Street Corn Pasta Salad

26 Comments 5

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

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.

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.

Save The Recipe

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email and I’ll send this recipe right to your inbox! Plus, I’ll send you new recipes every week!

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

Yes, the corn is raw in this recipe. You do not need to cook it. If you have never tasted raw sweet corn you are in for a treat.

Fresh corn and tender potatoes are tossed in a creamy spicy sauce to create the Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad. It’s been a popular recipe all summer long.

Tender bites of chicken and fresh corn are coated with a creamy, spicy sauce of mayonnaise, lime, cilantro, and cotija cheese to make this flavorful Street Corn Chicken Salad.

Crunchy green cabbage, 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 Coleslaw.

You can serve these recipes with CarnitasFilthy Burgersgrilled chicken thighs, pretty much anything goes. There just isn’t a wrong way to serve street corn!

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!

Street Corn flavors in a creamy pasta salad

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.

Pasta Salad meets Street Corn

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.

Pasta Salad meets Street Corn in the perfect summer salad

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.
Pasta Salad + Street Corn

Mexican Street Corn Recipes

The flavor of Mexican street corn has crept into many of my recipes. My overly honest critics, the kids, are thumbs up on anything that makes the most of street corn flavor combinations.

Elote Dip is made with roasted corn in a creamy sauce of spicy mayonnaise, lime, and cotija cheese. I’ve served this as both a snack with chips and as a side dish. Our guests almost always ask for the recipe.

Mexican Street Corn with Squash and Kielbasa brings all of the street corn flavors we love to this simple skillet meal. Kielbasa sausage is sauteed with sweet onions, fresh corn, and summer squash before being tossed with a really light street corn inspired sauce.

Get New Recipessent to your inbox!
We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Street Corn Pasta Salad

Street Corn Pasta Salad

5 from 8 votes
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.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 8 ounces ditalini pasta or salad macaroni
  • 4 ears of corn, kernels removed about 4 cups
  • ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
  • ¼ cup cotija cheese crumbled sliced thin
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped small

Dressing Ingredients

  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • 1-3 tablespoons Cholula hot sauce adjust to taste
  • 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice about 1 large lime
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½-1 teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper adjust to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground red chili powder

Instructions

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Sprinkle with cotija and cilantro. Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

You do not need to cook the corn for this recipe. If you haven’t tasted fresh, raw sweet corn before, you’re in for a treat. 

Nutrition

Calories: 305kcal · Carbohydrates: 31g · Protein: 6g · Fat: 18g · Saturated Fat: 3g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g · Monounsaturated Fat: 4g · Trans Fat: 1g · Cholesterol: 13mg · Sodium: 385mg · Potassium: 209mg · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 4g · Vitamin A: 148IU · Vitamin C: 6mg · Calcium: 34mg · Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!
Creamy Pasta Salad meets Mexican Street Corn

Filed under: , ,

Share this Article

PinYummly

Related Posts

Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

Reader Interactions

26 Comments Leave a comment or review

    Rate & Comment

    Rating




  1. Dan says

    I have to tell you, this was the most delicious thing I’ve made in years and I make a lot of stuff. I made it exactly to recipe and it was it was out of this world good. I can see why you said you can’t stop eating it! This is going to be my go to summer macaroni salad from now on. It’s so good it’s genius. Thank you for sharing this!5 stars

    • Mary Younkin says

      You do not need to cook the corn for this recipe. If you haven’t tasted fresh, raw sweet corn before, you’re in for a treat. Enjoy!

  2. Erin Eckenrode says

    Oh. My. Gosh. So good and so easy. I’ll definitely be making this again and sharing the recipe.5 stars

  3. GARNETT WILCOXEN says

    OMG this sounds amazing! I know you answered this already, but you don’t cook the corn? Won’t it be tough and chewy?

    • Mary Younkin says

      Hi, Susan! Feta cheese makes a good substitute in a pinch; really, what you’re looking for is any cheese with a mildly sharp taste and a soft, crumbly texture. I hope you love the pasta salad.

  4. Vicki says

    Oh. My. Goodness!! This is the absolute best pasta salad I have ever made! And you right, it’s very addictive!5 stars

  5. Nita says

    Haven’t made this salad yet, but can attest to how delicious fresh, raw sweet corn is. When I was a kid and my mom would be cutting off corn to freeze I was always in the way sneaking bites of the corn as she cut it off the cob!

  6. Donya says

    Wow! So quick and easy and just full of flavor. Threw in some roasted chicken and made it a meal. Thanks for the recipe.5 stars