Street Corn Elote Pasta Salad
This ain’t the bland pasta salad sitting untouched at the end of the table. This one shows up seasoned, creamy, cheesy, and kissed with lime like it’s got somewhere to be. It’s giving street corn energy with cookout vibes, and it comes together easy enough to make on a weeknight. Make it once and suddenly you’re the person everyone asks to bring a side.
Servings 8 cups
Calories 164kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6-7 oz pasta I used rotini.
- 3 oz cream cheese softened.
- ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lime juice This was 1 medium-sized lime for me.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Optional; I like to add it to give the pasta more moisture.
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper Optional for spicy.
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 12 oz corn kernels This was about 1 ½-2 cups. I used frozen grilled corn.
- ⅓ cup Cojita cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in accordance with the instructions on the package. Remove the pasta from the pot. Rinse it with cold water and drain well.6-7 oz pasta
- Combine the sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt), cream cheese, lime juice, olive oil, cilantro, and spices in a large bowl or serving dish. Stir to combine.3 oz cream cheese, ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons lime juice, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste, 2-3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fold in the pasta, corn, and Cojita cheese.12 oz corn kernels, ⅓ cup Cojita cheese
- Chill for 1 hour or serve immediately.It’s okay if it looks a little extra creamy when you first mix it. A lot of the dressing will penetrate into the pasta, so you'll get amazing flavor, but you may lose some of the texture. If it looks a little dry after chilling, stir in a bit of sour cream, or even a splash of milk or lime juice to freshen it up.Pasta absorbs moisture as it sits, so refreshing it with extra dressing helps bring back that creamy texture.
Notes
How to Make it Creamier: Add more sour cream, mayo, or Greek yogurt. These are your creamy base ingredients — just a couple extra spoonfuls can make a big difference.
Short pasta shapes like rotini, penne, or shells hold the dressing well and mix easily with the corn and toppings.
Cotija cheese is traditional, but you can also use queso fresco or even feta in a pinch.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g