Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe (Easy BBQ & Potluck Side Dish)

This is truly something special — the smell of grilled corn drifting through the air at a backyard barbecue. Smoky, sweet, and instantly signaling that the good times have begun. Now imagine that same bold, smoky flavor mixed into a creamy, refreshing pasta salad that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Well, that’s exactly what Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe delivers.

Bright, zesty lime, smoky chili pepper, creamy sauce, and salty Cotija cheese — every bite feels like a Tex-Mex flavor party in your mouth. For me, it’s perfect for a Fourth of July celebration, a summer get-together at home, or when you simply need a standout side dish for a Tuesday cookout. This recipe is about to become your new go-to. Trust me.

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What Is Street Corn Pasta Salad, Exactly?

If you’ve ever had Mexican street corn — elote — you already know the deal. It’s grilled corn on the cob slathered with mayo, chili powder, lime, and cotija cheese. It’s messy, glorious, and borderline addictive. This street corn pasta salad recipe takes all those incredible flavors and turns them into something you can actually eat with a fork at a picnic without wearing half of it on your shirt.

The result? A creamy, smoky, slightly spicy pasta salad that’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own but perfectly at home sitting next to grilled burgers and ribs at your next cookout. It’s become one of the most popular potluck dishes for a reason — once people try it, they always ask for the recipe.

Ingredients for Street Corn Pasta Salad

For the Salad

• 12 oz rotini or bowtie pasta (cooked al dente, cooled)
• 3 cups sweet corn — grilled or charred (about 4 ears, or use frozen/canned in a pinch)
• 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (keep the seeds for extra heat)
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• 3/4 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (plus more for topping)

For the Creamy Lime Dressing

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt (Greek yogurt = lighter version)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt to taste

Recipe at a Glance

Detail	Info
Prep Time	15 minutes
Cook Time	12 minutes (pasta)
Total Time	30 minutes (+ chill time)
Servings	6–8
Approximate Calories	~380 per serving
Difficulty	Easy
Best For	BBQs, potlucks, meal prep

How to Make Street Corn Pasta Salad (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Cook the pasta. Boil your rotini or bowtie pasta until just al dente — you want a little bite. Overcooked pasta turns to mush in a salad, and nobody wants that. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside to cool completely.

Step 2: Char the corn. This step is non-negotiable for maximum flavor. Whether you’re using fresh, frozen, or canned corn, you want char. See the Pro Tips section below for how to do this without a grill.

Step 3: Make the dressing. Whisk together the mayo, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic, and salt. Taste it. Adjust. You want it tangy, creamy, and just a little smoky. It should almost taste like something you’d put on tacos — because, well, it kind of is.

Step 4: Combine everything. In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with the charred corn, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. Pour the dressing over and mix until everything’s coated. Fold in the cotija cheese gently.

Step 5: Chill and serve. Pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. Cold pasta salad is a completely different (better) experience than room-temp pasta salad. Garnish with extra cotija, a sprinkle of chili powder, and a few cilantro leaves.

Pro Tips & Variations

How to Char Corn Without a Grill

No grill? No problem. Heat a cast iron skillet or heavy pan over high heat until it’s smoking hot. Add the corn kernels (no oil needed) in a single layer and let them sit for 2–3 minutes without stirring. You want actual char marks, not just warm corn. Stir once, let sit again. Done. This method honestly rivals the grill for flavor.

How to Make It Lighter

Swap the mayo entirely for Greek yogurt and use light sour cream. You’ll lose a bit of richness but gain a tangier, fresher flavor profile. Still absolutely delicious — just a bit more waistline-friendly for those summer swimsuit situations.

How to Make It Spicy

Leave the seeds in the jalapeño. Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the dressing. Drizzle a little hot sauce over the top before serving. For full Tex-Mex heat, add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (see Tex-Mex variation below).

Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

This salad is a make-ahead champion. You can prep it up to 24 hours in advance — and honestly, the flavors get even better after sitting overnight. The pasta absorbs the dressing and everything gets acquainted. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and give it a good stir before serving. You may want to add a squeeze of fresh lime to brighten it back up.

Protein Add-Ins

Want to turn this into a full meal? Easy. Try one of these add-ins:

• Grilled chicken, sliced thin — classic and crowd-pleasing
• Grilled shrimp — makes it feel fancy for basically no effort
• Black beans — vegetarian protein boost that also adds great texture
• Crispy bacon crumbles — because bacon improves most things

Make It Tex-Mex Style

Americans love Tex-Mex, and this pasta salad is absolutely begging for that treatment. Here’s how to dial it up:

• Add 1 can of rinsed black beans for protein and heartiness
• Dice 1 ripe avocado and fold it in just before serving
• Swap regular chili powder for taco seasoning in the dressing
• Add 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced, for deep smoky heat
• Top with crushed tortilla chips for crunch

The Tex-Mex version is basically a deconstructed taco in pasta salad form. It absolutely slaps at summer gatherings and 4th of July parties where you want something a little more substantial than your average side dish.

What to Serve Street Corn Pasta Salad With

This side dish plays well with just about everything coming off the grill. Here are the classic American pairings that work best:

Main Dish	Why It Works
Grilled Burgers	The creamy, tangy salad cuts through the richness of a beef patty perfectly
BBQ Ribs	The lime and chili flavors complement smoky, slow-cooked BBQ beautifully
Grilled Chicken	Light enough to not overpower; pairs especially well with citrus-marinated chicken
Grilled Hot Dogs	A summer cookout staple — simple, crowd-pleasing, always works
Fish Tacos	The Mexican flavor profile makes this a natural Tex-Mex pairing

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make street corn pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes — and you absolutely should. This street corn pasta salad recipe actually tastes better after chilling for a few hours. The pasta absorbs the dressing and all the flavors meld together beautifully. Make it the night before and thank yourself later. If it seems a little dry after sitting, just add a fresh squeeze of lime and a small dollop of sour cream.

How long does street corn pasta salad last in the fridge?

Up to 3–4 days in an airtight container. By day 3, the pasta will have soaked up most of the dressing, so you might want to stir in a little extra mayo or sour cream to freshen it up. The corn might lose a bit of its char texture, but the flavor remains excellent. Pro tip: keep the avocado separate if you’re making the Tex-Mex version — it browns quickly.

Can I use canned or frozen corn instead of fresh?

Absolutely. Frozen corn is actually great for this recipe — just thaw it fully and char it in a skillet as described above. Canned corn works too; drain it well and don’t skip the charring step. The char is what gives this dish its distinctive street corn flavor, so regardless of which type of corn you use, get it in that hot pan.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Not as written, since it uses regular pasta. However, you can easily make it gluten-free by swapping in your favorite GF pasta. Just be aware that gluten-free pasta can get a bit softer as it sits, so you might want to cook it slightly firmer than usual.

What type of pasta works best?

Rotini and bowtie (farfalle) are the top picks because their shapes hold the dressing really well. The little nooks and curves of rotini are especially good at catching all that creamy, limey goodness. Penne works great too. Avoid long pasta like spaghetti or linguine — it doesn’t mix well in a salad format.

Ready to Bring the Most Talked-About Dish to Your Next BBQ?

Here’s the thing about this Mexican street corn pasta salad Recipe — it checks every single box. It’s bold and flavorful. It’s easy to make. It travels well to potlucks and backyard BBQs. It can be made ahead. And it consistently gets those “oh my god, what IS this?” reactions from people who’ve never had it before.

Once you make it, it’ll become your standard response to “what should I bring?” for every cookout, summer gathering, and 4th of July party for the foreseeable future. And honestly? You deserve that energy — the energy of the person who always shows up with the good stuff.

Give this recipe a shot, and if you customize it your own way — extra spice, a protein add-in, the full Tex-Mex treatment — I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment and let me know how it went. And if you’re looking for more crowd-pleasing sides for summer, check out some of our other BBQ favorites.