This recipe for black bean and corn salad goes by many names: black bean salad, zesty Mexican bean salad, black bean and corn salad with avocado, black bean corn salsa, or even a version of Cowboy caviar dip. It’s a healthy recipe that is a perfect easy salad, homemade salsa or one of the fast recipes for summer salads!
EASY RECIPE FOR BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD
This black bean and corn salad recipes makes a perfect side dish for almost every meal, bean party dip, or even an easy summer salad on its own.
What is in black bean corn salsa?
Salad Ingredients for Corn and Bean Salad:
- Black beans
- Sweet corn kernals
- Red bell pepper (or other bell peppers)
- Garlic
- Green onion or red onion
- Fresh Cilantro leaves (optional)
- Salt
- Cayenne pepper or chili powder
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Limes (fresh lime juice)
- Avocados (optional)
- Sea salt
- Pepper
- Tortilla chips (optional, for serving)
We make this simple recipe of corn and black bean salsa no tomatoes, but you can easily add tomatoes and other fresh vegetables to this salad!
Keep scrolling for the full black bean salad recipe instructions and healthy recipes printable recipe card below!
This flavorful black bean and corn salad goes by many names.
What is easy black bean and corn salad called?
Corn and black bean salsa recipes are also called:
- Black bean corn avocado salad
- Southwest dip with corn and black beans
- Black bean and corn salsa / black beans salsa
- Mexican bean salad / Mexican black bean and corn salad
- Texas black bean and corn salad
- Mediterranean black bean and corn salad
- Cowboy salsa*
- Cowboy caviar*
*Some people may also call it Cowboy Salsa or Cowboy Caviar, but those recipes are actually a little different than this Black Bean and Corn Salad recipe.
I have also heard it called black bean, corn, avocado salad because many people (including us) add some fresh slices of avocado to the top before serving.
(Although, you can make this as a black bean and corn salad no avocado. It’s still yummy that way!)
The Cowboy Salsa has multiple types of beans (along with the corn and some other things).
Whatever you call it, this delicious salad recipe happens to be one of my daughter’s favorite recipes, so she wanted to pair it up with a children’s book for a cooking with books project!
(And, I love that it’s such a simple recipe that kids can make it own their own — especially if you do the cutting and just let them mix it all in a big bowl!)
Before you (or the kids) are all like, “Blech! Bean salad recipe!” Just TRY IT this simple salad!
You won’t be disappointed!
How long does black bean and corn salsa last?
This easy bean salsa recipe with corn will last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Place black bean and corn salsa in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator. If refrigerating, do not add avocado. Instead, add fresh slices of avocado to the black bean salsa ingredients right before serving.
How To Make Black Bean and Corn Salad
Making black bean and corn salad is super simple, so even your youngest chefs can help out with it!
(Don’t let it scare you off that this is a salsa with black beans. Kids still love it!)
It consists of adding black beans and corn to a large bowl.
Then, you add chopped red peppers, minced garlic, chopped green onions, and cilantro (optional).
Lastly, you make a light “dressing” using olive oil, cayenne pepper, fresh squeezed lime juice, and olive oil.
Some people make this is as a black bean and corn salad balsamic vinegar recipe for a zesty dressing, but I like it with the simple recipe of lime and olive oil that makes different flavors with a zesty cilantro lime dressing. Try the olive oil dressing… you can even add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce!
Toss.
Top with avocado and serve immediately or place in an airtight container and serve the next day.
Such an easy recipe, right?
With a little meal prep you can have such a fresh salad or delicious side dish in just minutes (perfect for warmer months when you don’t want to cook or any time of year with canned beans and canned corn!).
We often eat this as a black bean and corn dip with tortilla chips (yes! black bean dip recipe cold!), so definitely add it to your black bean salsa recipes or black bean sauce recipes for tortillas or chips.
ALSO TRY THESE CORN RECIPES:
Mexican Street Corn Off the Cob (Elotes Salad)
Secret Recipe Tip for Corn
If you’re in “corn season,” then definitely use fresh ears of corn for this recipe!
Sometimes I like to leave my fresh corn on the cob uncooked when I’m adding it to a salad or salsa like this.
It preserves the sweet, crisp flavor of the kernels.
However, if you are using fresh corn on the cob, you can use it cooked or uncooked whole kernal corn for this black bean and corn salsa recipe.
It’s up to you!
This is our go-to summer salad recipe (especially a summer salad with corn when it is at its peak!).
You’ll thank me if you add this to your easy summer salad ideas!
OK! Let’s get to the canned black bean and corn salsa recipe!
If you’re looking for an easy corn and bean dip, this is it!
I keep an extra can of black beans and corn in the pantry for this dish when I need a last minute quick and easy recipe.
BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD RECIPE
This is one of those perfect fresh foods recipes to play around with. We’ve added cherry tomatoes or chopped fresh tomatoes, a variety of color of bell peppers, Vidalia onion or red onion, spicy jalapenos, black olives, a fresh mix of black beans and other cooked beans, and even fresh vegetables for a tasty salad with vibrant flavor!
(Or, try it using our recipe for black bean and corn salad this time and then experiment the next time you make it!)
You can make this as a black bean salsa recipe without corn, but the fresh corn kernels really do provide a sweetness that you’ll miss if you don’t use them.
The best thing is that this makes a great side dish, healthy lunch for a salad meal alone, or you can also make a big batch of this salad for party dips for summer days or recipes for large crowds.
It’s such a versatile recipe, great if you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan dish recipe ideas, too! (Just adapt it to your needs!)
TIP: This is a canned black bean salsa recipe, so be sure to rinse and drain your canned beans before adding them to the recipe salad.
Here’s how to make black bean salsa with corn…
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Some people like to eat this black bean and corn salad alone, but we like to eat it with tortilla chips or pita chips like a black bean and corn salsa. It's great either way!
The black bean salad dressing recipe is a simple olive oil and lime juice with a few spices!
Ingredients
- 2 Cans Black beans, (rinsed and drained)
- 2 Cans Sweet corn, (drained)
- 2 Red bell peppers, diced
- 2 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 Green onions, chopped
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped (optional)
- 2 Teaspoons Salt
- 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Limes, juiced
- 2 Avocados , sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the black beans, corn, red peppers, garlic, onions and cilantro (optional).
- In a small bowl, combine salt, cayenne pepper, olive oil, and lime juice. Whisk until combined.
- Pour dressing over the salad mixture in the large bowl. Toss until coated.
- Refrigerate until ready to eat.
- Dish individual portions and top with sliced avocado slices immediately before serving.
Notes
Be sure to rinse the cans of beans!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 274Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 943mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 12gSugar: 3gProtein: 9g
Nutrition information is estimated. Changes to the recipe and use of different brands may cause changes to the nutritional information to vary slightly from the ones provided here.
Black Bean and Corn Salad Paired with Ivy & Bean Books
We didn’t want to pair this salsa recipe black bean corn with any old book about beans.
Instead we want to introduce you to the Ivy & Bean books.
You see, just like corn and beans, Ivy and Bean couldn’t be more different!
The books are fun and I thought it would be interesting to discuss the character Bean while making a bean salad and compare and contrast Ivy and Bean (to corn and beans).
(And, there are A LOT of discussion points from these books!)
From the author:
One of the big problems of being a kid is that your parents often try to make you play with people you don’t really like.
My parents were forever trying to get me to like the kids of their friends.
These kids were often weird.
I didn’t want to play with them.
It was a problem.
Ivy and Bean are very different: Bean is loud and wild and goofy.
She loves to be involved in games and poke her nose in other people’s business.
Ivy is quiet and full of ideas.
She spends most of her time learning how to be a witch.
Each girl thinks the other one is weird.
Each girl thinks she could never be friends with the other.
But sometimes opposites can become the best of friends because they’re opposites.
Listed Book Age Range: 7-9 years
Let us know what you think about this black bean and corn salad!
LOOKING FOR FUN COOKING PRINTABLES FOR KIDS?
This is a great addition to any cookout or pitch-in!
Made it with 2 changes used fresh jalapeño instead of cayenne pepper and avacoda oil and red wine vinegar with the lime
ooo! That sounds amazing! Def going to try it that way, too! Thanks!