Creamy Street Corn Pasta Salad (Printable)

Vibrant salad with roasted corn, spicy cheddar, fresh herbs, and creamy dressings for summer gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Creamy Cheese Dressing

01 - 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
02 - 1/3 cup sour cream
03 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
04 - 1-2 cloves garlic, freshly grated
05 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
06 - 3/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese
07 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Salad Components

08 - 1 lb short pasta (rotini, fusilli, or farfalle)
09 - 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
10 - 2 cups grilled or roasted corn
11 - 1/2 cup spicy cheddar cheese, diced
12 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
13 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 1 medium avocado, diced

→ Chili Butter

15 - 4 tbsp salted butter
16 - 2 tbsp chili powder
17 - 2 tsp smoked paprika
18 - 1/2-2 tsp cayenne pepper, to taste
19 - Pinch of salt

→ Lime Mayo Dressing

20 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
21 - 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
22 - Pinch of salt

# Directions:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, olive oil, grated garlic, chopped chives, and crumbled cotija cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix until smooth and set aside.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain well.
03 - While still warm, toss the pasta with the creamy cheese dressing in the salad bowl.
04 - Add shredded romaine, grilled corn, diced spicy cheddar, torn basil, chopped cilantro, and diced avocado. Gently toss until well mixed and evenly coated.
05 - In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter until golden and fragrant. Stir in chili powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper to your spice preference, and a pinch of salt. Let the spices bloom for about 1 minute, then remove from heat.
06 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
07 - Serve the salad warm or chilled. Drizzle with the lime mayo and spoon over the spicy chili butter just before serving. For best flavor, let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of warm spiced butter against cool creamy dressing creates those incredible hot and cold contrasts that make street corn so addictive
  • You get all the flavors of Mexican street corn but in a pasta salad that travels beautifully and feeds a hungry crowd
  • Two dressings mean every bite is layered with tangy lime creamy cheese and just enough spice to keep it interesting
02 -
  • The pasta needs to be warm when you toss it with the cheese dressing or the dressing will not coat properly
  • Do not skip blooming the spices in butter because raw chili powder tastes completely different
  • Wait until the very last minute to add the avocado or it will turn brown and mushy
03 -
  • Grill your fresh corn directly on the grates until you see those beautiful charred spots
  • Let the pasta salad rest at room temperature for at least 10 minutes before serving so the flavors really marry
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