Healthy Elote Pasta Salad You’ll Make on Repeat
A light and creamy Healthy Elote Pasta Salad inspired by Mexican street corn, perfect for BBQs and summer picnics. This Greek yogurt-based dish features fresh corn, tomatoes, cilantro, and cotija cheese tossed with pasta for a delicious and nutritious side.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes (including chill time)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini or cavatappi pasta
- 1 ½ cups corn (fresh, frozen, or grilled)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, diced (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise (optional for extra creaminess)
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, lime juice, chili powder, smoked paprika, and mayonnaise (if using).
- In a large bowl, combine the corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, and cilantro. Add the cooked pasta and toss to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until everything is well-coated. Add the crumbled cotija or feta cheese last.
- Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra chili powder or lime juice if desired.
Notes
- Use grilled corn for extra smoky flavor.
- Substitute cotija with feta if unavailable.
- Mayo is optional for extra creaminess, but yogurt alone keeps it light and healthy.
- Can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 20mg