Street Corn Pasta Salad

Tender pasta, fresh corn, and red onions are tossed with a creamy, spicy sauce of mayonnaise, lime, cilantro, and cotija cheese to create this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Holy WOW. I could not stop eating this pasta salad after I first tasted it. This is crazy good and every single person who tried it agreed. It’s THAT good.

My Mexican Street Corn obsession is borderline embarrassing, but I have no shame in my love of this flavor combination. This recipe is best with fresh corn.

You know that I just can’t get enough of the different street corn inspired recipes, right?

Now that it is fresh sweet corn season here in Ohio, all bets are off and if you see me eating raw sweet corn right off the ear – join me, or mind your own business. My husband wishes that last sentence was a joke but it isn’t.

I prefer to buy it freshly picked from one of the farm stands we have near us. Look for bright green husks and silks that aren’t brown and brittle. In our area some farmers even let you walk into the field and pick your own. Talk about fresh!

Elote Pasta Salad

Elote is the perfect dish to turn into a macaroni salad. I say that because elote at its base is corn on the cob, smothered in a seasoned mayonnaise. Macaroni salad is basically pasta with a mayonnaise dressing.

Lucky for all of us, elote pasta salad is much easier to eat, than traditional elote (a.k.a. corn on the cob). The mayonnaise-covered corn with seasoning and cheese is delicious, but a bit on the messy side. I love the dressing for this pasta salad, it is a combination of all the seasonings typically smeared on street corn.

The mayonnaise is the perfect carrier for chili powder, lime juice, Cotija cheese, and cilantro. Toss that together with fresh corn, pasta, and red onions for a taste of summer.

Street Corn Pasta Salad

The ingredients are pretty simple and easy to find. You likely have many of them already:

• ditalini pasta or salad macaroni
• fresh corn
• red onion
• cotija cheese
• fresh cilantro

Dressing Ingredients

• mayonnaise
• Cholula hot sauce
• fresh lime juice
• sugar
• kosher salt
• ground black pepper
• red chili powder

In a pinch (or in the winter) frozen or canned corn will work, the sweet crunch of fresh corn is simply amazing in this recipe.

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. When the pasta is done, drain into a colander and rinse well with cold water to prevent any further cooking.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, hot sauce, lime juice, sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, pepper, and chili powder. Add the pasta, corn, and red onion. Toss with tongs or stir well to coat.
3. Sprinkle with cotija and cilantro. Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.