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Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe
Emma

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe

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.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 255
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad
  • 12 oz short pasta (rotini, fusilli, or macaroni)
  • 3 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, finely diced (optional)
Chili Lime Dressing
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
Optional Garnish
  • extra cotija cheese
  • chopped cilantro
  • Tajin seasoning
  • lime wedges

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small bowl
  • Whisk
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Method
 

Step 1 – Cook Pasta
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
Step 2 – Prepare the Corn
  1. If using fresh or frozen corn, sauté it in a skillet over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until slightly charred.
Step 3 – Make the Dressing
  1. In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 4 – Combine Ingredients
  1. In a large bowl combine cooked pasta, corn, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and cotija cheese.
Step 5 – Toss the Salad
  1. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
Step 6 – Chill and Serve
  1. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to combine. Garnish with additional cotija cheese, cilantro, and Tajin if desired.

Notes

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Nutrient Amount
Calories 255 kcal
Protein 7 g
Carbohydrates 27 g
Fat 13 g
Saturated Fat 3 g
Cholesterol 15 mg
Sodium 315 mg
Fiber 2 g
Sugar 3 g