Description
This Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is a creamy, tangy, flavor-packed side dish that turns classic elote into the perfect easy recipe for cookouts, potlucks, lunch meal prep, dinner ideas, and summer food ideas. Tender pasta, sweet corn, cotija cheese, lime, chili powder, and fresh cilantro come together in a quick pasta salad that tastes bright, smoky, and satisfying in every bite.
Ingredients
12 ounces rotini pasta
4 cups corn kernels, grilled, toasted, or thawed frozen corn
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
1 tablespoon extra lime juice, optional for serving
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta until al dente, then drain and rinse briefly under cold water. Shake off excess water and let it cool.
2. If using fresh corn, grill or broil it until lightly charred, then cut the kernels from the cob. If using frozen or canned corn, toast it in a hot skillet until lightly browned. Let the corn cool.
3. In a large bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
4. Add the cooled pasta, corn, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and most of the cotija cheese to the bowl.
5. Fold gently until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated in the creamy lime dressing.
6. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavors can blend.
7. Stir before serving, then top with the remaining cotija cheese, extra cilantro, and a little more lime juice if desired.
Notes
For the best flavor, toast or grill the corn before adding it to the salad. The light char gives the pasta salad a smoky street corn taste.
Do not overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta holds its shape better after chilling and mixing with the creamy dressing.
If the salad thickens in the refrigerator, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or a squeeze of lime juice before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boil and Mix
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 315
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 22 mg
Keywords: Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad, elote pasta salad, easy pasta salad, summer side dish, potluck side dish, corn pasta salad, dinner ideas, food ideas