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Creamy Street Corn Pasta Salad

Creamy Street Corn Pasta Salad Recipe with Chili Butter

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  • Author: Brenda
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Creamy Street Corn Pasta Salad is a bold and flavorful pasta salad loaded with roasted corn, fresh herbs, creamy cotija dressing, spicy chili butter, and zesty lime mayo for the perfect summer side dish or light meal.


Ingredients

Scale
  • For the dressing:
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese or feta
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1–2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  •  
  • For the salad:
  • 1/2 cup spicy cheddar cheese, diced
  • 2 cups grilled or roasted corn
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, torn
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
  • 1 lb short pasta such as rotini, fusilli, or farfalle
  •  
  • For the chili butter:
  • 4 tbsp salted butter
  • 1/2–2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  •  
  • For the lime mayo dressing:
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp lime juice

Instructions

1. In a large salad bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, olive oil, grated garlic, chopped chives, and cotija cheese. Season with salt and pepper and mix until smooth.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain well.

3. Immediately toss the warm pasta with the prepared dressing so the sauce evenly coats the pasta.

4. Add the shredded romaine, roasted corn, diced cheddar cheese, basil, cilantro, and avocado to the bowl. Toss everything together until combined.

5. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until golden. Stir in the chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then remove from heat.

6. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lime juice, and a pinch of salt until smooth.

7. Serve the pasta salad warm or chilled. Drizzle with the lime mayo and spoon the chili butter over the top before serving.


Notes

Birds Eye fire roasted corn works great for convenience and extra smoky flavor.

Adjust the cayenne pepper to control the spice level.

Feta cheese can be substituted for cotija if desired.

The salad tastes even better after chilling for 30 minutes before serving.

Add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a complete meal.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 480mg
  • Fat: 21g
  • Saturated Fat: 9g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 28g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 35mg