Creamy Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

This salad is bursting with all the flavors of Mexican street corn–the grilled corn being the star ingredient. Charred corn and pasta are tossed in a creamy chili-lime dressing and topped with cotija cheese and crispy bacon!

Street corn just became a potluck favorite in this simple pasta salad. 

I've made this pasta salad with both bowtie pasta and penne. I prefer the bowtie, but really any pasta shape should work just fine in this Mexican street corn salad recipe.

Ingredients in Creamy Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Pasta: Bow-tie, Penne, and any other pasta will work for this salad

Corn: Grilled corn, pan-roasted, or frozen fire-roasted corn.

Black Beans: Can or homemade black beans

Veggies: Cilantro, Red bell pepper, green onions, and jalapeños (optional)

Bacon: Cooked crumbled bacon (optional)

Cheese: Cotija cheese, and parmesan cheese.

Chile-Lime Dressing

Mayonnaise and sour cream( Mexican Crema can replace sour cream)

Garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and paprika

Lime juice

Salt and pepper 

Making Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

Cook pasta according to the box instructions in salted water, and cook to al dente.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, corn, beans, red pepper, green onions, diced jalapeno, cheeses, and cilantro

In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the chile-lime dressing.

Stir dressing into pasta and corn mixture. Top with crumbled bacon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

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Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Author: Nani Fyant
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Charred corn and pasta are tossed in a creamy chili-lime dressing and topped with cotija cheese and crispy bacon!

Ingredients:

Pasta Salad
• 2 cups bowtie(farfalle) pasta (cooked al dente)
• 2 cans (14.5 oz) Fire-roasted corn, drained or (fresh roasted corn)
• 3 green onions, diced
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
• 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled(optional)
Dressing
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chile powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Rinse under cool water and drain.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta, corn, beans, red pepper, green onions, diced jalapeno, cheeses, and cilantro
3. In a small bowl, whisk together ingredients for the dressing.
4. Stir dressing into pasta and corn mixture. Top with crumbled bacon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and refrigerate until serving.