Mexican Street Corn Pasta (Printable)

A creamy pasta dish featuring smoky corn, fresh lime, and cotija cheese with a spicy kick.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta such as fusilli, penne, or rotini

→ Vegetables

02 - 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

07 - 1/3 cup sour cream
08 - 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
10 - 1 1/2 teaspoons lime zest
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese and Garnish

17 - 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
18 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
19 - Lime wedges for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring salted water to boil in a large pot. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cool running water. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn kernels and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until charred in spots. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, Greek yogurt, lime juice, lime zest, minced garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
04 - Add the cooked pasta, charred corn, cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro to the dressing. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Fold in most of the crumbled cotija cheese, reserving some for garnish.
06 - Transfer the salad to a serving bowl. Top with remaining cotija cheese and chili flakes. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • No mayo means it actually tastes fresh and bright instead of heavy, even in the summer heat.
  • The charred corn adds real depth—it's not just sweet, it's smoky and a little caramelized.
  • You can make it ahead and it gets better as the flavors mingle overnight.
02 -
  • Don't skip charring the corn—boiled corn tastes flat by comparison, and the charred bits are where the real flavor lives.
  • If making ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together just before serving, or the pasta will absorb all the moisture and taste dry by morning.
03 -
  • Toast the spices lightly in a dry skillet before whisking them into the dressing—it's an extra step that makes them taste more vivid and less dusty.
  • Grilled corn on the cob tastes even better than pan-charred kernels if you have access to a grill, and you can char it directly over the flame for real depth.
Go Back