn on the Cob + Chipotle Honey Lime Butter and you have the best corn on the cob ever! 

No bite says perfect summer like Grilled Corn on the Cob (and 4th of July!). Almost as wonderful as the taste of this corn on the cob, is how easy they are to make – anyone can make this corn!   I grilled this Corn on the Cob  – but because they are so sensational, and I know we are all going to want them year round – I’ve also included directions for how to cook corn on the cob in the oven.

Why Grill Corn on the Cob in its husks?

There is quite a debate about how to cook the best corn on the cob:  Grilled Corn on the Cob in their own Husks?  Grilled Corn on the Cob in Foil , Grilled Corn on the Cob without Foil?  and on and on and on…My personal favorite summer corn is Grilled Corn on the Cob with Husks on.  The corn husks protect the corn from drying out by creating a protective barrier from the direct heat so the corn can steam in its own moisture while at the same time being infused with smoky flavor from the charring husks – winning!

Benefits of Grilling Corn in their husks:

• Grilled Corn on the Cob in its husks produces much juicier corn than grilling your corn naked.
• Grilling your corn on the cob with the husk allows the kernels to steam instead of char (grilling in foil also does this).
• Grilled corn on the cob in its husk also produces a fantastic, lightly charred flavor while its sugars caramelize and intensify. You can alternatively use foil instead of husks for juicy corn but you won’t get the same charred flavor.
• We soak the corn in their husks in lightly salted water before grilling which seasons the corn itself instead of just flavor sitting on the outside.
• The salted water also helps keep the corn extra moist as it grills as well as softens the husks which makes them easier to work with.
• Since the silks have been removed before we grill, all you have to do is peel your corn and brush with butter before eating.

The Best Corn for Grilling

No matter what method you prefer for grilling, you always want the freshest corn possible. Fresh corn is both sweeter and juicier and can often be found at farmers markets.  To find the freshest corn, you want to focus on the smell and feel of the corn rather than the look of the kernels.  The corn should smell sweet and the be firm when pressed.  The corn should ideally be free of blacked tassels. Of course, we can’t always find the the perfect corn so if you can get 2 out of 3 you will be in good shape.

Directions for Cooking Grilled Corn on the Cob

1. Pull down the outer husks of the corn to the base (but DO NOT REMOVE) and remove all of the silk. Fold husks back into place, and soak cobs COMPLETELY submerged in a pot of cold water for 15 minutes.   I place a second large bowl of water on the husks to keep them completely under the water because they like to float.  The direct heat works with the husk to steam the corn to perfection. The husk is going to blacken and burn while the corn cooks, but don’t worry — this makes removing the husks even easier.
2. Meanwhile, grease and preheat your grill to a medium (350 degees F). After soaking your corn, remove the corn from the water and shake off any excess water.
3. Place corn on the grill, close the cover and grill, turning every 5 minutes, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until kernels are tender.  The outer husks will become quite charred but the inner kernels will remain nice and juicy.
4. When the corn is cool enough to handle, remove husks and brush with Chipotle Honey Lime Butter. You can also add Chipotle Honey Lime Butter to a shallow dish and add corn and turn to coat.
5. Sprinkle corn with Cotija cheese and cilantro and season liberally with freshly cracked salt. Serve immediately.  You can completely customize the heat of the corn by sprinkling additional chipotle chili powder on your corn.  This is great so it can range from kid friendly to as spicy as you can handle.

How to Season Corn on the Cob

Corn on the Cob and butter go together like peanut butter and jelly.  The way the luscious butter melts and coats the hot corn as it’s spread across the kernels is my idea of picture perfect summer.  So I’ve taken butter one step  – or five steps –  further  and created Chipotle Honey Lime Butter!  Wow and Wow.

There is Grilled Corn on the Cob with Butter and there is Grilled Corn on the Cob with CHIPOTLE HONEY LIME BUTTER!   The butter is a simple combining of melted butter, honey, lime juice, chipotle chili powder, chili powder, garlic powder and salt but it is exponentially delcious.

After the corn is grilled you smother it/or roll it in the Chipotle Honey Lime Butter.  I like to put the butter in a shallow dish and add corn and turn to coat so the seasoned butter gets into every nook and cranny –  and it’s super easy this way too!

Once your teeth have sunken into sweet and spicy (or less spicy) grilled corn kernels smothered in Chipotle Honey Lime Butter then sprinkled with cilantro and Cotija cheese,  I don’t think you will ever go back to plain ‘ol buttered corn on the cob again.   If you are tempted to skip the Cotija cheese – I beg you not to.  The corn is still amazing without it but with it – unbelievable!

I suggest you start your year round of Grilled or Roasted Corn with Chipotle Honey Lime Butter soon.  Very soon.  Like 4th of July soon.    Don’t keep these fireworks of flavor waiting!

Looking for More Summer Side Recipes?

• Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
• Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Fruit Salad with Honey Citrus Vinaigrette
• Best Baked Beans
• Grape Salad with Vanilla Yogurt Dressing

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Print Recipe

Roasted or Grilled Corn with Chipotle Honey Lime Butter

This Grilled Corn on the Cob is bursting with sweet, juicy, slightly smoky kernels grilled to perfection in their own husk and just begging to be doused Chipotle Honey Lime Butter!  Sprinkle your corn on the cob with cilantro and cotija cheese and you have the best corn on the cob ever!  And because you'll want to eat this corn on the cob year-round, I've included directions on how to cook corn on the cob in the oven too!

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Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Servings

Ingredients

• 8 ears fresh corn in husks

Chipotle Honey Lime Butter

• 1/2 cup butter (8 tablespoons), melted
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Garnish

• Freshly cracked salt
• 1/3 cup grated cotija cheese or more to taste
• 1/3 cup minced cilantro

Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 15 minutes Servings Ingredients 8 ears fresh corn in husks Chipotle Honey Lime Butter 1/2 cup butter (8 tablespoons), melted 1/4 cup honey 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt Garnish Freshly cracked salt 1/3 cup grated cotija cheese or more to taste 1/3 cup minced cilantro

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Instructions

1. Whisk together Chipotle Honey Lime Butter ingredients in a medium bowl, set aside.
2. TO GRILL: Trim the silk from the top of each ear of corn (to prevent it from catching fire) and peel away the first layer of husks.
3. Pull down the outer husks of the corn to the base (but DO NOT REMOVE) and remove all of the silk. Fold husks back into place, and soak cobs COMPLETELY submerged in a pot of cold water lightly seasoned with salt for 15 minutes. (I place a second large bowl of water on the husks to keep them completely under the water because they like to float).
4. Meanwhile, grease grill and preheat to a medium (350 degees F). After soaking, remove the corn from the water and shake off any excess water.
5. Place corn on the grill, close the cover and grill, turning every 5 minutes, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until kernels are tender (outer husks will become quite charred).
6. When corn is cool enough to handle, (about 5 minutes) remove husks and brush with Chipotle Honey Lime Butter. You can also add Chipotle Honey Lime Butter to a shallow dish and add corn and turn to coat.
7. Sprinkle corn with Cotija cheese and cilantro and season liberally with freshly cracked salt. Serve immediately. For spicier corn, sprinkle with additional chipotle chili powder.
8. TO ROAST: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
9. Pull down the outer husks of the corn to the base (but DO NOT REMOVE) and remove all of the silk. Brush the corn kernels lightly with Chipotle Honey Butter and pull husks up back over corn.
10. Place corn on an aluminum covered baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes or until tender.
11. When corn is cool enough to handle, remove husks and brush with Chipotle Honey Lime Butter. You can also add Chipotle Honey Lime Butter to a shallow dish and add corn and turn to coat.
12. Sprinkle corn with Cotija cheese and cilantro and season liberally with freshly cracked salt. Serve immediately. For spicier corn, sprinkle with additional chipotle chili powder.

Recipe Notes

*If you aren't sure how much to add, you can always sprinkle corn with more chipotle chili powder after grilling/roasting

**CORN with FOIL:  If you prefer to shuck your corn completely and use foil instead of the husk, then that is totally up to you.   The Foil method can be a great advantage when you need the corn to stay warm for an extended period of time.

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