Easy Black Bean Salad (and 7 Ways to Serve It)

This easy black bean salad is packed with some of my favorite ingredients: black beans, corn, tomatoes, cucumber, and more! Then, this great side dish is tossed with a zesty lime dressing that’s full of flavor. This easy cold salad is a staple recipe for healthy eating on a hot summer day!

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Creating This Black Bean Salad

With the warmer weather I have been craving lighter, fresher foods. It is so exciting to see all of the spring produce in the stores and to just feel like wow, there are so many more choices now that it is warming up.

If you’re looking for a few new spring recipes to add to your rotation, check out my spring produce guide to see what is in season.

One of my favorite warmer weather dishes is this Easy Black Bean Salad. It’s full of colorful vegetables, beans and flavor. 

I love this summery dish. It is perfect for snacking, which….makes it perfect to take to the pool during the summer. But more importantly, this healthy bean salad is totally versatile!

With summer just around the corner I will definitely be keeping this Easy Black Bean Salad in mind when we pack our lunches for afternoon pool trips. I can’t wait to enjoy this poolside with some tortilla chips while the kiddos and all their friends play.

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What’s in Black Bean Salad?

For this black bean and corn salad, you’ll need these fresh ingredients:

• Black Beans
• Orange Bell Pepper
• Tomatoes
• Corn Kernels
• Cucumber
• Green Onions or Red Onion
• Jalapeño
• Fresh Cilantro Leaves
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Olive Oil
• Cumin
• Salt and Black Pepper

This is just an ingredient checklist. For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

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How to Make Black Bean Salad

This Mexican bean salad couldn’t be easier to make, but the best thing about this Black Bean Salad recipe is that you don’t have to turn the oven on to make it! Here’s a quick overview of the preparation steps:

1. First, drain and rinse the black beans.
2. Then dice all the veggies on a cutting board. The veggies should all be in small pieces and evenly sized.
3. Next, toss the bean mixture together in a large mixing bowl.
4. After that, whisk the cumin-lime dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.
5. Then, our over the black bean mixture and stir.
6. Lastly, chill the black bean salad until ready to serve.

You can serve this healthy bean salad immediately, but I actually like to wait at least an hour before eating it.

I find that the flavor of this black bean and corn salad gets better over time! So, feel free to make it ahead of time and eat it the next day.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Click HERE to save this recipe for Mexican Black Bean Salad!

Should I Use Fresh or Frozen Corn?

You can use any type of corn you have on hand when making this easy black bean salad recipe!

If you use fresh corn, just cut it off the cob and enjoy it raw (it’s super sweet when it is in season!).

Frozen corn is best when you thaw and drain it first. Frozen corn should be thawed and drained. When using canned corn, it also needs to be drained before adding it to this great salad recipe.

How to Store this Recipe for Black Bean Salad

If you have leftover Black Bean Salad, it is best eaten within 4-5 days. Store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Easy recipes like this Black Bean Salad are great for meal prepping! You can make a batch of it earlier in the week. Then, enjoy it all week long using some of the serving ideas below.

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Ways to Eat Black Bean Salad

• Chips and Dip — eat like black bean salsa with store bought or homemade tortilla chips
• As a Topping for Grilled Meats — this southwestern black bean salad is delicious on grilled chicken or grilled flank steak (one of my favorite marinade recipes!) if you’re looking for bold flavor with your meat
• Make No-Cook Veggie Tacos — one of my favorite things is steaming flour or corn tortillas and fill them with this black bean salad, cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and avocado or guacamole.
• Make a Fresh Salad — serve on top of a bed of lettuce or mixed greens for a simple, Mexican-inspired salad.
• Try an Easy Burrito Bowl Main Dish — serve Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken atop steamed white rice. Then, spoon this black bean salad on top of the chicken.
• Mexican Breakfast Eggs — add this classic black bean salad in an omelet or on top of scrambled eggs with sliced avocado and a dash of hot sauce.
• Easy Side Dish — toss this black bean salad recipe with chilled couscous or quinoa; sprinkle with cotija or other cheese of choice

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More Easy Salad Recipes:

Here are a few more of my favorite, delicious recipes to enjoy during the summer heat:

Classic Potato Salad is always a good idea for summer potlucks and pool days! My potato salad recipe is incredibly simple to make and contains the classic flavors you love!

My go-to side salad these days is this Copycat Olive Garden Salad. It’s easy to make and so good!

If you’re craving something Italian, make this Mixed Greens Salad with Prosciutto and Lemon Vinaigrette. It pairs perfectly with pizza, pasta, and more!

This Bleu Cheese BLT Salad is so flavorful! I top this salad with homemade croutons and plenty of bacon. You’ll love it!

Need to use up that summer produce? Make this Zucchini Tomato Bail Salad. It’s a lettuce-free salad, which is a nice change!

What’s your go-to summer salad recipe?

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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Rachael from Set the Table.

This post was originally sponsored by Bush’s Beans. This is a brand that I have always used in my own kitchen and any opinions expressed regarding the product are my own.