Black Bean Salad

With a fresh lime, some garlic and a couple of canned goods, you can make this simple Black Bean Salad recipe in no time. Easy to make for picnics and get togethers!

Overhead of black bean and corn salad with jalapenos in orange bowl


 

Black Bean Salad Recipe

I am beyond ready for summer and everything that comes with it. After being stuck in the house for months, a little sunshine and good times is just what the doctor ordered.

Memorial Day is coming up, and whether we’re able to resume some sort of normalcy or we’ll be celebrating at home, I’m taking advantage of it. I’m hoping we’re able to (safely) spend time with friends and family, and that means picnics!

black bean salad with corn in a glass mixing bowl

It’s happened to all of us: we get a last minute invite to a summer party or picnic with no time to run to the store and nothing to bring. Well, I’ve got a solution for you and it’s this easy Black Bean Salad.

Pantry Essentials

I consider myself to have a pretty well stocked pantry. I think it’s good practice to have a good amount of canned goods (vegetables, beans, sauce) a few boxes of pasta and some dry goods like flour and sugar.

overhead og black bean corn salad in a orange serving bowl with avocado and tomatoes

So in terms of items that I always have on hand, black beans, canned (or frozen) corn and green chiles are a solid bet! And luckily, those are the main components of this delicious salad.

The other items are great, but can be easily substituted or omitted. Also check out some of our other bean salads like Navy Bean Salad and Three Bean Salad!

black bean salad on a spoon

Black Bean Salad Ingredients

When I say this salad is easy, I really mean it! It’s as simple as throwing all of the ingredients together in one bowl and letting it sit for awhile. In my salad I like to use:

  • black beans
  • corn (you can use canned, off the cob or frozen)
  • diced green chiles
  • minced garlic
  • lime juice
  • lime zest
  • kosher salt
ingredients for black bean salad in a glass mixing bowl

I do highly suggest using fresh lime and lime juice (or lemon if you have it) compared to bottle. Citrus starts to lose potency the moment is juiced, so bottled citrus juice is often muted or has added flavoring. Fresh is also cheaper!

If you’d like to add more color or variety to your Black Bean Salad, feel free to add in other elements. Some other delicious options are:

  • avocado
  • bell peppers
  • tomatoes
  • cilantro
  • red onions
black bean salad served as a side dish to shrimp tacos
Served with BEST Shrimp Tacos

Black Bean Salad Tips

  • When making this salad, I like to make sure the beans and corn are both rinsed and then drained well before throwing them into the mix. This helps to get rid of the liquid from the can and residual water.
  • If readily available, I always prefer to use fresh corn. You just can’t beat the taste of fresh, sweet corn in the summer. If you don’t have any on hand or if corn is out of season, this Black Bean Salad will be just fine with canned or frozen corn.
  • If you are in a rush, you can certainly serve this salad right away. However, I like to let mine sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving. This lets the garlic and lime flavors really marinate into the beans and corn.
  • After allowing the Black Bean Salad to sit, you might need to drain the extra liquid from the bowl before serving. This is easy to do with a slotted spoon or a colander.
orange bowl of corn and bean salad

What You’ll Need

Measuring Cups and Spoons – stainless steel, these are dishwasher safe and easy to use.

Large Mixing Bowl– Use a mixing bowl a little larger than you think you’ll need. There is less pressure to keep it in the bowl. You can always transfer it to a smaller serving bowl later. I personally look for ones with lids so I can cut down on plastic wrap and aluminum foil waste.

Colander – You’ll need a colander for everything from rinsing produce to draining pasta and canned goods. You can also use a fine mesh sieve. Both are good to have on hand.

black bean salad for pinterest

More summer salad recipes you will love:

angled shot of bowl of orzo salad

Goat Cheese Orzo Salad

4.89 from 9 votes
Goat Cheese Orzo Salad is a quick side dish recipe that uses quick cooking pasta with creamy goat cheese and roasted asparagus spears.
See The Recipe!
Frisee and passion fruit salad

Passion Fruit Caprese Salad

4.84 from 6 votes
Passion Fruit Caprese Salad, a summer salad offered by Omni Hotels & Resorts, combines a sweet and spicy serrano-passion fruit dressing and avocado spread with a traditional Caprese salad.
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close up of black bean salad for pinterest
orange bowl of corn and bean salad

Black Bean Salad

5 from 8 votes
With a fresh lime, garlic and a couple of canned goods, you can make this simple Black Bean Salad recipe in no time! EASY to make for parties and picnics!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Marinating Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a large mixing and toss.
  • Allow to sit for 1-2 hours before serving. If you rinsed right before combing, you might need to drain excess water from the bowl.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!

Notes

You can use canned corn, corn off the cob or frozen corn. Nine ounces equals about 1 1/2 cups. 

Nutrition

Calories: 104 kcal, Carbohydrates: 20 g, Protein: 6 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Sodium: 159 mg, Potassium: 258 mg, Fiber: 6 g, Sugar: 2 g, Vitamin A: 84 IU, Vitamin C: 3 mg, Calcium: 16 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 104
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: black bean salad
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Jessica Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!

Read More About Jessica

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    This salad is the perfect side that’s so easy to make! I love how it uses such minimal ingredients as well.

  2. 5 stars
    What an easy, delicious side dish for summer. I love how easy this is to toss together too!