Juicy Street Corn Pasta Salad (Printable View)

Vibrant Mexican-inspired pasta salad with charred corn, creamy lime dressing, and crumbly cotija cheese.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)

→ Vegetables

02 - 4 ears fresh corn (or 3 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed)
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
06 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1/2 cup sour cream
09 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
10 - 1 tsp chili powder
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
13 - 1/2 tsp salt
14 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Cheese

15 - 3.5 oz cotija cheese or feta, crumbled

→ Optional Garnishes

16 - Extra cilantro
17 - Lime wedges
18 - Chili powder for sprinkling

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside to cool.
02 - Preheat a grill or large skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the corn and cook, turning occasionally, until charred in spots and tender (8-10 minutes). Let cool, then cut kernels from cobs. If using frozen corn, sauté in a dry skillet until lightly golden.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
04 - Add cooled pasta, corn kernels, bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro to the bowl. Toss well to coat everything evenly in dressing.
05 - Gently fold in crumbled cotija cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Chill salad for at least 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra cilantro, lime wedges, and sprinkle of chili powder if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing strikes that perfect balance between rich and refreshing like elote on a hot day
  • You can prep everything ahead and let flavors meld while you handle other party prep
  • The charred corn brings smoky depth that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is
02 -
  • Rinsing pasta with cold water is nonnegotiable to prevent that gummy texture
  • Letting the salad chill transforms it from good to absolutely delicious
  • The dressing will thicken as it sits so you might need a splash of lime before serving
03 -
  • Cut corn kernels off the cob inside a large bowl to keep them from bouncing all over your counter
  • Save some extra cotija and cilantro for the top so it looks beautiful when served

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