Grilled Elote Pasta Salad Recipe

This fire roasted and grilled elote pasta salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish that combines sweet corn, creamy dressing, and a hint of spice. Perfect for summer gatherings, it’s a delicious twist on a classic favorite, bringing the taste of street food right to your table.

Why This Recipe Works

Downright Flavorful: Every ingredient in this grilled elote pasta salad works together to create a delicious combination of flavors and textures! From the al dente pasta to the fire roasted corn and a creamy, tangy dressing, it doesn’t get much better than this! Plus, if you love grilled Mexican elotes, you will be obsessed with the flavors here!

Perfect for Summer: Pasta salad just screams summer, am I right? And once the weather turns warmer, I automatically crave this grilled elote pasta salad recipe! When fresh corn is in season, it is time to make some Mexican-inspired recipes like this one, that bring street food flavors right to your table!

Grilled Elote Pasta Salad Recipe served on a large blue serving platter.

Supplies Needed

Grill
Large Pot
Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

Grilled Elote:

Cavatappi Pasta: I like to use this spiral shaped pasta, but you can use whatever short pasta shape you prefer!
Fresh Corn Cobs: You will need fresh corn on the cob (AKA elote) here to grill and add loads of flavor to the grilled elote pasta salad!
Olive Oil: To coat those fresh ears of corn!
Salt & Pepper: To taste.
Jalapeños: For a bit of heat, I added diced jalapeños. To keep it less spicy, make sure to spoon out the seeds!
Green Onions: Sliced green onions add a depth of flavor without being overpowering.
Garlic: For an added savory flavor!
Cilantro: Freshly chopped cilantro is perfect for some herby goodness.
Cotija Cheese: Cotija cheese is a crumbly Mexican cheese that adds some creaminess and tang!

Dressing:

Greek Yogurt: Use plain Greek yogurt here for a tangy and creamy dressing.
Olive Oil: A little bit of olive oil will help coat the salad!
Mayo: Since Greek yogurt is quite tangy, I like to add a little bit of mayo to balance things out.
Lime: Use both the juice and the zest!
Spices: Add some smoky paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper to season up the dressing to perfection!

Grilled Elote Pasta Salad Recipe ingredients

Preparation And Grilling Instructions

Preheat & Prep: Preheat the grill for medium (400 F) direct heat. Lightly oil the ears of corn and season with salt and pepper.
Grill: Place the corn onto the smoker and grill over direct heat for 2-3 minutes per side, rotating as needed until the kernels are slightly charred and tender. This takes 8-10 minutes.
Remove & Slice: Remove the ears of corn off the grill and then slice the kernels away from the cob and place into a bowl.
Combine with Veggies: To the bowl of fire roasted corn, add the jalapeño, green onion, garlic, cilantro, and cotija cheese. Toss to combine and set aside.
Cook Pasta: Boil the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Strain and rinse with cool water and shake dry in a strainer. Pour the cooked pasta over corn mixture and mix.
Make the Dressing: In a bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, mayo, olive oil, lime juice and zest, and spices. Whisk until mixed (taste test to adjust any seasonings).
Mix Pasta Salad: Pour the dressing over the cooked pasta and corn mixture and use a spatula to fold everything together.
Serve: Serve immediately or keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Grilling elote for Grilled Elote Pasta Salad Recipe

What To Pair With Grilled Elote Pasta Salad

This grilled elote pasta salad recipe is absolutely perfect to pair with all of your barbecue favorites during the summertime! I love to bring this pasta salad to summer get togethers or serve on warm evenings with my family! Try serving this pasta salad with some of my grilled favorites like:

How to pair proteins with Grilled Elote Pasta Salad Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

What is elote?

Elote is simply a corn on the cob! Elote is a word used in Mexico to refer to corn on the cob. Often grilled and covered in mayo, chili lime seasoning and cotija cheese, grilled elotes are a common street food found in Mexico.

Is grilled elote pasta salad spicy?

Due to the jalapeño peppers here, this salad is slightly spicy! I like to deseed my jalapeños to keep it more mild, but you will still get some spicy bites here and there. If you are sensitive to spice, you can omit the jalapeños and replace them with a diced poblano pepper instead!

How should I store leftover pasta salad?

You can store any leftovers of this Mexican street corn pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days! This makes a great make ahead recipe, and the flavors will come together nicely when chilled in the fridge before serving!

More Recipes to Try