Quick Answer

How do you make buffalo corn?

Three approaches: (1) Grilled buffalo corn — grill corn in husks, remove husks, brush with buffalo butter (butter + Frank's) in last 2 minutes of grilling. (2) Buffalo elote — grill or boil corn, slather with mayo, roll in crumbled cotija cheese, drizzle with Frank's and lime juice. (3) Off-the-cob buffalo street corn salad — cut corn off the cob, mix with mayo, hot sauce, cotija, scallions, and cilantro. Each version works for different settings: on-the-cob for grilling, off-the-cob for parties where you want no mess.

Why Buffalo Sauce and Corn Work Together

Sweet corn and spicy hot sauce is a natural combination: the natural sweetness of fresh corn provides relief from capsaicin heat, making each bite of hot sauce immediately followed by a sweet-starchy note. Grilled corn adds char and caramelization that deepens the flavor further. The butter in buffalo sauce coats the corn kernels in the same way it coats wings — evenly and thoroughly.

Corn's mild flavor means it won't compete with buffalo sauce's strong character — it's an ideal vehicle for the sauce, similar to the way potatoes carry sauce without fighting it.

Grilled Buffalo Corn

Prep Time 5 min
Cook Time 20 min
Total Time 5 min
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4 ears of corn, in husks
  • Buffalo butter: 4 tablespoons softened butter + 2 tablespoons Frank's RedHot + pinch of garlic powder (whisked together)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Optional: extra Frank's drizzle, smoked paprika

Method

  1. Pull husks back from corn without removing — remove as much silk as possible. Fold husks back up.
  2. Soak corn (in husks) in cold water for 15 minutes — this prevents the husks from burning too fast on the grill.
  3. Heat grill to medium-high. Grill corn in husks, turning occasionally, for 15 minutes.
  4. Pull husks back (use tongs — they're hot). Brush exposed corn kernels with buffalo butter.
  5. Grill directly on the grate, turning frequently, for 3–4 more minutes until corn is slightly charred.
  6. Remove from grill. Brush with additional buffalo butter.
  7. Serve with extra Frank's and salt.

Tips

  • The two-stage grill (in husks first, then direct grill) steams the corn inside the husk and then chars the exterior — both tender interior and charred exterior.
  • Make extra buffalo butter and serve alongside for guests to add more — people always want more.

Buffalo Elote (Mexican Street Corn Style)

Prep Time 5 min
Cook Time 15 min
Total Time 5 min
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4 ears of corn, grilled or boiled
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons Frank's RedHot
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese (or feta as substitute)
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • Smoked paprika for garnish
  • Optional: cilantro, chili powder

Method

  1. Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, and Frank's until combined.
  2. Grill or boil corn until cooked through.
  3. While still warm, brush each ear generously with the mayo-Frank's mixture.
  4. Roll each ear in crumbled cotija cheese — press gently so the cheese adheres.
  5. Squeeze lime juice over each ear.
  6. Dust with smoked paprika and optional chili powder.
  7. Serve immediately with extra Frank's on the side.

Tips

  • Cotija cheese is available at most Latin grocery stores and many supermarkets. Feta is a close substitute (similar salty, crumbly character).
  • The mayo mixture provides a sticky base for the cotija to adhere to — don't skip it.

Off-the-Cob Buffalo Street Corn Salad

Prep Time 10 min
Cook Time 15 min
Total Time 10 min
Servings 6 as side dish

Ingredients

  • 4 ears of corn, grilled (or 3 cups frozen corn, charred in a cast iron skillet)
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons Frank's RedHot
  • 1 tablespoon sour cream
  • 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt to taste

Method

  1. Cut corn off the cob: stand the cob upright in a large bowl, run a knife down each side. Or char frozen corn directly in a hot cast iron skillet with no oil — 5–7 minutes until some kernels are charred.
  2. Mix mayo, Frank's, and sour cream together.
  3. Combine corn with mayo-Frank's mixture, cotija, scallions, lime juice, smoked paprika, and cilantro.
  4. Toss until everything is coated.
  5. Taste and adjust: more Frank's for heat, more lime for brightness, more salt if needed.
  6. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 4 hours (it gets watery if stored longer).

Tips

  • This salad is ideal for parties — no corn-on-the-cob messiness, easy to serve with a spoon, people can take as much as they want.
  • The charred frozen corn trick: frozen corn charred in a dry cast iron skillet mimics grilled corn well enough for this salad if you don't have a grill.

💡 Buffalo Corn with Wings

Grilled buffalo corn served alongside buffalo wings is an underrated pairing for outdoor cookouts. The corn is cooked on the same grill, uses a version of the same sauce, and the sweet-starchy corn between wing bites provides palate relief from the heat. For a cohesive cookout menu: grill wings, grill corn in husks at the same time (same temperature, same duration), remove husks and brush with buffalo butter while the wings finish. Both come off the grill around the same time. Serve with blue cheese, ranch, celery, and the corn — everything at the same table, everything flavored with some version of buffalo sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — two non-grill alternatives produce excellent results: (1) Oven broiler corn: remove husks, brush with oil, broil on a foil-lined baking sheet 3 inches from heating element, turning every 2–3 minutes until charred in spots (10–12 minutes total). Brush with buffalo butter in the last 2 minutes. (2) Cast iron skillet corn: remove husks, press corn against a very hot dry cast iron skillet, turning every 2 minutes until charred all around (8–10 minutes). Add buffalo butter in the last minute. The broiler method is easiest; the cast iron method produces more even char. Both replicate grilled corn well enough for the buffalo application.