Elote, known by many as Mexican street corn, is the most delicious food I wish I’d discovered sooner! And since corn on the cob isn’t the cleanest to eat (hello, pass the dental floss), turning into a pasta salad seems like a great idea! This elote pasta salad is all the things we love about Mexican street corn, with so much less fuss
Elote
What is elote exactly? Elote, also known as Mexican street corn, is a style of corn on the cob popular in Mexico and the US. It begins with grilled corn on the cob (the more charred the better). It is then brushed with mayo or Mexican crema. The mayo acts as a glue for the rest of the amazing flavors.
The corn is dusted with chili powder, rolled in cotija cheese (or queso fresco), and drizzled with lime juice. The perfect balance of sweet, salty, spicy, and sour, elote is the perfect side dish!
Elote Pasta Salad
This elote pasta salad take all of those delicious flavors and turns them into such a great side dish!
Star with 3/4 cup of mayonnaise. Add 1/4 cup of lime juice and 3 tbsp of Everything But the Elote seasoning (Trader Joes’ guru here)! Or mix 1 tbsp of salt, 1/2 tbsp of black pepper, 3 tsp of chili powder, 2 tsp of cumin and onion powder, and1 tsp of garlic powder. Sprinkle that in your mayo mix and add the juice of two limes. Mix in
- 12oz Frozen Corn
- 1 Large Avocado
- 1/2 Cup Red Onion (Diced)
- 8 oz of cotija or queso fresco cheese
- 1/2 cup Chopped Cilantro
- 1/4 Cup Chopped Green Onion
More Than a Side Dish
While this elote pasta salad is delicious as a side dish, you can definitely amp it up to make the entree! Just make it as instructed and top it with your favorite protein:
- Grilled Chicken
- Shrimp
- Skirt Steak
- Pork Tenderloin
Season the meat with the same seasoning blend you used in the pasta salad and grill it outside or on an indoor grill and lay it right on top. Just like that you have a delicious summer dinner!
Creamy, tangy, spicy, elote is the most delicious snack/side you ever will meet, and elote pasta salad is a whole new way to enjoy it! All the same flavors with a whole new spin, this is the perfect summer meal.
Need More Mexican Inspired Dishes?
Elote Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz bowtie or other short cut pasta
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 3 tbsp Everything But the Elote seasoning OR next 7 ingredients
- 1 tbsp salt
- ½ tbsp black pepper
- 3 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 12 oz frozen corn defrosted
- 1 large avocado diced
- ½ cup red onion diced
- 8 oz queso fresco or cotija cheese crumbled
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
- ¼ cup green onions chopped
- 1 lime cut into wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool.
- Meanwhile in a large bowl, combine mayo, lime juice, and seasonings.
- Add corn, avocado, onions, cilantro, green onions, and cheese to the bowl. Add in cooled pasta and stir to coat. Chill for at least 30 minutes in the fridge and serve with lime wedges.
