Creamy Lime Corn Pasta Salad with Cotija and Cilantro Recipe
A refreshing and flavorful pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, sweet corn, and a creamy chipotle-lime dressing, garnished with cotija cheese and fresh cilantro. Perfect as a side dish for barbecues, picnics, or light lunches.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (such as rotini or penne)
Vegetables & Herbs
- 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced (optional)
Dressing & Cheese
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside to cool completely.
- Prepare the corn: If using fresh corn, cook it by boiling for about 4-5 minutes or grilling until tender. If using canned corn, drain well; if frozen, thaw before use.
- Make the dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk thoroughly to create a smooth, flavorful dressing.
- Combine ingredients: Add the cooled pasta, corn kernels, crumbled cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, diced red onion, and diced jalapeño (if using) to the bowl with the dressing. Toss everything gently but thoroughly to ensure all the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill and serve: Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill. Serve cold as a delightful side dish.
Notes
- For extra heat, leave the jalapeño seeds in or add more diced jalapeños.
- Substitute cotija cheese with feta if cotija is unavailable.
- This salad can be made a day ahead to enhance flavors further.
- For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and mayonnaise.
- Use gluten-free pasta varieties to make the salad gluten free.
Keywords: pasta salad, corn pasta salad, Mexican pasta salad, rotini pasta, cotija cheese, summer salad, picnic recipe
