Black Bean and Corn Salad with Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette
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Packed with black beans, sweet corn, and a tangy vinaigrette with just the right balance of smoky heat and sweetness, this salad is perfect for a cookout, potluck, or taco night. Bonus: it holds up beautifully in the fridge and makes a fabulous dip, too.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)
Perhaps the best compliment this salad ever received was from one of my readers, who confessed to me, “I’m having an affair with this salad…please don’t tell anyone.” Another reader told me that she made this salad for a party, and later found one of her guests in her study, printing out copies of the recipe to hand out. It’s just one of those crowd-pleasing, make-ahead recipes that everyone loves. Whether I serve it with tequila lime chicken or as a dip with tortilla chips (highly recommend!), the bowl is always empty and the plates are always full.
This recipe is similar to my popular black bean salad. The difference is that this version is dressed in a smoky and sweet chipotle-honey vinaigrette, similar to Chipotle’s honey vinaigrette. I think you will love both variations!
“This recipe is absolutely outstanding! I’ve made it countless times, and it never fails to impress— It’s so delicious that it’s nearly impossible to stop eating!”
What You’ll Need To Make Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Fresh corn and Red Bell Pepper: These veggies add sweetness, color, and crunch. Fresh corn is ideal, but frozen or canned corn works in a pinch.
- Red onion: Brings sharp flavor and vibrant color. Soaking it in water first helps mellow the bite.
- Black beans: They help make the salad hearty, creamy, and satisfying. Draining and rinsing them thoroughly washes away excess sodium and gives you better texture and flavor.
- Fresh cilantro: Offers a fresh, herby punch that ties everything together. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, parsley is a good alternative, or you can just omit it.
- Avocado: Adds a creamy, buttery element to the salad—a nice contrast to the crisp corn and bell pepper. Add just before serving to keep it from browning.
- Vegetable oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lime juice, and honey: Together, they form the tangy, sweet base of the vinaigrette that brightens up the whole dish.
- Garlic: Adds sharp, savory flavor to the dressing—just toss it right into the blender.
- Ground Cumin and Dried Oregano: Add a warm, earthy flavor and a subtle herbal note that pairs perfectly with the beans and corn.
- Canned chipotle peppers in adobo: These smoked, dried peppers are packed in a rich, smoky tomato sauce and add bold heat and depth to the dressing. You’ll find them in the Latin section of most supermarkets. You won’t need the whole can—save the rest to spice up my baja fish tacos or chipotle chicken quesadillas a try. You can transfer any remaining peppers to a plastic container and store in the fridge for at least a month; freeze for longer storage.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cook the corn. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the corn, and simmer (covered) for about 10 minutes. Let it cool slightly, then cut the kernels off the cob.
Step 2: Prep the onions. Chop the red onion and soak it in cold water for 10 minutes. A quick soak in cold water makes raw onions taste milder and less pungent—perfect for people who usually pick them out (you can skip this step if you aren’t bothered by raw onion flavor).
Step 3: Make the dressing. Add all the dressing ingredients to a mini food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Step 4: Combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, mix the corn, onions, beans, and remaining ingredients except for the avocado. Pour the dressing over top.
Pro Tip: Store canned beans upside down in your pantry. It helps the liquid settle near the top, so when you turn the can right-side-up and open it, the beans slide out more easily, and you’re less likely to have to dig them out from the bottom.
Step 5: Toss and chill. Toss everything together and refrigerate for at least an hour, or overnight—it’s even better once the flavors meld and the veggies soak up the dressing. Gently fold in the avocado just before serving. Enjoy!
Got leftovers? This black bean and corn salad is also great to keep in the fridge for easy lunches or for giving leftovers a little boost. Here are a few ideas for how to use it:
- Tuck it into tacos or burritos – Add some shredded cheese, avocado, or grilled chicken for a quick meal.
- Serve it over greens – Instant taco salad with a scoop of this on top and a drizzle of ranch or vinaigrette.
- Spoon it over grilled chicken or fish – Adds fresh flavor and a pop of color.
- Stuff it into quesadillas – Mix with cheese and a little hot sauce, then crisp it up in a skillet.
- Top baked sweet potatoes – A hearty, satisfying lunch with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
- Mix into cooked rice or quinoa – Makes a fast grain bowl with minimal effort.
- Serve it with scrambled eggs or in a breakfast burrito – A great way to use up the last scoop or two.
More Tex-Mex Recipes You’ll Love
Black Bean & Corn Salad with Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 ears fresh corn
- 1 cup chopped red onion
- 1 (15.5-oz) can black beans
- 1 red bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh chopped cilantro, plus a bit more for garnish, if desired
- 1 avocado
For the Dressing
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, from 1 to 2 limes
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large clove garlic, roughly chopped
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (2 peppers, not 2 cans; use smaller peppers, and if they are all large, use only 1½)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the corn, cover, and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the corn from the water and let cool.
- Meanwhile, place the chopped red onions in a small bowl and cover with water. Let sit about ten minutes, then drain completely in a sieve and set aside.
- Place the beans in a sieve; run under cold water to rinse well. Let drain completely and set aside.
- Holding the cooled corn upright in a large bowl, cut the kernels off the cob in strips. Add the beans, red onion, red bell pepper and cilantro.
- Make the dressing by combining all of the ingredients in a blender or mini food processor; process until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or, preferably, overnight.
- Right before serving, slice the avocado in half. Remove the pit; using a butter knife, cut a grid in each half. Holding the avocado halves over the salad, use a spoon to scoop out the diced flesh. Toss the salad gently, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (I usually add a squeeze of fresh lime to freshen it up). Garnish with a bit of fresh chopped cilantro if desired. Serve cold.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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my all time favorite salad to make and take to backyard BBQs, church potlucks or any other event where food is the center of the fun. It is pretty to look at on the plate and tastes great. Also, its kid friendly and a good way to get them to eat some veggies!
I think I could live on just this black bean corn salad and nothing else. The chipotle honey vinaigrette is amazing! It is so flavorful and hits all the right notes.
This salad is a summer staple in our house, as both a main with some grilled shrimp on top and a side depending on what we are eating. Instead of boiling the corn I grill it (husk the corn, roll in a little olive oil and I like to add some Tony’s seasoning for a little kick) and love the addition of a little char. The only challenge of this recipe is that it is really best when corn is in season, which is a limited time here on the east coast. I would eat this all year round if I could.
This is one of my most favorite recipes of all time. So much better than regular salsa. Fresh corn is awesome but frozen corn makes it a winter party staple.
Such a tasty and filling recipe. Never would have made it if I hadn’t been at a friends house and made it with her. Canned chipotle I find overwhelming, but here with the honey to mellow the heat, it actually complements all the other flavors…no one flavor stands out in this ingredient list. They all blend together to make magic. We polish this salad in no time!
This salad is so good! You can serve it as is, or with tortilla chips as a salsa.
I only put it one chipotle pepper so it wasn’t as spicy. Delicious!
Oh, my gosh, I love this salad. I loved it in the summer (fresh corn). I loved it in the winter (frozen corn). It is even good the next day. I’ve used it as a side dish and as a main course with grilled asparagus and parmesan beside it. I’ve used it as a bed for grilled salmon and have added shrimp when friends who need fish/meat come over. I’ve given the recipe away so many times, I added it to my online cookbook (with attribution). When it’s just for me I use less oil and more lime. And I’ve also created variations when I don’t have all of the ingredients. In other words, it’s an inspiration.
I made this last night using frozen corn since it’s winter. It was delicious. I followed the advice and made it a few hours before dinner. I liked adobo sauce so I actually preferred it prior to letting it sit and marinade. Crisp and delicious side. Paired great with the quesadillas I made to go with it.
This is one of my favorite recipes! If corn isn’t in season, I use frozen corn (steam in bag). I also use chipotle seasoning instead of the canned adobo. I have done it both ways and I find the canned adobo to be a little spicy for my taste. I have tried using just the liquid in the adobo can and it was less spicy than the pepper. The least spicy is the chipotle seasoning (found in the spice section of the supermarket). It gives a good smokiness without too much burn!
This is the recipe I pull out time and time again when I want an interesting side dish or have to take a dish to a communal meal. Always a hit. I love that I can make it ahead and it keeps really well. Flavor is fresh and exciting.