Name: Elote Pasta Salad recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients: 12 oz rotini or cavatappi pasta; 3 ears of fresh corn (or 1 ½ cups frozen/canned corn); ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled; ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped; 1 small jalapeño, finely diced (optional); ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped For the Dressing: ½ cup mayonnaise; ¼ cup sour cream or Mexican crema; 2 tbsp lime juice (freshly squeezed); 1 tsp chili powder; ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp smoked paprika; ½ tsp salt (or to taste); ½ tsp hot sauce (optional)

Description

A creamy, smoky, and zesty elote pasta salad that combines the bold flavors of Mexican street corn with tender pasta. Perfect for summer cookouts, potlucks, or a make-ahead meal!

Ingredients

Scale

12 oz rotini or cavatappi pasta
3 ears of fresh corn (or 1 ½ cups frozen/canned corn)
½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
1 small jalapeño, finely diced (optional)
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

For the Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream or Mexican crema
- 2 tbsp lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ½ tsp hot sauce (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Grill the Corn: Remove husks and silk from fresh corn. Grill over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred. Let cool, then cut kernels off the cob. (For canned or frozen corn, char in a dry pan.)
Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayo, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and hot sauce.
Assemble the Salad: Add cooked pasta, grilled corn, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro to the dressing. Toss to coat.
Add Cheese: Crumble cotija cheese over the salad and gently fold it in.
Chill and Serve: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Before serving, toss again and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

To make this ahead, store the dressing separately and mix before serving.
For extra smokiness, add a pinch of chipotle powder.
If the salad thickens too much in the fridge, mix in a splash of lime juice before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Boiling, Grilling
Cuisine: Mexican-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6 servings
Calories: 380
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 340mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 47g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 9g
Cholesterol: 18