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This 20 minute Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is loaded with fire-roasted corn, Cotija, and a deliciously tangy, creamy dressing. It's quick and easy to throw together and is made up of mostly pantry ingredients that you've probably already got in your kitchen!
You'll Love This
- The flavors are out of this world. The creamy dressing has just the right amount of tangy, lime flavor with a subtle hint of spice. It's got enough mayo to give it some serious creaminess, but not so much that it feels heavy. Mix that with perfectly al dente pasta, fire-roasted corn, and fresh chopped cilantro, and this is a side dish that dreams are made of!
- It consists of mainly pantry ingredients. This is one of those recipes where we pretty much have everything on hand at all times and can throw this salad together at a moment's notice! Frozen or canned corn, pasta, mayo, sour cream, lime, chili powder - the only thing we sometimes don't have is Cotija cheese, in which case I'll substitute queso fresco or feta cheese instead!
- It's something new and different in the world of pasta salads. There is nothing wrong with a fun Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad Salad, Creamy Vegan Cucumber Pasta Salad, or a Cilantro Avocado Southwest Pasta Salad but this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is one of those dishes that your friends probably haven't had before. Which makes it even more fun to share!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Pasta - I like to use rotini for this recipe, but you can use any short cut of pasta or whatever you have on hand!
- Fire-Roasted Corn - I have found that frozen fire-roasted corn gives this salad the best flavor, but regular canned corn kernels work just as well! The fire-roasted corn adds that signature smoky, charred flavor - so check the freezer section at your grocery store to see if you can find some!
- Cotija or Queso Fresco - I have made this street corn pasta salad with both types of cheese and both were delicious! Cotija is similar to Parmesan so it will have a bit more of a salty flavor. Queso fresco is more like super mild feta cheese but still adds great texture and flavor. Either works well in this recipe!
- Fresh Cilantro - Do not omit this! You could sub fresh parsley in its place, but fresh cilantro is one of the key ingredients in this pasta salad!
- Sour Cream - Use full fat, regular sour cream for the best flavor.
- Mayo - If you’re not into mayo, you can just add more sour cream in its place, but the mayo adds a super creamy texture and just enough fat to give it the perfect flavor. I promise the dressing will NOT taste like mayo!
- Garlic Powder - I don’t recommend using fresh garlic for this pasta salad as it will be too overpowering and I like the way the garlic powder mixes right in with the creamy dressing.
- Lime Juice and Zest - This is another non-negotiable ingredient! The fresh lime zest and juice really gives this pasta salad the signature elote inspired flavor.
- Chili Powder - This is interchangeable with paprika if you don’t have chili powder on hand. I prefer the smokiness and slight spice from the chili powder but paprika works well too!
Instructions
Toss cooked pasta in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Pop it in the fridge to cool.
Add sour cream, mayo, lime zest and juice, garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper.
Mix until well combined.
Add pasta, corn, Cotija, and cilantro to a large bowl.
Pour most of the dressing over the pasta.
Toss until everything is well coated.
Transfer to serving platter, drizzle with remaining dressing, and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
Tips
- Moderately salt your pasta water! Salting the pasta water is the first step in seasoning this dish and it's going to do a lot to boost the flavor of the pasta itself. I recommend adding 2-4 tablespoons of Kosher salt to the boiling water before adding the uncooked pasta. You want the pasta water to be as salty as the sea, literally. Once you start salting your pasta water, you will never stop, I promise.
- Cook the pasta just until al dente. Nothing ruins a pasta salad quicker than mushy, overcooked pasta. I like to cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the lowest recommended cooking time on the package directions. So if the package recommends 9-11 minutes, I start (carefully) tasting the pasta after 8 minutes and pull it off the heat and strain it as soon as it's al dente.
- If sweet corn is in season where you are, you can definitely use corn on the cob instead of frozen corn! There's no need to cook the corn before adding it to the pasta salad. Freshly cut, uncooked corn from the cob is one of life's greatest pleasures. OR if you have leftover grilled corn on the cob - cut it from the cob and use that!
- The dressing in this pasta salad will thicken as it sits. I would recommend dressing it just before serving, or if you'll be enjoying this pasta salad a few hours after you make it, feel free to add a splash of lime juice or even milk to loosen things up.
What is Mexican Street Corn
- Mexican Street Corn, also known as Elote, is corn on the cob covered in mayonnaise or Mexican crema, then sprinkled with Cotija cheese, chili powder, and fresh chopped cilantro. It's a popular street food in Mexico and is served with the husk still attached so you have something to hang onto while you eat.
- My street corn pasta salad recipe is in no way meant to be an authentic version. This is very much a Midwestern twist on a Mexican classic. I have used some of the same flavors of Mexican street corn and translated them into a quick and easy pasta salad.
- My intention is always to honor the origins of the recipes that I am recreating. If you are looking for a traditional Elote recipe, here is a delicious one that you should definitely try!
Family Favorites
- Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Cilantro Avocado Southwest Pasta Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Pasta Salad
- Simple Tuna Pasta Salad
- Greek Chickpea Pasta Salad
- Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese Pasta Saad
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
Description
This Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is loaded with corn, cotija and a deliciously tangy, creamy dressing that is the stuff dreams are made of. It's quick and easy to throw together and is made up of mostly pantry ingredients that you've probably already got in your kitchen!
Ingredients
- 16 oz. rotini pasta
- olive oil for tossing pasta
- 3 (10 oz.) bags frozen-roasted corn or 2 (15 oz.) cans of corn, drained
- 1 cup Cotija or queso fresco cheese
- ⅓ cup freshly chopped cilantro + more for garnish
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- a couple pinches cayenne pepper
- Kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper and set aside to cool to room temperature. Or pop in the fridge to speed up the cooling process.
- In a medium bowl combine sour cream, mayo, lime zest and juice, garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper.
- Add pasta, corn, Cotija, and cilantro to a large bowl.
- Pour most of the dressing over the pasta and toss until everything is well coated.
- Transfer to serving platter, drizzle with remaining dressing, and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.
Notes
Moderately salt your pasta water! Salting the pasta water is the first step in seasoning this dish and it's going to do a lot to boost the flavor of the pasta itself. I recommend adding 2-4 tablespoons of Kosher salt to the boiling water before adding the uncooked pasta. You want the pasta water to be as salty as the sea, literally. Once you start salting your pasta water, you will never stop, I promise.
Cook the pasta just until al dente. Nothing ruins a pasta salad quicker than mushy, overcooked pasta. I like to cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the lowest recommended cooking time on the package directions. So if the package recommends 9-11 minutes, I start (carefully) tasting the pasta after 8 minutes and pull it off the heat and strain it as soon as it's al dente.
If sweet corn is in season where you are, you can definitely use corn on the cob instead of frozen corn! There's no need to cook the corn before adding it to the pasta salad. Freshly cut, uncooked corn from the cob is one of life's greatest pleasures. OR if you have leftover grilled corn on the cob - cut it from the cob and use that!
The dressing in this pasta salad will thicken as it sits. I would recommend dressing it just before serving, or if you'll be enjoying this pasta salad a few hours after you make it, feel free to add a splash of lime juice or even milk to loosen things up.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Mexican/American
Keywords: elote pasta salad, street corn pasta salad, Mexican pasta salad
Emily K Lind
I made Mexican Street Corn Pasta salad last night and it was delicious! I put the salad on a bed of greens and added black beans. I didn't have cotija so I used pepperjack and sharp cheddar. It was so easy and made plenty for leftovers. Dan loved it too. I think we have a new staple in the house!
Kylie Lato
Woohooooo! I am so glad you and Dan enjoyed this one, Emily! Thanks so much for leaving a review!! 🙂
Carolyn
This was delicious!! Added an extra can of corn because I love corn!! I will be making this again!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
An extra can of corn would be delicious in this recipe! And a good way to bulk it up with veggies - great idea! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Carolyn! Thanks for leaving a review 🙂
Mary
Made this recipe as described, it’s in fridge cooling for tomorrow’s BBQ. Used 2 cans of corn drain and charred in a skillet. This is a relatively easy recipe to make.
Kylie Lato
Oooo - great idea to char the corn! That will add a delicious layer of flavor!! Thanks so much for leaving a review, Mary 🙂
Kelli
Great idea on the corn!
Chelsea
Absolutely delicious! I tried this out for Memorial Weekend and it was a hit! I'll be sure to save this recipe for future use!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
Yayyyyy!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe!! I am so glad that you enjoyed it too, Chelsea. Thanks for leaving a review!
Colleen
Oh my goodness!! I am chowing down on a bowl of this as I type because I JUST CAN'T wait until company arrives!! This is such a great pasta salad...refreshing and delicious! I will definitely make this a regular for summer BBQs! Thank you!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
Yessss! It's always good for the chef to have a little taste before company arrives!! 🙂 I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Colleen. Thanks for leaving a review!
Jean
I made this with left overs. Chicken, corn, tomatoes, peppers. I changed the sour cream to Greek yogurt. It came out really good
Kylie Lato
Oh yum - this would be great with chicken! So glad you enjoyed and were able to customize it to use up leftovers!! 🙂 Thanks for leaving a review.
Karen
Made this tonight to go with some tamales. I used two ears of corn and roasted the corn in the oven with a little butter. I love all of the flavors! Thanks for such an easy summer side dish recipe!
Kylie Lato
Yummmmm!! This would be PERFECT with tamales! And mmmmm - roasted corn?!?! Seriously yum! Thanks so much for leaving a review, Karen!
Kelli
This looks amazing!! Thank you for sharing!!
Kylie Lato
Of course! I hope you like it!
Hope
I made it for a picnic and it was amazing. I did two cans of corn that I charred, and more spices. Will definitely make again!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
Charring the corn would add so much flavor! Great idea, Hope! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂 Thanks for leaving a review!
Jessica Sellenberg
Going to make this and realized I have cream corn, not regular canned corn... Do you think the cream corn would completely throw this recipe off?
Kylie Lato
Not at all!! I think creamed corn would be delicious in this recipe!! I think it would just make it a bit more creamy. Perhaps try either pouring off some of the cream from the corn or adding just half the dressing initially so you can control how creamy it gets! Hope you like it!!
Sam
Can I use frozen corn?
Kylie Lato
Sure! I think frozen corn would work just fine in this recipe! Just make sure you drain off any excess water.
Jackie
Do you eat this warm or cold??
Kylie Lato
Cold! Although, I don't think it'd be too bad warm either!! 🙂
Angie
I really liked this recipe! I added finely chopped Serrano peppers for some spiciness!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
Ohhhh yum - serranos would be the PERFECT addition. Great idea Angie! Thanks so much for leaving a review! I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂
Susan Abaecherli
Followed your recipe, but added smoked paprika which is in a lot of Mexican street corn recipes. Wondering if pouring dressing on when pasta and dressing are at room temperature would allow it to soak in more?
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
Great idea, Susan! I prefer the slight kick of the chili powder instead of smoked paprika (plus I don't often have smoked paprika on hand), but either one works in this recipe. You could definitely add the dressing while the pasta is at room temperature if you prefer! I like to add it after the pasta is completely cool so that it doesn't soak into the pasta and dry out or get soggy. Again though, this is totally up to you. Feel free to use this as your blueprint and customize it however you see fit! I'm so glad that you enjoyed this recipe and took the time to leave a review!
Colleen
I made this for my family on Father's Day and it was a HUGE hit. Someone else made a pasta salad too and no one was eating that one. Every single person was raving about it. I doubled the recipe because I was sure there would be enough but one serving would have been for us, I would also suggest maybe making a little more sauce as it seemed to dry out a bit during my travel time. Other than that, it was a perfect recipe and I will definitely be making this again!
Kylie Lato
I LOVE THIS! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe!! If you're planning to travel or enjoy the salad a bit later, definitely add a splash of lime juice or even milk just to loosen it up again. I will add this to the recipe notes as I think this is a helpful tip. Thanks so much for leaving a review, Colleen. I really appreciate it!!
maureen
Excellent salad and different approach to street corn. Family loved it and fought over the small leftover portion! I have shared this recipe with them too.
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Maureen! And that you shared it with your family 🙂 Thanks so much for leaving a review - I really appreciate it!
Sassy
This was so good!!! Was a huge hit with my family. But I used whole wheat pasta instead. And because we’re all lactose intolerant, I used Cremá, a Mexican sour cream and their cotija cheese. If you’ve ever had eloté from the “corn man” or “rainbow umbrella” whatever you call it, it tastes just like that. I even added tajín on top and it was amazing. My dads a meatlover so I cooked some ground turkey to add in.
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
Great substitutions! So glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Sassy! Thanks for leaving a review 🙂
Brittany Roley
This Pasta salad is delicious!! I’m so happy with how it turned out I will surely make it Again!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
I am so glad you enjoyed this pasta salad, Brittany. Thanks for leaving a review!!
Sara Angel
I made this for a cookout where I knew we would be having Mexican style tacos, and thought-hey let’s give it a chance!
I used rainbow rotini because I like a bit more color in my food and played up the idea of Mexican street corn.
I followed the instructions, but thought it could use a little more dressing so I added an extra squeeze of mayonnaise.
The flavors really are great together.
I topped it with Cilantro and added in a shake of Goya Adobo with the blue cover and sprinkled some Tajín on top. I served this in a cute container with an ice pack under it to keep it cool since we were outside in Wisconsin’s Tropical summer. It was the hit of the party, besides the tacos...The kids asked their parents for seconds... and before I left early people filled their plates with more. I think next time I would use two cans of corn to give it more of an Elote vibe.
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Sara! Thanks so much for leaving a review!!
Gaby
Delicious ? and easy to make.
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Gaby! Thank you for leaving a review - I really appreciate it!
Jill
Great pasta salad! Made according to recipe and it was fabulous!!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Jill. Thanks so much for leaving a review!
Aubrey
Excellent recipe! I have switched it up with basil and cilantro, different cheeses, and various peppers and tomatoes. Such a versatile recipe, it’s now a summer standard!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
WOOHOO! I am so glad that you've found this recipe delicious AND versatile! Thanks so much for leaving a review, Aubrey!
Jillian
Quick and easy recipe that all enjoyed! I used fresh corn on the cob cooked in air fryer which brought sweetness to this dish. I also added diced poblano pepper, red onion, and celery for a little crunch! Will definitely be making this again!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Jillian! I love your adjustments and substitutions! Sounds delish 🙂 Thanks for leaving a review!
Heather
I made this for a family 4th of July get together and everyone loved it.
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Heather! It is one of our family's favorites. Thanks for leaving a review!
Leslie Callahan
Can't say enough about this recipe. I could have eaten the whole entire bowl myself. Thank you for the recipe. Its a hit!!
★★★★★
Kylie Lato
Hahah 🙂 I love this! I could not agree more - I have definitely eaten more than my fair share of this recipe! Thank you so much for leaving a review, Leslie. Thank you!!
Colleen
Everything about this looks amazing - EXCEPT mayo is so gross! My grocery store sells Mexican crema; if I used it in place of the mayo, in addition to the sour cream, do you think it’d be too tangy? Maybe I could add a pinch of sugar to tone it down? Trader Joe’s Everything But the Elote seasoning has sugar in it...
Kylie Lato
I think Mexican crema would be perfect in this!! I hear you about the mayo - I am typically NOT into mayo on anything but a turkey sandwich, but you can't even taste it in this pasta salad! It adds just the right amount of fat to the dressing which adds more flavor. But I think Mexican crema would be delicious - and I think a pinch of sugar would balance out the tang well. That Trader Joe's seasoning sounds yummy too. Can't wait to hear what you think if you try it! Great question, Colleen!
Carol
I just love those recipes that you can adjust so that you can put more of what you have on hand or what you love into it. This is a shining example of that. And it starts out with such beautiful ingredients. You cannot go wrong. EVER.I could be talked into "bulking" it with other ingredients and making this into a main dish any night of the week.I am so curious to see that you said not to cook the corn. I have never tried corn straight off the cob so now I am thinking that I have to try that. Seeing as at times I have not cooked it much this might not be a bad idea at all. Just something else to try.
Kylie Lato
YES! My recipes really are meant to be a blueprint for you to into your own creation! I LOVE fresh corn from the cob (uncooked) but my latest obsession is frozen fire roasted corn. The smokey flavor works SO well with this pasta salad that I'm updating the recipe (with new pictures too) next week to recommend using the fire roasted corn instead of canned or fresh. Can't wait to hear what you think if you end up making this recipe, Carol! 🙂