Mexican Street Corn Pasta (Printable)

Creamy pasta with charred corn, tangy lime, and chili-spiced dressing for a fresh summer side.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rotini)

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
03 - ½ small red onion, finely diced
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
05 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

07 - ⅓ cup mayonnaise
08 - ⅓ cup sour cream
09 - ½ cup cotija cheese, crumbled (or feta as substitute)
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1 lime, zested and juiced
12 - 1 tsp chili powder
13 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
14 - ½ tsp ground cumin
15 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish (optional)

16 - Extra cotija cheese
17 - Additional cilantro
18 - Lime wedges
19 - Chili powder or Tajín for sprinkling

# Directions:

01 - Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and sauté dry or with a small amount of oil for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly charred. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
03 - Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, cotija cheese, minced garlic, lime zest, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
04 - Add the cooled pasta, charred corn, red onion, bell pepper, cilantro, and green onions to the dressing. Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Taste the mixture and add additional salt, pepper, or spices if necessary.
06 - Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with extra cotija cheese, additional cilantro, a sprinkle of chili powder or Tajín, and lime wedges as desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The corn gets a quick sear that adds a subtle char and brings out its natural sweetness without any fuss.
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes and tastes even better the next day, so you can make it ahead of the chaos.
  • One bowl, one dressing, endless compliments—people always ask for the recipe.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling the pasta under cold water; warm pasta will wilt the cilantro and make the texture mushy within hours.
  • The corn absolutely needs those few minutes in the hot skillet—boiling or steaming corn for this dish loses the textural depth that makes it special.
  • Make this a few hours ahead or even the day before, but stir it well before serving because the dressing will settle and the top layer might look dry.
03 -
  • Toast your cumin in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding it to the dressing—it releases oils that deepen the whole dish in ways that feel almost magic.
  • Make double the amount; it disappears faster than you'd think, and cold leftovers are phenomenal straight from the fridge as a snack the next day.
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