Black Bean Cilantro Corn Salad Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Black Bean Salad Recipe is full of fresh ingredients and southwest flavors that make a delicious lunch or side dish idea!

Aside from a little bit of chopping, the recipe comes together quickly with a few canned items. If you’re looking for an easy recipe that is perfect for your family, this one appeals to kids and parents alike!

A bowl holding a Black Bean Salad over arugula on a table next to a fork. — This delicious Black Bean Salad Recipe is one of my favorite lunch recipes!

Why You’ll Love This Black Bean Salad

This cold Black Bean Salad is a recipe that my oldest son asks for monthly. It’s so flavorful and totally easy to make.

My kids like lunch ideas that aren’t sandwiches so this bean salad is fantastic!

What I like best about it is that it uses canned beans and corn mixed with fresh veggies and can be served in several different ways to please the kids.

Ingredients

Scroll down to find a printable recipe card with full measurements and detailed instructions.

This is one of those recipes that you can tailor-make based on the flavors that you and your kids like. While black beans taste amazing in this recipe, you can always use white beans or even garbanzo beans.

I grab red and orange bell peppers for this, but you can use yellow, you could use green, you could swap out for those sweet mini peppers, whatever you want!

Cilantro and raw onion are strong flavors that some kids might not love, but they really do add so much flavor. And when they are mixed in, they add to the overall flavor! Just leave them out if you don’t want them.

Corn adds such a nice sweetness to the black bean salad. Do not skip it!

Olive oil and balsamic vinegar create a simple dressing that ties everything together. Paired with minced garlic, YUM!

A good quality balsamic vinegar tends to be a little bit sweeter and less vinegary or you can even try a flavored variety. I know there is a honey balsamic which might be a good choice as a starter vinegar for a picky kid.

I like to add red pepper flakes to my serving, for a little heat, but my kids don’t! Totally up to you.

How to make Black Bean Salad

Step 1

Rinse and drain the black beans and corn and add them into a large bowl.

Chopped orange bell pepper on a cutting board.

A bowl with ingredients for a Black Bean Salad with fresh onion and bell pepper.

Step 2

Chop the bell peppers and onions into a small-ish dice. This Salad with Black Beans is a little bit like an extra chunky salsa so a rough chop is fine.

A bowl of balsamic vinegar and cellar of sea salt on a cutting board next to a bowl with chopped veggies and cilantro.

Step 3

Add the garlic and cilantro.

Step 4

Toss everything together with just a little olive oil and a good quality balsamic vinegar and sea salt to taste.

A bowl of chopped veggies with black beans and cilantro with empty cans in the background.

Step 5

While you can eat it right away, this is one of those dishes that gets a better flavor the longer it sits. The flavors meld together and take on the sweet tang of the vinegar.

You can make this the night before, even, and it will be perfect for lunch the next day.

How to Serve This Salad

Bowl with black ban salad on a cutting board next to a bag of tortilla chips.

My kids LOVE to eat this with tortilla chips. Who am I kidding, so do I. It works really well as a salsa and this would also be a great recipe for your summer entertaining.

And I don’t know about your kids, but if my kids think they are eating a dip instead of calling this a salad, they’re probably going to eat more of it.

Plastic food storage container with black bean salad on a table next to a lunch pail.

To pack it for school lunch, just add a portion to a small reusable container and use a plastic (or reusable) bag for tortilla chips. Also send a spoon or fork if they’d rather it eat like a salad.

Bowl of salad on a table for a lunch for mom.

A better way for me to eat this Black Bean Salad is over arugula. All the bold flavors work really well together. And you don’t need to add any other dressing since the black bean salad has oil and vinegar.

The beans give you protein so you’ll feel more full, longer.

Prep this Black Bean Cilantro Corn Salad once you’ll have a healthy lunch and snack option for your whole family for several days.

Tips and Tricks

With all canned foods, I like to drain and rinse them before use. That helps to remove any extra salt that may have been used. This allows you to control the flavor of this Southwest Black Bean Salad a bit more.
If your kids would freak out about the onions, leave them out or try a shallot that has a little less bite.
You can make this salad in just one bowl and if there weren’t being photos taken, I would have made it right in a plastic storage container.
If your kids are open to it, you can add even more flavor to this salad. Cut up avocado and queso fresco would all be delicious additions to these southewestern flavors.
You can substitute a store-bought balsamic vinaigrette to save time or if you don’t have plain balsamic dressing at home.
If your family doesn’t like cilantro, try another fresh herb like basil or parsley.
To give it a little kick, add some diced jalapenos!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will black bean salad last?

Black Bean Salad will last for about 4 days in the refrigerator when stored in an air-tight container.

Are canned black beans healthy?

Canned black beans are a good source of fiber and protein and are low in fat. They have other nutrients that are essential for optimal health. But as with lots of canned items, they can be high in sodium. Rinsing the beans prior to using will help to remove some of the excess sodium.

This Sausage and Quinoa with Peppers is something I make for dinner but leftovers make a great lunch idea.
Tuna and Noodles is great hot or cold. My youngest LOVES to take this to school.
A leftover piece of this Salami Pizza always puts smiles on my kid’s faces.
White Bean Caprese is also another great party food idea!
This Cream Cheese and Corn Crockpot with bacon recipe is a must!
Cucumber Corn Salad is refreshing, simple and a great side dish for any time of year.

Black Bean Salad Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Black Bean Salad

Ingredients