This Mexican street corn pasta salad combines tender pasta, sweet corn, cotija cheese, fresh lime, cilantro, and a creamy chili-lime dressing. It’s an easy, crowd-friendly side dish for summer cookouts, potlucks, taco night, or any casual get-together.
½bunch cilantrochopped (or Parsley if you're not a fan of cilantro)
1tablespoonfinely diced jalapeño
8slicesbacon cooked & chopped
½cupcotija cheese
1large avocado diced
½cupblack beanscanned, drained and rinsed
Dressing
½cupmayo
½teaspoonchili powder
¼teaspoonpaprika
⅛teaspoonground cumin
1teaspoonSriracha
2large limes
Salt and pepper
Instructions
Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and shake off as much excess water as possible. Set aside to cool and dry.
Prepare the Corn: Remove the husks and silk from the corn. Cut the kernels from the cob.
Prep the Mix-Ins: Slice the green onions and finely chop the cilantro and jalapeño. Cook and chop the bacon, then drain and rinse the black beans. Dice the avocado last so it stays fresh. The smaller the dice, the better—this way, you get a little bit of everything in every bite.
Make the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, chili powder, paprika, cumin, sriracha, lime zest, and lime juice. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, then taste and adjust as needed. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Assemble the Salad
In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooled corn, black beans, green onions, cilantro, jalapeño, bacon, cheese, and avocado. Pour the dressing over the top and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
If you’re not serving it right away, wait to add the bacon, cheese, and avocado until just before serving. Serve immediately and enjoy!