This creamy cilantro lime pasta salad is one of my all-time favorites. It’s got sweet corn, crisp cucumber, avocado, and a bold cilantro lime dressing with a hint of smoky chipotle that makes every bite packed with flavor. If you love easy cold pasta salads like this, my black bean and corn pasta salad is another great one to add to the rotation.
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad
- The dressing is everything – A creamy cilantro lime dressing made with Greek yogurt, fresh lime juice and zest, and a hint of smoky chipotle chili pepper. It’s bold, fresh and super easy to mix together.
- Fresh, healthy ingredients – Greek yogurt, sweet corn, crisp cucumber, red onion, avocado and fresh cilantro all add lots of extra nutrients to this flavor-packed pasta salad.
- Easy to make ahead – This cilantro lime pasta salad gets even better as it sits, making it a perfect make-ahead option for potlucks, BBQs and meal prep.
- Flexible cheese options – Queso fresco, cotija or Parmesan all work beautifully depending on how bold you want the flavor. All three are delicious or leave it out altogether, if that’s your preference.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
For the Dressing:
- Plain Greek yogurt – Greek yogurt is a great base for this dressing and it’s also an excellent way to add protein to this pasta salad. Make sure it’s plain, and not a flavored one.
- Mayo – Adds a tangy flavor to the dressing.
- Fresh cilantro – I use about half a bunch of cilantro for this recipe. Finely chop it and reserve two tablespoons for the dressing.
- Juice and zest from one lime – Both of these ingredients are very important, as they add A LOT of flavor to the pasta salad. Especially don’t skip the zest! When writing up this recipe, I tried making it once without the zest and noticed a big difference in the flavor.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, chipotle chili pepper and salt all bring extra flavor to the dressing.
Remaining Ingredients:
Rotini pasta noodles – I prefer rotini, but any short noodle will do, such as penne, bow tie, rigatoni, orecchiette, elbow or ziti.
Cucumber – Regular, English or mini cucumbers all work. Use whatever you prefer. Chop them into small pieces.
Red onion – Finely diced.
Corn, fresh or canned – Roasted corn is great if you have the time, but if not, canned works too. I use that most of the time. However, you can also use fresh or frozen. Just be sure the corn is fully cooked before adding it to the pasta salad.
Queso fresco, Cotija or finely grated Parmesan – All three of these cheeses compliment this pasta really well. If you want a more mild flavored cheese, I would opt for the queso fresco. If you like cheeses with a more strong flavor, you should use either Cotija or Parmesan.
Fresh cilantro – Finely chop about half a bunch of cilantro.
Avocado – I love adding avocado to this pasta salad. However, if you choose to add some, don’t add them until right before serving to avoid them turning brown. If you aren’t going to finish the pasta salad in one setting, add the avocado to each individual serving. If you’re serving this at a party or large gathering and you think it will be finished quickly, you can add it to the pasta right before serving, squeeze some extra lime on top and gently toss.
Video Instructions
Tips for the Best Creamy Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad
- Don’t skip the lime zest – The zest is what gives the dressing that bright, punchy citrus flavor. Lime juice alone doesn’t come close — this is the one step worth the extra couple minutes.
- Use fresh cilantro – Dried cilantro isn’t the same. Fresh is essential for both the dressing and the salad itself.
- Roast the corn if you have time – Canned corn works perfectly fine, but roasting fresh or frozen corn adds a subtle smokiness that pairs so well with the chipotle in the dressing.
- Make the dressing first – Mix it up in the same bowl you’re going to use to serve the pasta salad and pop it in the fridge while the pasta cooks. It gives the flavors time to come together before everything gets tossed.
- Add the avocado right before serving – Avocado browns quickly once cut. If you’re bringing this to a gathering, add it at the last minute or serve it on the side and let people add their own.
- Add extra lime before serving – A fresh squeeze of lime right before serving brightens everything back up, especially if the salad has been sitting in the fridge for a day or two.
Creamy Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad with Corn
Ingredients
For Dressing:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayo
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro finely chopped
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chipotle chili pepper seasoning
- juice and zest from one lime (don't forget the zest! It adds a lot of flavor)
- 1 tsp salt
Remaining Ingredients:
- 1 lb rotini pasta noodles any short noodle will do
- 1 large cucumber peeled and finely chopped
- ½ red onion finely diced
- 1 cup corn fresh or canned
- 1-2 avocados
- 1 cup cheese queso fresco, Cotija or finely grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
- COOK PASTA: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. When water is boiling, cook pasta according to package. Once cooked, move to strainer and drain well.
- MAKE DRESSING: While waiting for the water to boil, mix all the dressing ingredients in a large bowl. Place the bowl in the fridge until you're ready for it.
- PREP VEGGIES: While the pasta cooks, finely chop the cilantro and red onion. Peel and dice the cucumber. Prepare corn if using fresh.
- MIX TOGETHER: In the large bowl with the dressing, add the cooked pasta, corn, cucumber, onion, cilantro and cheese. Gently stir until everything is well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
- **If adding avocado, don't add it until right before serving to avoid them turning brown.
- If you make this and have a quick second to give it a rating, it would help my little website so much! Just scroll to the end of this page until you see the row of stars. I really appreciate it!
Nutrition
Storage
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4–5 days. The dressing absorbs into the pasta as it sits, so the flavor actually gets better over the first day or two.
Before serving leftovers: Give it a good stir and a fresh squeeze of lime juice to wake the flavors back up. A small spoonful of Greek yogurt can help loosen the dressing if it’s thickened up in the fridge.
More Easy Pasta Salad Recipes
If you loved this creamy cilantro lime pasta salad, check out this list with all my favorite easy pasta salad recipes — from light and creamy to bold and zesty, there’s something for every craving.
