Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is mixed with simple ingredients with a mayonnaise base dressing. The perfect quick and easy summertime pasta salad.

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe:

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is loaded with flavor. The fire roasted corn, pasta and Cotija Crumbled pairs perfectly with the creamy, tangy dressing. It is a quick and easy pasta dish that pairs perfectly will all your grilled meats.

Summertime is a great time to have friends and family over for a barbecue. We love making summer pasta salads to go with out grilled burgers and hot dogs. This Mexican Street Corn Pasta is one of our favorites and is quick and easy to make.

Change up your traditional pasta salad and make this Street Corn Pasta Salad. You are sure to impress your friends and family and they will be surprised how easy it is to make.

What is Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad?

This pasta salad combines the flavors of Mexican Street Corn, which is also known as Elote and pasta. You can grill corn that is covered in Mayonnaise, Cotija Cheese and chili powder. But we used canned fire roasted corn for an easier option.

This recipe combines the flavors Mexican Street Corn but in a pasta salad side dish. It really is the best of both worlds.

Ingredients: 

For the Pasta Salad: 

• Rotini Pasta 
• Olive Oil 
• Fire Roasted Corn (15 oz each) drained 
• Cotija Crumbled Cheese 
• Cilantro (finely chopped) 
• Green Onions (chopped) 

For the Dressing: 

• Mayonnaise 
• Chili Powder 
• Lime (juiced) 
• Garlic Powder 
• Cayenne Pepper 
• Salt and Pepper 

How to Make Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad: 

• Step 1 – Prepare Pasta – Cook the pasta based on the pasta instructions to al dente.  Drain the pasta.  Rinse with water. 
• Step 2 – Toss pasta in olive oil – Toss the pasta with the olive oil and set aside to cool.  
• Step 3 – Combine Dressing Ingredients – In a separate bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.  Refrigerate until ready to use. 
• Step 4 – Stir together pasta ingredients – In a large bowl gently stir together all the pasta salad ingredients.  Reserve some of the cilantro and green onions for topping.  

• Step 5 – Toss Dressing with Pasta Ingredients – Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta salad.  Gently toss to coat the ingredients with the dressing. 
• Step 6 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve topped with the reserved green onions and cilantro or chill until ready to serve. 

Recipe Variations:

• Cheese Variations – You can use Queso Fresco Cheese if you cannot find Cotija cheese in your area. 
• Pasta – Rotini pasta works great in this recipe, but you can use any type of short pasta. Penne pasta or bowtie pasta would be great options.
• Fire Roasted Corn – We used canned corn in this recipe. But you might check your freezer section to see if they have Fire Roast Frozen Corn.
• Sour Cream – If you are adding in sour cream or substituting for mayonnaise, make sure to use full fat sour cream. Low fat doesn’t work as well in this recipe.
• Black Beans – Black beans is a great addition to this pasta dish if you have them. You can even add in pinto beans or black-eyed peas.
• Vegetables – Feel free to add in bell peppers or chopped onions for added flavor. You can also add in slice carrots, peas or chopped asparagus.
• Tomatoes – This recipe would be delicious with some added slice cherry tomatoes.
• Spicy – If you want your pasta to have a little bit of kick to it, mix in some red pepper flakes. You can also add in slice jalapenos for added flavor.

Can I use Grilled Corn on the Cob?

If you have leftover corn or would like to grill corn on the cob, it would add flavor to this recipe. We like to use canned corn in this recipe because it is easy. But you can take the corn off the cob, and mix it into this recipe.

To remove the corn from the cob, simply place the corn on the cutting board. Use a sharp knife and begin slicing the corn off the corn from the top.

How to Make Mexican Corn Pasta Salad in advance:

You can easily make this pasta salad ahead of time. Prepare the salad dressing and the pasta salad separately. If you are not serving right away, store these two bowls separate in the fridge.

Then when you are ready to serve, mix the dressing and the pasta ingredients together. This helps to keep everything fresh and the Cotija Cheese doesn’t soak up the dressing as it sits.

Tips for Street Corn Pasta:

• Fresh Cilantro – Cilantro is one of the main ingredients in this recipe. We recommend not skipping it. If you are not a fan, try substituting for parsley.
• Garlic Powder – We recommend using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic in this recipe. Garlic powder blends well and doesn’t over power the other ingredients.
• Making in advance – If you are not serving this pasta salad immediately, wait to add the dressing until right before serving.  
• Prepare the Pasta – Cook and prepare the pasta al dente. Once cooked, rinse and drain under cold water. We recommend tossing with olive oil once cooked and before adding in the other ingredients.
• Dressing Ingredients – Combine the dressing ingredients ahead of time. Store in the fridge until ready to mix with the pasta ingredients.
• Mixing Everything Together – Gently combine the salad dressing and the pasta ingredients until everything is completely covered.

How to Serve:

Mexican street corn pasta is a delicious side dish that can be served with many different meals. Try one of these options for other ways to serve this pasta salad.

• Serve on a bed of lettuce for a light and refreshing salad.
• Top the pasta salad with a scoop of sour cream before serving.
• Add in grilled chicken, grilled pork or beef for a complete meal idea.
• Add in fresh herbs to the pasta ingredients for more flavor.

Should this be eaten Cold or Hot:

This pasta salad is best served cold. Once the pasta is cooked, then we rinse with cold water. This allows the pasta to cool. Mixed with mayonnaise and other dressing ingredients makes a delicious cold salad.

How to Store Leftovers:

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.  

Print Recipe for Mexican Street Corn Pasta:

More Pasta Recipes:

• Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
• Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad