Elote Pasta Salad with Cotija Cheese | CookOS

Elote Pasta Salad

Name: Elote Pasta Salad with Cotija Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Ingredients: 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed; 1 tsp chili powder; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp avocado oil; 1 lb rotini pasta, cooked and cooled; 1 shallot, finely diced; 2 cups roasted corn kernels; 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped; 1 cup cotija cheese, crumbled; 1 dash cayenne pepper; 1 jalapeño, diced

Elote Pasta Salad is a creamy, Mexican-inspired side dish that brings the flavors of street corn to a cold pasta base. The standout trait is its bright lime-chili dressing combined with roasted corn and cotija cheese for authentic elote flavor.

🌍Mexican-inspired 🏷️Elote 🏷️Pasta salad 🏷️Corn 🏷️Cotija cheese Summer

About·Privacy·Terms

🏷️

0:00

-0:00

Disabled

Auto

0.25x

0.5x

0.75x

Normal

1.25x

1.5x

1.75x

TikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$26–$43

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

0:00

-0:00

Disabled

Auto

0.25x

0.5x

0.75x

Normal

1.25x

1.5x

1.75x

TikTok

Ingredients

1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp avocado oil
1 lb rotini pasta, cooked and cooled
1 shallot, finely diced
2 cups roasted corn kernels
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
1 dash cayenne pepperoptional
1 jalapeño, dicedoptional

14 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
In a large bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, minced garlic, and avocado oil.
2
Whisk the dressing ingredients until smooth and well combined.
3
To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooked and cooled pasta, finely diced shallot, roasted corn, chopped cilantro, and crumbled cotija cheese.
4
Stir everything together until the pasta and other ingredients are evenly coated in the dressing.
5
Serve immediately or chill before serving.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Cool cooked pasta completely before mixing with dressing to prevent the sour cream from breaking or the salad from becoming mushy.
Char the corn in a hot cast-iron skillet in small batches for better browning; crowding the pan steams instead of chars.
Squeeze lime juice fresh, not from concentrate, for a brighter, more authentic elote flavor.
Dice the shallot finely and let it sit in the lime juice for 2–3 minutes before mixing into dressing to mellow its sharp bite.

Substitutions

Sour cream → Greek yogurt (tangier, slightly thicker; use 3/8 cup to maintain consistency)
Cotija cheese → Feta or queso fresco (similar crumbly texture and salt level)
Avocado oil → Olive oil or neutral oil (avocado oil adds subtle richness; olive oil works fine)
Rotini → Fusilli or penne (holds creamy dressing well; avoid very long pasta)

Storage & make-ahead

Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. Refresh with a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of chili powder before serving; add fresh cilantro if desired.

Equipment

cast-iron skillet or grill (for charring corn) · large bowl (for mixing)

Common Questions

Can I make elote pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate; the pasta absorbs dressing flavors as it sits. Add fresh cilantro or lime wedge just before serving to maintain brightness.

What's the best way to get charred corn for this recipe?

Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill over medium-high heat and cook corn kernels for 4–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until edges blacken. This adds smoky depth to the salad.