One Pot Elote Pasta at the Table

one pot elote pasta being stirred with a spoon

Get ready for a fiesta in your mouth with our simple one-pot elote pasta recipe! Combining the flavors of elote, one of our go-to Mexican dishes, with the convenience of one-pot pasta cooking, this recipe is a flavor explosion that’ll have you dancing in your kitchen. It’s the reliable way to capture the essence of a summer street indulgence, delivering tasty, spicy elote vibes right to your plate.

If you’re a fan of one-pot pasta, this dish is about to become your new go-to!

What is elote

Elote is Mexican street corn. The name comes from the Nahuatl word “elotitutl,” meaning “tender cob.” Elote is a variation of corn on the cob in which the corn is slathered in a spicy mayo mixture, then rolled in herbs and cotija cheese. Typically you squeeze some lime juice on top, too! It’s super popular in Mexico during festivals or as street food.

It’s messy to eat, but the taste can’t be beat. So that’s why we’re tweaking it today and incorporating those fresh, bold flavors into this one pot pasta recipe. If you like your food with a bit of a kick, then you’re in luck with this one!

pasta topped with corn, fresh herbs, sour cream, and green onions

What is one pot pasta?

If you’ve never tried one pot pasta before — get ready for your life to change! We’ve been sharing these recipes for a while and they’ve changed the game both in our houses and in the homes of our readers. If you love this one and want to try out a few more, we rounded up some of our favorites in our one-pot pasta roundup.

One pot pasta involves using just one dish – either a deep dish stock pot or a Dutch oven — and cooking all your ingredients together with the pasta. This way, the pasta absorbs all those tasty flavors, and you achieve flavors that burst across your tongue and leave you craving seconds!

What are the benefits of one pot pasta?

Okay, we’ll get it out of the way first: one benefit to one pot pasta is that there’s so much less clean-up involved. Instead of having a ton of dishes clogging up stovetop space and then shifting over to your sink or dishwasher, you just have to deal with one dish!

But it goes deeper than that. We can’t wax poetic enough about the taste benefits of this dish! It’s honestly mind-blowing just how rich and decadent the flavor is — and it’s not just the sauce, but also the noodles themselves! Typically you just cook pasta noodles in heavily salted water, but we cook it in broth alongside all of the other ingredients. This means the noodles rehydrate while absorbing all of that incredible flavor!

How to make one pot elote pasta

Add olive oil to a deep pot and turn on the heat to medium high. Toss in garlic, shallot, and jalapeño, stir for 1-2 minutes or until shallots have softened and translucent.
Pour in pasta, water, lime zest, salt, pepper and Everything But The Elote seasoning.
Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook for 9-11 minutes, or until the pasta is perfectly al-dente.
Stir in sweet corn, cilantro, lime juice, heavy cream, sour cream, and green onion. It will be nice and silky!
Garnish with cotija cheese, and enjoy!

a bowl of elote pasta topped with green onions

Can I make one pot elote pasta that isn’t spicy?

Listen, we get it: not everyone has a taste for food that makes you feel like your mouth is on sparkling fire. So if you prefer your pasta less feisty, there’s a way to do that — simply skip the jalapenos.

Do keep in mind, though, that Everything But The Elote seasoning has chili peppers in it, so there’s a bit of a kick inherent to the dish.

Common Questions about One Pot Elote Pasta

Is it possible to make this dish gluten-free?

Yes, you can substitute regular pasta with your go-to gluten-free pasta variety. Just be mindful of the cooking time — gluten-free pastas may require different durations to reach the desired texture.

What side dishes pair well with one-pot elote pasta?

A fresh green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or a side of sautéed vegetables complements the rich flavors of the pasta. Additionally, warm crusty bread or garlic bread makes a great accompaniment to soak up the tasty sauce!

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, add a splash of water or broth to the pasta and warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally to maintain its silky consistency.

Can I make this dish vegetarian or vegan?

Absolutely! To make a vegetarian version, simply use vegetable broth. For a vegan twist, replace dairy products like heavy cream and sour cream with plant-based alternatives such as coconut milk or cashew cream, and omit the cotija cheese or use a vegan cheese substitute.

More recipes to try

Chipotle Chicken with Elote Corn Salad

Air Fryer Taquitos

One Pot Mexican Quinoa

Double Decker Mexican Pizza

Baked Taco Pasta

the Ayyem kitchenServings: 8 servings

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 13 mins
Total: 23 mins

We combine corn elote with a one pot pasta recipe and it is tasty! It’s flavorful and so fresh! Email

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves chopped
1 small shallot chopped
1 jalapeño chopped
18 ounces Campanella Pasta uncooked
4 cups water or low sodium broth
zest of 1 lime
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Everything But Elote Seasoning
2 cups frozen sweet corn
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1/2 lime juice
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sour cream
1/3 cup chopped green onion
Garnish with cotija cheese

Instructions

In a deep pot on medium high heat add olive oil, garlic, shallot, and jalapeño, stir for 1-2 minutes or until shallots have softened and transluecent.2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 3 garlic cloves chopped, 1 small shallot, 1 jalapeño
Pour in pasta, water, lime zest, salt, pepper and Everything But The Elote seasoning.18 ounces Campanella Pasta, 4 cups water or low sodium broth, zest of 1 lime, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon Everything But Elote Seasoning
Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook for 9-11 minutes, or until the pasta is perfectly al-dente.
Stir in sweet corn, cilantro, lime juice, heavy cream, sour cream, and green onion. It will be nice and silky!2 cups frozen sweet corn, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, juice of 1/2 lime juice, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/3 cup chopped green onion
Garnish with cotija cheese, and enjoy! Garnish with cotija cheese