Name: Street Corn Elote Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 10 ounces dry macaroni noodles; 5 corn ears; 2/3 cup mayonnaise; 3/4 cup sour cream; 1 lime, zest of; 1/4 cup lime juice; 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (more for sprinkling on top before serving); 1/2 red onion (diced); 1 jalapeno ( finely diced); 1/2 cup cilantro (diced); 2 garlic cloves (minced or grated); 1/3 cup cojita cheese (sub with feta or queso fresco); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

I’m a huge fan of elote. Also known as Mexican street corn, it’s made with grilled corn on the cob with a variety of toppings – usually with mayo or sour cream, spices, cotija cheese, and cilantro. The flavor combo is one of my favorites and I’ve incorporated it into many recipes, including my Fried Chicken Street Corn Tacos, Brisket Street Corn Sliders, and Elote Mac and Cheese Casserole.

This Elote Pasta Salad combines two favorites, Street Corn Salad and Macaroni Salad, to make an irresistible side dish. It’s tangy and creamy with a bit of heat plus crunchy bites of grilled corn and tender pasta. If you love elote, you’re going to lose your mind when you try this street corn pasta salad. Be prepared to make it on repeat!

Why You’ll Love Elote Pasta Salad

What makes this street corn pasta salad so good? Here are a few things.

Incredible flavor – From the onions and garlic and the freshly squeezed lime juice and zest, to the creamy mayo, sweet pops of corn and hearty macaroni pasta, every bite of this salad is bursting with flavor.
20-minute recipe – Yes, it’s that quick and easy! From start to finish, this salad comes together in well under 30 minutes.
Make-ahead friendly – This elote pasta salad just gets more flavorful as it sits! It’s perfect to make a day or two ahead of a cookout. You can cross something off your to-do list early and have an even more flavorful dish.
Perfect for cookouts – Summer is pasta salad season and this street corn pasta salad makes the perfect addition to any cookout or picnic. The bold flavors are a bit unexpected and yet loved by everyone. Keep the recipe handy as others are sure to request it.

Ingredients You’ll Need & Why

This recipe combines the basic ingredients for elote and classic pasta salad. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Pasta – Elbow macaroni is my go-to but you can use your favorite short pasta.
Corn – Fresh off the cob is best, but frozen corn works too.
Mayo – A traditional elote topping, it adds a creamy decadence to the sauce.
Sour Cream – Also used for the base of the cream sauce, but freshens up the mayo so it’s not too heavy.
Limes – The zest and juice adds a pop of tangy citrus flavor to lighten the savory elements.
Cheese – Cojita cheese, a crumbling Mexican cheese, is traditionally used for elote. If you can’t find it, queso fresco and feta cheese are good alternatives.
Seasonings – Chili powder, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper add a bit of heat and flavor to the salad.
Red onion – Diced into small pieces for crunch and flavor.
Garlic – Just enough to add a bit of flavor without making the entire salad garlicky.
Jalapeno – Adds a little kick of heat to the salad.
Cilantro – An herby and fresh final touch (and a popular street corn topping).

How to Make Elote Pasta Salad

This street corn pasta salad recipe is so easy to make! It all comes together in less than 20 minutes.

Adding lime juice to a bowl with sour cream, mayo, and spices

Grill the corn. Heat a pan or a grill over medium high heat. Cook the corn until each side is a bit toasted or charred. Let cool, then remove the kernels.
Cook the pasta. Boil the pasta to al dente per the package instructions. Rinse in cold water.
Make the sauce. Mix together the mayo, sour cream, lime juice and zest, and all seasonings until combined. Give it a taste and adjust any ingredients as desired.
Assemble the salad. Combine the macaroni, corn, onion, garlic, cilantro, and jalapeno in a large bowl. Sprinkle in the cheese and add the dressing in increments, tossing to coat all ingredients. Reserve a bit of dressing to add just before serving.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Here are a few tricks I’ve discovered to make the best elote pasta salad.

Rinse the pasta. As soon as the pasta is drained, rinse it with cold water. This helps it stop cooking and ensures it cools faster. It should be about room temperature before being combined with the other ingredients.
Taste test the dressing. Give the dressing a taste once it’s mixed. Sometimes I want to add a bit more seasoning or an extra squeeze of lime juice.
Chill before serving. I like to make street corn pasta salad at least a few hours in advance so that it has time to chill in the fridge. This gives the flavors a chance to meld and it just tastes so much better!
Reserve some dressing. If you plan to let this salad chill before serving, I recommend reserving a small amount of dressing to add later. That way, it’s nice and wet when serving, since the pasta does absorb the dressing.

What To Serve With Elote Pasta Salad

This street corn pasta salad makes such a great side for almost any protein, especially during the summer months. It pairs nicely with anything off the grill, whether that’s burgers and hot dogs or grilled steak. I love it with my Five Guys Burger copycat recipe and my Perfect Juicy Chicken Breasts, too.

Make Ahead & Storage

Elote pasta salad tastes even better the next day, once the flavors have had a chance to fully meld. So don’t hesitate to make this a day in advance!

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Looking For More Pasta Salad Recipes?

I hope you enjoy this Street Corn Elote Pasta Salad recipe. Be sure to comment below with any questions or feedback!

If you make these or any other recipes, don’t forget to tag me on IG @BadBatchBaking to be featured on my story. Seeing your recreations makes my day!