Elote Pasta Salad is my new favorite pasta salad recipe to bring to a potluck or summer BBQ. It is packed with charred corn, tender pasta, fresh lettuce and a creamy sauce. All you need is 30 minutes, plus a handful of simple ingredients to make it… And it’s gluten free! It is creamy, spicy, tangy and high in protein!
If you love this Elote Pasta Salad, you’ll also love my high protein pasta salad and my 15-minute gluten free pasta salad.
What Does “Elote” mean?
Elote, or Mexican street corn, is grilled corn on the cob that has been slathered with lime, cotija cheese, chili powder and mayo. In this recipe, we’re using the same ingredients but mixing it with pasta!
why you’ll love this allergy friendly Elote Pasta Salad
- Gluten free pasta salad is honestly the quickest, easiest side dish you can make!
- This Elote Pasta Salad recipe is allergy friendly, gluten free and can be made dairy free. The pasta is gluten free pasta to make for an easy gluten free recipe. I also use dairy free yogurt and dairy free cheese when I want this to be a dairy free recipe.
- If you ask me, pasta salad is one of the best parts of the summer!! This gluten free pasta salad is bursting with flavor, texture, and plenty of elote taste.
- It is is lighter and leaner than the classic macaroni salad! Instead of just using mayonnaise as a dressing, this one is made with a combination of yogurt and mayo together!
- This homemade Elote Pasta Salad recipe is an affordable, budget-friendly recipe. Plus this one is way cheaper than the deli version! Win win!
- The shredded chicken is a great addition to make this a higher protein macaroni salad or a well rounded, whole meal. I love pasta salad for a summer lunch!
ingredients & substitutions
Gluten Free Pasta: You can use any shapes. I like gluten free penne, rotini, or fusilli. I always pick a lentil pasta or brown rice pasta so it isn’t falling apart.
Black Beans: Kidney beans, white beans or pinto beans can be used as substitutes too! I love any bean in this recipe but black beans are closest to a traditional mexican taste for the Elote Pasta Salad recipe.
Corn: Sweet corn adds a fresh, summery flavor. I love piling on the corn here! Fresh, canned or frozen corn kernels can all be used. I like to char it on the stove or in the oven before using.
Shredded Chicken: For a vegetarian option, I just skip the chicken. I make my shredded chicken in the crock pot but you can also buy a rotisserie chicken.
Greek Yogurt: You can substitute with sour cream or mayonnaise for a richer taste. This is for the base of the dressing. For a dairy free option use mayo or dairy free yogurt. Sometimes I just lite mayo too!
Mayonnaise: Vegan mayonnaise can be used as a substitute in this Gluten Free Macaroni Salad. Sometimes I use lite mayo as well!
Any crumbled cheese: Cojita Cheese or Dairy Free Feta are my go-to’s. Cojita cheese is more traditional while dairy free feta is easier to find for a dairy free Elote Pasta Salad recipe.
directions
Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Step 2
Preheat your grill to high heat. Place the corn on the grill and cook for 5-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred.
Step 3
Remove the corn from the grill and let cool slightly. Cut the corn off the cob and set aside.
Step 4
Cut the red onion into small pieces.
Step 5
In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
Step 6
Add the cooked pasta, black beans, charred corn, red onion, and shredded chicken (if using) to the large bowl with the dressing. Toss the Elote Pasta Salad recipe to coat. Stir in the crumbled Cotija cheese or dairy-free feta.
Can I make this pasta salad spicier?
Definately!! For a spicier Elote Pasta Salad I will add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing. You can also use red pepper flakes or more chili powder.
How can I make this elote pasta salad vegetarian?
To make this Elote Pasta Salad vegetarian, I just omit the shredded chicken. You can even add more corn and beans to bulk it up! You can also add other vegetables to this salad. Extra veggies would include diced bell peppers, red onion, or even avocado. I love a creamy avocado addition!
Why is my pasta mushy?
Gluten free pasta is hard to work with! I always suggest cooking your gluten free pasta 1 minute less than the box suggests to get an al-dente pasta. That way, when it sits in the dressing it doesn’t get mushy. Be sure to also salt the water before adding your pasta! The more salt the better! After the pasta is done cooking, I drain and then rinse the pasta with cold water to immediately stop the pasta from cooking any more.
Should I use Fresh or Canned Corn?
For this elote pasta salad, I used canned corn because it was what I had on hand. I always keep cans of corn stocked in the pantry. It is affordable, easy to keep and ready year round! If you have fresh corn you can absolutely use fresh corn in this recipe. Especially if you are making this in the summer, fresh corn can only elevate this dish!
How to serve the pasta salad:
I always serve the Elote Pasta Salad chilled! You can serve it at room temperature too but chilled is preferred. Since there is chicken in this gluten free pasta salad it is a full complete meal, but you can alway serve it along side BBQ chicken, some steak or other dips and appetizers!
How to store the pasta salad:
I store leftover Elote Pasta Salad recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The Gluten Free Macaroni Salad can be served cold or at room temperature.
Can I prepare this in advance?
You can make this Elote Pasta Salad the day before a party or event. It stores great in the fridge for up to 3 days. This saves me a ton of time! If you can’t prepare the whole recipe the day before, you can also just boil the pasta beforehand and add a little olive oil before storing in the fridge so they pasta doesn’t stick together,
Looking for more allergy friendly easy recipe?
If you make this recipe and enjoyed it, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Pinterest. Purchase my cookbook Easy Allergy Free Cooking. Join my exclusive weeknight meal plan group for 5 weekly 30-minute dinner recipes. The weeknight meal plan also has an accompanying podcast as well! I would love for you to follow along!
Elote Pasta Salad (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 lime juiced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
- 12 ounces gluten-free pasta
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15-ounce can corn, charred
- 1/4 cup red onion chopped
- 1 cup shredded chicken optional
- 1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese or dairy-free feta
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Preheat your grill to high heat. Place the corn on the grill and cook for 5-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred.
- Remove the corn from the grill and let cool slightly. Cut the corn off the cob and set aside.
- Cut the red onion into small pieces.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
- Add the cooked pasta, lettuce, black beans, charred corn, red onion, and shredded chicken (if using) to the large bowl with the dressing.
- Toss to coat.
- Stir in the crumbled Cotija cheese or dairy-free feta.
- Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
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