This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Creamy, tangy and so delicious, this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad takes your favorite summertime side and switches it up with Mexican-inspired flavors reminiscent of Elote (Mexican street corn flavored with crema, cheese, a little heat, and lime).
This pasta salad is a crowd-pleaser that is customizable, hearty, and unique. Watch it fly off the table whenever you serve it!
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
If you’ve tried our Mexican Street Corn Salad, you know I can’t get enough of the flavors of Elote (aka Mexican Street Corn). This Mexican Street Corn Pasta salad is our new go-to for entertaining. Customizable with add-ins, it is easy, delicious, and unique! It is a fun and creative way to serve up your corn.
A little bit of creaminess, a little tang, and a whole lot of fresh deliciousness!
Ingredients Needed
Here is an overview of ingredients, keep scrolling for the fill recipe.
- Corn: See below for a few different ways to prepare your corn for this recipe! When making corn on the cob, I always try to buy local corn when possible!
- Fresh Herbs: I find for this dish, the more cilantro and green onions (scallions), the better!
- Pasta: I love bowties here, but any pasta you like will be great.
- The dressing: This pasta salad is tossed in a lovely (and easy) creamy dressing!
- Mayo: I love avocado oil mayo as my mayo of choice. I haven’t tried it, but as a substitute, you can possibly try greek yogurt, though it will be tangier so you’ll want to play with the spices.
- Spices: This dressing uses a blend of chili powder, cayenne powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. You can adjust the heat as desired.
- Fresh garlic: When using raw garlic in a salad, I like to grate it to avoid heavy bites of garlic!
- Lime Juice: I prefer fresh here!
How to Customize It
Keep it simple or add in your favorites, like:
- Cheese (feta works well here, or Cotija for a more authentic Mexican Street Corn Salad)
- Black beans, drained and rinsed
- Avocado
- Diced bell peppers
- Bacon
- Jalapeños
Options for Cooking the Corn
You have a few options here, and can opt for preparing the corn any way that is easiest for you! This pasta salad works with any of these options
- Grilling the corn! This is my favorite method as the charred corn flavor really makes this pasta salad pop.
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, we also love this easy method.
- Another easy method… simply boil it!
- Use frozen corn (fire-roasted or regular)! Use 2 bags. Simply sauté it in a skillet with a little oil until cooked! Don’t overcook the corn or it will be mushy.
How to Grill Corn
It will take this pasta salad to the next level!
- Clean and oil/grease your grill.
- Remove husks and rub corn with butter or oil.
- Place corn directly on the hot side of your grill (medium-high heat) and cook, rotating occasionally, until charred and tender, about 15 minutes. When done, the yellow color of the corn will be more vibrant, and the kernels will be tender and plump.
- Remove corn from grill and allow to cool before cutting kernels off.
What Type of Pasta to Use
Any pasta works great in this pasta salad! Make sure to salt the pasta water. It’s key!
If you like this pasta salad recipe, check out these others:
- Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
- Avocado and Corn Salsa
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
Watch The Video:
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12- ounces bow-tie pasta or pasta of choice
- 6 corn ears grilled or boiled (see note)
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/3 cup chopped green onion more as desired
- Salt and pepper as desired
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper more as desired
- 1 garlic clove grated
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt and black pepper more to taste
Optional add-ins:
- Cotija cheese or feta cheese
- Black beans
- Avocado
- Jalapeno
- See more above
Instructions
- Make the pasta: Follow the directions on the package, making sure to salt your water generously. Drain pasta, rinse, and set aside to dry.
- Make the corn: Grill, boil, or use frozen corn. See post for various methods. Once cooled, cut kernels off the cob, and place into a bowl.
- Prepare the dressing: In a bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients.
- Prep herbs and veggies: Chop cilantro, green onion, and any add-ins you desire.
- Assemble the pasta salad: Combine all the ingredients, toss with the dressing, and adjust spices as desired! You may want a little more salt, pepper, spice, and even mayo or lime juice here!
- Enjoy immediately. Best if eaten immediately once pasta salad is dressed.
Notes
- Grilling the corn! This is my favorite method as the charred corn flavor really makes this pasta salad pop.
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, we also love this easy method.
- Another easy method... simply boil it!
- Use frozen corn (fire-roasted or regular)! Use 2 bags. Simply sauté it in a skillet with a little oil until cooked! Don't overcook the corn or it will be mushy.
OMG I was able to make this and it was a party in my mouth! I chose these options:
Grilled the corn on cob w/ Jalapenos
Added a small amount of black beans (1/3 cup). – nice, but optional
Added one small avocado cut up. – also nice, also optional for me
I also did not love the mayo. I saw the note about using greek yogurt. I’ll try that – let me know if you have any other ideas!
Made for the first time last evening for a BBQ. It was SO popular! Thanks for another great recipe, lexi!
I normally do not care for pasta salads because I do not like mayo. In this recipe, the spices completely disguise the taste of the mayo and it is a very light dressing. However, this recipe has converted me to love pasta salad! I made it for a potluck and had several requests for the recipe. I also added fresh tomatos from the garden, and substituted chives for green onion since that is what he had in the garden ready to eat!
The BEST corn side dish! Super simple and easy but so good, and it’s even better the next day. I usually grill the corn but I’ve used can as well. Either way, you can’t go wrong!
This was delicious. Perfectly creamy! 🤤 I actually used frozen sweet corn kernals (Birds Eye) and sautéed them on the grill in my cast iron. It’s all I had but am easy swap!
Loved the optional suggestion to use frozen fire roasted corn. Made this recipe so quick and easy. Super tasty too! I couldn’t stop snacking on it while waiting for guests to arrive!
What do you recommend to use instead of mayonnaise? I’m not a fan of mayo.
Try Greek yogurt maybe!
Outstanding recipe! Crowd pleaser for kids and adults!
I am so glad! 🙂 Lexi
This is so, so good! I just put it together to go with dinner tonight. I used frozen fire roasted corn from Whole Foods and added a big spoonful of greek yogurt to the dressing. I could SWIM in the dressing its so good. Thanks!!
Made this last night for dinner. Everyone loved it. It was even so good as leftovers the next day.
Made this for Fathers Day and it was a huge hit!!