Mexican street corn pasta salad is the perfect creamy, tangy side dish made with sweet corn, shell pasta, lime, and cotija cheese. It comes together quickly with simple ingredients and is perfect for Cinco de Mayo, summer cookouts, or easy meal prep. This elote-inspired pasta salad holds up well in the fridge and is a crowd-pleasing twist on a classic.

This is the kind of dinner I make when I want something that feels a little elevated, but still cooks like a weeknight meal. The orzo turns creamy and savory with mushroom, sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan, the steak gets a hard sear and a proper rest, and a bright chimichurri cuts through everything with herbs and vinegar.