Elote Pasta Salad Cotija Chili (Printable)

Pasta tossed with charred corn, lime, chili, and Cotija cheese for a flavorful, colorful dish.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups fresh corn kernels or frozen thawed
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
04 - 1/2 small red onion finely diced
05 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
06 - 1 jalapeño seeded and finely chopped optional

→ Dressing

07 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1/4 cup sour cream
09 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice from approximately 2 limes
10 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1 clove garlic minced
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Cheese and Toppings

15 - 3/4 cup Cotija cheese crumbled plus additional for garnish
16 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or Tajín seasoning optional for garnish
17 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

01 - Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn kernels and cook without oil for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
04 - Add the cooked pasta, charred corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño if using, and Cotija cheese to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently until everything is well coated.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Before serving, garnish with additional Cotija, chili flakes or Tajín, and lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes and gets better as it sits, so you can make it the day before without stress.
  • The charred corn and lime dressing combination feels like a restaurant dish but tastes homemade and genuine.
  • Everyone asks for the recipe because it's colorful, crowd-pleasing, and works whether you're feeding vegetarians or meat lovers.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the pasta under cold water—hot pasta will wilt the vegetables and turn the whole salad warm and sad within minutes.
  • Charring corn in a dry skillet instead of boiling or steaming it makes an enormous difference in flavor, creating depth that raw corn simply cannot deliver.
03 -
  • The secret to avoiding a gluey salad is rinsing the hot pasta under cold water immediately after draining, and using your hands to gently toss everything instead of an aggressive stirring method.
  • Fresh lime juice makes an irreplaceable difference here—it's the backbone that keeps everything tasting bright and prevents the mayo from feeling heavy or stale.
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