Sweet corn mixed with fresh cilantro, diced jalapeños, and savory seasonings are tossed in a tangy Greek yogurt dressing and mixed with noodles for this deliciously creamy elote pasta salad recipe. Topped with crumbled cotija cheese, this pasta salad is filled with all the flavors you love of street corn and would be the perfect pasta salad to bring to any summer BBQ.

elote pasta salad with fresh lime and cilantro.

If there is one thing I love about summertime (beyond the sunshine, of course) it’s all the summer BBQ’s that get added to the calendar or family weeknights!

Good friends.

Good weather.

Great food!

What’s not to love?! If you are looking to refresh your summer BBQ recipe ideas then I have the perfect recipe for you. This elote pasta salad is tossed in a lime greek yogurt dressing and filled to the brim with sweet corn, cilantro, and other ingredients for a pasta-salad twist on classic street corn flavors.

Pair this pasta salad with fajitas or really any barbecued protein for a delicious meal you can enjoy all summer long.

Let’s get to the recipe!

large white bowl filled with elote pasta salad and topped with fresh lime and cheese.

Why you’ll love this street corn pasta salad:

You’ll love this tangy street corn pasta salad recipe because it is:

Filled with unique flavors: I won’t lie, cilantro in a pasta salad is generally not the direction that I go for pasta salad… but i’m not mad about it with this recipe! This elote pasta salad is full of fresh lime, tangy tajin, chopped cilantro, and sweet corn for a flavor filled pasta bite.
Made with convenient ingredients: I used canned corn for this recipe to cut down on cooking time and recipe effort but this recipe can also be made with frozen corn or grilled corn if you want to add the grilled flavor of street corn!
Tossed in a high protein dressing: An easy way to mix protein in pasta salad is to use a higher protein dressing base like Greek yogurt (or blended cottage cheese if you want to cut down on the tang).
Slightly spicy: This recipe includes diced jalapeños (either fresh or canned), cayenne pepper, and chili powder which adds a little bit of spice to each bite.
Microwave friendly: If you prefer the classic street corn warmth then know that you can absolutely warm this elote pasta salad up in the microwave.

You’re going to love this creamy elote pasta salad recipe! Now let’s get into the flavorful ingredients you will need to make it:

scoop of elote pasta salad on wooden spoon.

Ingredients you’ll need:

Take all the ingredients of an elote corn dip then toss them with some pasta and you have just about all the ingredients you will need for this pasta salad recipe:

For the elote pasta salad base:

Cooked noodles: I used cavatappi noodles because the corkscrew shape holds the dressing really well. You could also use Ditalini pasta if you want a similar pasta size to the corn kernels!
Sweet corn: I used two cans of drained sweet corn but you could also use frozen corn or grill some sweet corn on the grill and add the cooked kernels if you prefer the grilled corn flavor.
Cilantro: Added to taste
Green onion (or a diced red onion): Added to taste
Diced jalapeño: You can used canned OR fresh diced jalapeño for this recipe.
Cotija cheese: This is essential and adds a nice creaminess to your pasta salad as well as a beautiful appearance when it’s crumbled on top.

For the creamy greek yogurt dressing:

Lime: Use fresh lime juice and add it to taste.
Plain greek yogurt: This will add some protein to your pasta salad and also makes a creamy and delicious dressing.
I used plain, non-fat greek yogurt which has a slightly thinner consistency than full fat Greek yogurt does. If you do use full fat greek yogurt, the dressing may thicken as it sits in the refrigerator so be sure to give it a good toss or add extra dressing before serving.
Mayo: I mixed this in to the dressing to cut down on the tanginess of the Greek yogurt and also help keep the dressing thin so that it will not thicken up as much when your pasta salad sits in the refrigerator.
Honey: Optional but adds a hint of sweetness to your dressing.
Seasonings: You will need garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and an optional dash of tajin for this recipe. If you want less of the lime flavor, skip the tajin.

That’s it!

ingredients to make an elote pasta salad.

Step by Step Instructions:

Now let’s walk through how to make this creamy elote pasta salad recipe:

1) Mix together your Greek yogurt, mayo, honey, lime juice, and seasonings until combined. If needed, adjust your dressing to taste.

how to make creamy Greek yogurt dressing for pasta salad with corn.

2) In a large mixing bowl add your cooked pasta, diced jalapeños, sweet corn, cotija cheese, cilantro, and diced green onions.

3) Pour in your greek yogurt dressing and toss your pasta salad until well combined and everything is coated in the dressing. Top with extra crumbled cotija cheese, sweet corn, and chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

Swaps, substitutions, and serving suggestions:

One of the best parts of this street corn pasta salad is how much you can play around with the ingredients and adjust your flavors. Here are a few suggestions:

To make this a high protein pasta salad: Add some chopped chicken or use a high protein pasta to add more protein to this recipe.
Change your dressing: This lime greek yogurt dressing pairs well with the flavors of the elote pasta salad but you could use any dressing you prefer, especially if you do not like the tanginess of Greek yogurt.
Switch out your seasonings: You can use just about any seasoning you like for this recipe but I highly recommend keeping the chili powder and dash of cayenne pepper for some heat.
Use red onion instead of green onion: One easy swap would be to add finely diced red onion instead of the chopped green onions. If you love onion, you can use both!
Add extra ingredients: Diced avocado or black beans would be delicious in this recipe.
Grill (or saute) your corn: This will add an extra step but would add the classic grilled flavors that you love of street corn to your elote pasta salad!

And more! Make this recipe your own and tag me on instagram with any fun ideas you come up with!

Recipe FAQ:

Help! My pasta salad dried out in the fridge!
1. While I love making Greek yogurt dressings for pasta salad, they definitely can dry out and thicken up if you allow the pasta salad to sit in the refrigerator.
  If you are going to make this pasta salad ahead of time, I would toss it in the Greek yogurt dressing right before you are going to serve it. If you have leftovers that will sit in the refrigerator, stir in some extra Greek yogurt or mayonnaise to add extra creaminess.
How long can I store this elote pasta salad for?
1. This elote pasta salad will be good in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How can I add more protein to my pasta salad?
1. If you want to make this elote pasta salad as a meal then you will want to add some protein to it. To make it a protein pasta salad I would add cooked chicken, smokey shrimp, crunchy chickpeas, black beans, or use a higher protein pasta!

Other side dish recipes you will love:

Looking for other BBQ side dish recipes? I have a few on my blog that I think you will love:

Easy Caprese Ravioli Skewers

Get the recipe

4 Ingredient Guacamole Recipe

Get the recipe

Hearty Buffalo Chicken Flatbread

Get the recipe

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