• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Home Projects
  • Recipes
  • Spring
  • About

Craving Some Creativity logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • DIY Home Projects
  • Home Tour
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Free Email Series
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Published: Sep 2, 2021 · Modified: Sep 27, 2021 by Rachel

    Tangy Corn and Black Bean Salad

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
    2484 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This festive corn and black bean salad packs a colorful rainbow of vegetables including corn, peppers, onions, cilantro, and dressed with a tangy, fresh dressing that takes 2 minutes to make. An easy salad that’s the perfect side dish or dip for any meal!

    Heaping bowl of chopped salad with beans, corn, cilantro, fresh chopped veggies, olives, and vinaigrette.
    Contents show
    1 Ingredients and Substitutions
    2 How To Make It
    3 STORAGE AND SERVING SUGGESTIONS
    3.1 Looking for more easy summer salads for a get together? Look no further:
    4 Frequently asked questions:
    5 Corn and Black Bean Salad
    5.1 Ingredients
    5.2 Instructions
    5.3 Notes
    5.4 Nutrition

    This salad is always requested at every family gathering. It’s full of different flavors and textures while tasting so fresh, tangy, and irresistibly good for you. My sister-in-law brought it a few years back and it’s now expected that she come with it every time. It might be a veggie lover’s dream but even our steak and potato friends gobble it up! Although cumin and cilantro are in it, I wouldn’t describe it as Tex-mex tasting, but it is zesty and fresh.

    This salad is satisfying as a side dish, a topping for chicken or fish, or as a party dip in place of salsa (yum!). Just add some scoop-able tortilla chips, and you are set!

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Here is an overview of what you will need with notes on substitutions below:

    Ingredients for corn and black bean salad with text labels.

    *Any of the vegetables can be skipped or adjusted to suit your desired tastes.

    Corn: You can use frozen or canned, although I prefer thawed frozen corn.

    Black Beans: I use canned black beans mostly. If you want to cook your own, here is a good recipe for Black Beans made from scratch.

    Chickpeas: Also known as garbanzo beans, these are found in the canned vegetable aisle.

    Olives: I always slice canned or marinated whole olives myself. I find the canned sliced olives to be too mushy. I do commonly substitute diced avocado and add diced tomatoes for a slightly creamier salad with more of a southwestern vibe.

    How To Make It

    Steps to making corn and bean salad including mixing vegetables and making the dressing.

    It really doesn’t get any easier than this. In a big bowl, mix together all your veggies and cilantro. In a smaller bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients very well and then mix into the salad. The garlic and spices fall to the bottom rather quickly so I whisk as I pour to get all the goodness in. You could also put the spices in with the veggies and then toss with the whisked vinaigrette.

    Light and fresh Cilantro black bean and corn salsa in bowl  while a hand reahes in to scoop with tortilla chip.

    STORAGE AND SERVING SUGGESTIONS

    Serve: The beauty of this salad is that it is a vibrant side dish for quick weeknight meals or potlucks and BBQs. I find myself digging in as a healthy late night snack with crackers or “Scoops” tortilla chips.

    Storage: The salad with dressing on it will be good in a sealed container for up to 3-4 days. Stir well before serving.

    Make Ahead Tips: The best thing about this recipe is that you can easily make them the day before. It’s actually best to wait at least an hour or two before diving in. The dressing really makes the dish come alive, but it takes a bit to meld with the flavors.

    Looking for more easy summer salads for a get together? Look no further:

    • Punch Bowl Cake
    • Ginger Peanut Broccoli Slaw
    • Chickpea Salad with Vinaigrette
    • Cucumbers and Onions in Vinegar Salad

    Frequently asked questions:

    Is corn and black bean salad spicy?

    It really isn’t spicy at all, but feel free to add some jalapenos if you want the heat.

    Can I make this as a salsa?

    Yes, all you have to do is chop the veggies smaller. I have better recipes for a salsa to get the right consistency, however. I would probably mix some in a food processor to get them fine enough. It would be quite chunky this way, so add some water to thin it out a bit.

    PIN IT FOR LATER:

    Light and flavorful Cilantro black bean and corn salsa in large white bowl served with scoop style tortilla chips
    Cookbook cover of Chicken and Rice casserole. The cookbook is titled Weeknight Supper Solutions

    Not Sure
    What's For Dinner?

    Signup for recipe updates and get a free cookbook of Easy Weeknight Supper Solutions!

    More Delicious Salad Recipes

    Strawberry spinach salad with feta crumbles and pecans in a salad bowl.
    Strawberry Walnut Salad
    Mexican cheese dip in a small bowl garnished with tomatoes and cilantro.
    Queso Blanco
    Fresh chicken salad recipe on croissant rolls.
    Cranberry Chicken Salad
    Delicious Summer Chickpea Salad consisting of delicious chopped salad with lots of veggies, cranberries, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.
    Chickpea Salad

    PS. If you make this recipe, leave a COMMENT AND A STAR RATING in the comments section at the bottom and be sure to take a photo and tag it #cravingcreative on Instagram! I appreciate you for taking the time to read about me and my family recipes. 

    This delicious corn and black bean salad packs a healthy punch with lots of vegetables and a fresh cilantro dressing. It is bursting with fresh and filling flavor!

    Corn and Black Bean Salad

    This festive salad packs a colorful rainbow of vegetables including corn, peppers, onions, cilantro, and dressed with a tangy, fresh dressing that takes 2 minutes to make. An easy salad that’s the perfect side dish or dip for any meal!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: side dish, vegetarian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 194kcal
    Author: Rachel

    Ingredients

    Salad ingredients

    • ⅓ cup Green Peppers, Diced
    • ⅓ cup Red Pepper, Diced
    • ¼ cup red onion, diced
    • 2 ½ cups Whole Corn I prefer frozen, but canned is fine
    • ⅔ cup Garbanzo Beans drained and rinsed
    • ¼ cup Black Olives sliced
    • 1 ⅓ cup Black Beans drained and rinsed
    • 3 tablespoon Fresh Cilantro finely chopped

    Dressing ingredients

    • 3 tablespoon Olive oil
    • ¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • dash Black Pepper to taste
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Granulated Sugar
    • ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon Cumin

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, add all the salad ingredients.
    • In a separate smaller bowl, add all of the dressing ingredients and whisk together.
    • Add dressing to the salad and toss until evenly distributed.
    • For best results, chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour to let the flavors mix. Serve as a side dish or as a dip with tortilla chips.

    Notes

    Serve: The beauty of this salad is that it is a vibrant side dish for quick weeknight meals or potlucks and BBQs. I find myself digging in as a healthy late night snack with crackers or “Scoops” tortilla chips.
    Storage: The salad with dressing on it will be good in a sealed container for up to 3-4 days. Stir well before serving.
    Make Ahead Tips: The best thing about this recipe is that you can easily make them the day before.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 29.7g | Protein: 8.7g | Fat: 5.5g | Sodium: 234mg | Potassium: 11mg | Sugar: 3.4g | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2.9mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @CravingCreative or tag #CravingSomeCreativity!
    « How To Create a Waterproof Ceiling Under Your Deck (Step by Step)
    Ingenious Under Deck Storage Ideas »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Bennie says

      April 07, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy to prepare you can spread atop of lettuce and l put thinly sliced season on baked chicken breast , sliced thin an put atop of salad or just serve alone, l also ate tostitos to the side

      Reply
    2. Roxanne says

      January 14, 2018 at 8:06 pm

      5 stars
      This is a huge hit at family get togethers!

      Reply
    3. Clarissa says

      February 14, 2017 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      Sounds delicious!! Corn salsa (and even corn in my guac!) is a favorite of mine!

      -Clarissa @ The View From Here

      Reply
      • Rachel says

        February 17, 2017 at 10:02 pm

        I love guacamole, and now I am wondering how I never thought to put corn in it?! Sounds perfectly suited!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Headshot of Rachel Beach, the author of Craving Some Creativity.

    Hi, I'm Rachel!

    Creativity makes me energized and fearless. My husband and I have been renovating homes for over a decade and love to share our passion for all things home. Follow along for remodeling tutorials, recipes, and entertaining ideas sure to inspire!

    More about me →


    Popular Projects

    • Midnight blue vanity with brass handles in a grey and white bathroom.
      How to Paint a Bathroom Cabinet the Easy Way
    • Man holding up baseboards for a corner.
      How To Caulk Baseboards like a Pro
    • Behr Midnight blue painted cabinets in a classic old world kitchen with modern white accents and backsplash. Wicker chairs, copper light fixtures, and wood floors add warmth.
      The Best Blue and Navy Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors
    • Organized linen closet with white towels and grey bins on wire shelves.
      How To Beautifully Organize Your Linen Closet
    • White painted kitchen cabinets with stainless drawer pulls.
      How To Paint Cabinets with a Sprayer
    • Completed oak painted stair railing with black handrail and white balusters.
      How to Paint Stair Railings that Last

    Featured On

    Collection of Expert Features including Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, Apartment Therapy, Angie's List, This Old House Magazine, The Huffington Post, Delish, Wayfair, and Real Simple Magazine.

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Restaurant style Mexican white Cheese Dip with pico de gallo topping in wooden bowl on dish cloth with chips.
      Mexican White Cheese Dip {Queso Blanco}
    • Ricotta Stuffed Shells with Sausage makes an easy italian meal for the whole family!
      The BEST Sausage Stuffed Shells
    • Strawberry Poppyseed salad on a platter with blueberries, mandarin oranges, pecans, red onions, and grilled chicken.
      Strawberry Poppyseed Salad (Panera Copycat)
    • Closeup of blueberry muffins on a table.
      Ultimate Lemon Blueberry Muffins
    • Shrimp etouffee in a bowl on a table.
      Shrimp Etouffee {My Louisiana Family Recipe}
    • Two glasses of blackberry sangria with straws on a wood background.
      Blackberry Sangria – Amazing Summer Cocktail Recipe

    Sweet Spring Recipes

    • Stack of lemon bars on parchment paper with top lemon shortbread having a bite removed.
      Lemon Bars
    • Slice of homemade carrot cake on a plate with walnuts sprinkled on top
      Carrot Cake with Pineapple
    • Top down view of Southern Punch Bowl Cake in a trifle bowl.
      Southern Punch Bowl Cake (Potluck Dessert)
    • Key lime pie on blue plate with a slice cut out to show texture.
      Key Lime Pie
    • Strawberries on top of cheesecake layer and rice krispies crust.
      Cheesecake Rice Krispies Bars
    • Banana Chocolate chip muffins in a muffin tin with one muffin broken open to show texture.
      Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Favorites

    • Blog
    • Shop
    • Our Home

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Craving Some Creativity