Elote Pasta Salad

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Elote pasta salad is our newest addition to the best summer cookout recipes. It takes only 30 minutes of work to make and with bold, zesty flavors, it pairs perfectly with anything from burgers and sandwiches, to grilled meats and summer appetizer spreads.

Mexican street corn has been having a moment, and it’s a flavor we’re all about.

Bright, zesty, and full of punchy flavors like lime and chili, elote inspired dishes are perfect for summer! Just like our Mexican street corn pizza and crockpot elote dip, this elote pasta salad is quickly becoming a regular on our summer dinner menu.

Why This Recipe Works

Mexican street corn is traditionally made with mayo, lime, cotija, and chili, so we feature those ingredients in this pasta salad for classic elote flavor. The fresh tomatoes, onion, and cilantro add substance and pair well with corn (especially in Mexican cuisine!) for a perfectly balanced summer side dish that’s both flavorful and satisfying.

Key Ingredients

• Macaroni – This pasta salad works best as a macaroni salad, so we like to use small macaroni elbows. We tried it with other pasta shapes, including fusilli and rotini, and the noodles were too big in comparison to the tomato, onion, and corn bits. Macaroni is just the right size for the perfect bite!
• Sweet cherry tomatoes – This type of tomato provides the best flavor and texture in pasta salad, since the juices won’t run and make the pasta salad watery. We like to cut them in half so they’re a nice size relative to the other ingredients.
• Grated cotija – We recommend looking for a bag of grated cotija at the store instead of buying a block of cotija and grating or crumbling it yourself. The pre-grated option is slightly dried and easier to work with, providing optimal texture and cutting down on prep time.
• Fresh lime – We always recommend using freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor. The bottled stuff from the store tastes sweeter and less potent than fresh lime juice; you’ll notice a difference in this pasta salad.
• Fresh cilantro – An absolute must! We tried this first without fresh cilantro and found it lacking in flavor and feeling a bit too decadent. The fresh herbs balance out the sweet and savory flavors while adding a fresh bite that truly makes this a pasta salad.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Elote Pasta Salad

Step 1: Boil the macaroni for about 10 minutes, or until tender, then drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add the butter and stir well until the noodles are coated in melted butter. Let cool at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and stir well to combine. You may want to stir in the ingredients in batches to make it easier to mix, depending on the size of your bowl.

Step 4: Cover the bowl and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. This allows enough time for the noodles to soak up the mayo, lime juice, and seasonings for the best flavor and texture.