Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Creamy, zesty, and loaded with smoky street corn flavor, this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is the perfect side dish for cookouts, potlucks, and taco night.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican Inspired, Southern

Keyword mexican-street-corn-pasta-salad-recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Chill Time 4

Total Time 4 35

Servings servings

Calories 324kcal

Ingredients

8 oz bow tie pasta about 2 cups
2 cups corn kernels fresh, canned or frozen (thawed)
1/2-2/3 cup cotija cheese plus additional for garnishing
1 small red onion finely diced
1 small red bell pepper seeded and diced
1 small-medium jalapeno pepper seeded and diced
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro plus additional for garnishing
1 mediujm avocado cubed (add just before serving)
Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
2/3 cup sour cream
2-3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1-2 tsp lime zest
1 1/2 tsp salt adjust amount to taste
1-2 tsp dark chili powder
1 tsp lemon pepper or black pepper
1 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp ground cumin

Instructions

Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
Meanwhile, cook or char the corn in a hot skillet or grill pan for 4–5 minutes just until golden brown and slightly smoky. Let cool.
In a large bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, salt, dark chili powder, lemon pepper, dark chili powder, granulated garlic, onion powder, paprika and cumin until smooth and creamy.
To the bowl add pasta, corn, onion, red pepper, jalapeño, cilantro, and cotija cheese.Toss until well coated. Cover and chill for 4 hours.
Gently fold in the avocado just before serving, if using. Taste and adjust salt and pepper, if needed.
Serve garnished with cotija cheese and sliced jalapeño pepper either chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Corn - I like flexibility and this salad can be made using grill fresh corn on the cob, frozen corn or grilled corn. I like to toss a couple of ears on the grill and get it perfectly charred for the added flavor.
Pasta - You can use bowties or cavatappi pasta for extra texture. You could also use a small pasta shape ditalini pasta or penne regatta.
Protein - You could add diced chicken for a quick and easy entree or toss in some crispy bacon for a smoky flavor.
Veggies - Add black beans for a heartier version or add pickled jalapenos or roasted poblano pepper to change the flavor profile. You could also use scallions for a milder onion taste.
Lime - You could replace fresh lime juice and lime zest using lemon, instead.
Cotija Cheese - Cotija is classic for Mexican street corn, but feta cheese or queso fresco also work.
Paprika - You can replace the paprika with ground chipotle powder or ancho chile powder. You could also add a few dashes of hot sauce for smoky heat.
Sour Cream - You could use Mexican crema in place of sour cream for a creamy dressing. You could also adapt the dressing using Greek yogurt.

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