Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe
This Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is a flavorful twist on the classic street corn, combining tender pasta with sweet corn, a creamy tangy dressing, and vibrant spices. Perfect as a refreshing side dish for barbecues, picnics, or casual dinners, this salad balances smoky, zesty, and creamy elements with fresh cilantro and crumbly cotija cheese for an authentic Mexican flair.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming cooked pasta and prepared corn)
- Total Time: 40 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked rotini or penne pasta, cooled
- 2 cups corn, grilled, frozen (thawed), or canned, drained
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/3 cup crumbled cotija cheese
Instructions
- Combine pasta and corn: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked and cooled pasta along with the prepared corn. This creates the base of the salad.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined. This dressing delivers the signature creamy and tangy flavor.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the pasta and corn mixture, and toss gently but thoroughly to ensure every piece is coated evenly with the flavorful dressing.
- Add fresh ingredients: Fold in the chopped cilantro and crumbled cotija cheese carefully to distribute them throughout the salad without breaking up the cheese too much.
- Chill before serving: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and the salad to chill nicely for serving.
Notes
- You can use grilled corn for a smoky flavor or canned/frozen corn for convenience.
- Adjust the chili powder and smoked paprika according to your preferred spice level.
- For a lighter option, substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream.
- Cilantro can be omitted or replaced with parsley if you prefer.
- Serve chilled as a side dish at barbecues, potlucks, or casual meals.
Keywords: Mexican street corn pasta salad, Mexican pasta salad, street corn salad, rotini pasta salad, summer salad, cotija cheese salad, creamy pasta salad
