20-Minute Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Elote meets pasta salad for a delicious side dish! This easy Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is creamy, zesty, and loaded with fire-roasted corn, cotija cheese, and lime—perfect for a BBQ, potluck, or summer cookout!
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 315kcal
Equipment
- Large pot to cook pasta
- pasta strainer
- large mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta or farfalle
- 3 cups fire-roasted corn see notes
- ½ cup cotija cheese crumbled, plus more for garnish
- ½ cup cilantro chopped, plus more for garnish
Pasta Salad Dressing
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 lime zested
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Strain and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all of the pasta salad dressing ingredients until well combined. Taste and season, if needed.
- Add the cooked pasta to the bowl with the dressing and toss until evenly coated. Mix in the corn, cotija cheese, and cilantro. Stir until combined.
- Before serving, sprinkle with additional cotija cheese and cilantro on top for garnish and flavor. Serve cold, warm, or at room temperature.
Notes
- I use a 24 ounce bag of frozen fire-roasted corn. Alternatively, you can grill fresh corn on the cob or make charred corn using frozen or canned corn.
- Although it's not necessary, I like to cover the bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the flavor meld before serving.
- For an extra boost of tangy flavor, add a teaspoon of tajin. For a spicier taste, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Avoid leaving it at room temperature for more than 2 hours to prevent spoilage.
Nutrition
Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 353mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 500IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg
