Summer Corn and Black Bean Salsa

This Corn and Black Bean Salsa (no tomatoes) welcomes summer like no other! Sweet corn, filling black beans, and zippy red onion come together with a simple lime juice dressing for a yummy corn salsa that's so easy to make.

It's summer so let's make salsa! Black bean and corn salsa, that is.

If you love fresh and healthy ingredients, then I think you're gonna love this recipe for a corn and black bean salsa.

It's delicious, so easy to make and naturally gluten-free😋

Being summer and all, who wants to stand around in the kitchen all day while your friends and family gather, chat and laugh without you?

Absolutely no one.

So make this corn and black bean salsa for your next get together and you won't miss a thing.

Other great recipes for backyard BBQ fun this summer include this Easy Watermelon Gazpacho, a Summer Peach and Basil Salad with Feta and this Summer Quinoa Salad with Mango.

All make ahead recipes that are healthy, gluten-free and perfect for keeping you out of the kitchen and in the action this summer.

Alright let's get into this corn and black bean salsa!

Jump to:

• 📝Ingredients for this corn and black bean salsa recipe
• 🥣Instructions
• 💃Variations
• 🙋‍♀️What to serve with this corn and black bean salsa
• ✅Top tips:
• ❓I have leftover jalapeno peppers and/or red onion. What can I make with them?
• 📖 Recipe

📝Ingredients for this corn and black bean salsa recipe

• Corn niblets
• Black beans
• Red onion
• 1 jalapeno
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Salt
• Limes
• Olive oil

See recipe card below for quantities and full instructions.

🥣Instructions

Here's how you'll make it:

• Combine the corn, black beans, diced red onion, finely diced and seeded jalapeno pepper, cilantro and parsley in a serving bowl
• Add juice of 1 lime and the salt over top and stir to combine
• Cover and let sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving
• Before serving, drizzle some olive oil overtop and the juice of 1 more lime

Need even more than the 4 cups this recipe makes?

Double the ingredients and make a big batch!

It keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days.

💃Variations

Not only is this recipe just good as is, the combo of black beans and corn make a great base for other versions.

There are so many other ingredients you could add in if you want to change it up.

Here are some ideas for ingredients to add to this super easy corn salsa:

• Avocados - dice 2 avocados and add them for a creamier salsa
• Bell peppers - dice up a red, yellow or orange pepper
• Feta Cheese - adding a cup of cubed or crumbled feta cheese adds a delicious salty flavour
• Lemon juice (fresh) instead of the lime juice would totally work
• Mango - I wouldn't hesitate to add some diced mango to this recipe. And if you love mango and salsa, check out this recipe for Yummy Mango Salsa on the site
• Pineapple chunks
• Tomatoes - like roma tomatoes; dice some up and add them in

🙋‍♀️What to serve with this corn and black bean salsa

Whether you're wanting a side-dish or a main meal out of this salsa, it can give you either!

If you're serving as a snack or side-dish at a party or get together, these are great options:

• Tortilla chips - can't go wrong serving this salsa with tortilla chips
• Beanitos - for an extra hit of protein and fibre, I love these chips
• Mini naan
• Pita triangles
• Straight up baby (aka get a spoon and dig in!)

This corn salsa makes a great side for a main meal too.

Here are some ideas for serving it for lunch or dinner:

• Grilled chicken - this is a very popular recipe on my site: Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast and would be delicious with this salsa
• Grilled Flank Steak
• Salmon - a grilled or roasted piece of salmon would go great alongside this salsa. Check out this recipe Easy Baked Salmon with Mayo or serve along side this Cast Iron Skillet Salmon
• Easy Gluten-Free Turkey Burger Recipe for a main protein and have the salsa on the side
• Add this easy corn salsa recipe on top of these Simple Haddock Quesadillas
• Fish or shrimp tacos would also go great with this salsa

✅Top tips:

Use whatever type of corn you have

The corn niblets can be fresh or frozen and then thawed.

I'll often just put 2 cups of frozen corn niblets into my 2 cup measuring cup and let it thaw in the fridge till I need it later in the day.

If you have fresh corn, use that! To make this recipe with fresh corn, boil it and then cool it down so you can slice the kernels off.

Or, why not takes those lovely ears of corn and BBQ or grill them to get that delicious roasted corn flavour😋

Be sure to rinse and drain the black beans

As the source of the healthy carb and protein in this salsa, beans are a must and the black beans are perfect for this recipe.

Just be sure you rinse them and let them drain for a few minutes so you don't get all the black bean "juice" adding a black tint to your finished product😉

Wash your hands after cutting the jalapeno!

Respect the heat🔥

After cutting the seeds out of the jalapeno, be sure to wash your hands. Really well!

And don't try to like take your contacts out after chopping one of these bad boys, k?

Keep an extra lime around for serving time

I'll often use one more lime and squirt the juice over the bowl of the salsa, right before serving.

❓I have leftover jalapeno peppers and/or red onion. What can I make with them?

Do you find random parts of onions, garlic, ginger, or in this case, jalapeno peppers drying up on your counter, not getting used up?

Besides throwing them into my compost, it's great to have another recipe to use them up with.

So for the jalapeno, if you have extras (or didn't use the whole one in the first recipe):

• You can use it up in this Yummy Mango Salsa. It's absolutely delicious.

For the red onion:

• You can also use the rest of the red onion in this salad: Lemony Brown Rice, Broccoli and Feta Salad
• Or try this super healthy and delicious salad: Simple Romaine Salad with Radish and Parmesan.

Alrighty, enough chatting.

Let's get you making this - I hope you love it♥️

~April

Here are some other healthy and gluten-free recipes for you to try:

• Simple 2-Ingredient Greek Yogurt Summer Popsicles
• Summer Peach and Basil Salad with Feta
• Healthy Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup (no beans)
• Healthy 5 Ingredient Berry Frozen Yogurt
• Sheet Pan Maple Dijon Chicken and Broccoli Bake

This recipe was originally posted on April 25th, 2020. Post was updated and re-published on August 6th, 2022.

📖 Recipe