Fresh Roasted Corn And Black Bean Salad (VIDEO)

Easy Roasted Corn And Black Bean Salad – Tender smokey grilled corn, plump juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, black beans, and tangy blue cheese tossed in a lively lime dressing is a refreshing hit at any meal! It’s incredibly delicious, easy to make, and travels well.

I get so excited when it’s time for roasted corn because it also means grilling out, warmer weather, fresh summer fruits, veggies, and salads! Oh my. I like to call this delightfully easy corn salad recipe “summer in a bowl!”

With grilling season upon us, we love easy side dishes like Creamy Cucumber and Onion Salad, Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad, and Classic Bean Salad for any hot weather meal.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Corn Salad Recipe

• A delicious solution for leftover grilled corn (haha, who am I kidding, there are no leftovers, just grill extra!)
• You’ve got “summer in a bowl” in five minutes and two easy steps!
• It is super easy to change up black bean and roasted corn salad according to what you like or have on hand.
• Corn can be grilled ahead of time to make it a breeze to throw together roasted corn, black bean, and avocado salad.
• Easily convert roasted corn and black bean salad to a bowl for those crazy weekends; just add grilled chicken and some rice for a healthy and nutritious meal!
• This easy corn salad recipe is effortless to double or triple for large gatherings.

Ingredients For Your Roasted Corn Black Bean Avocado Salad

Feel free to roast/grill your corn a day ahead if you’d like, or it is a great way to use up leftover corn.

• Grilled Sweet Corn – cut off the cob; check out my tutorial on How To Grill Corn On The Cob.
• Grape Tomatoes – halve these little gems for the best flavor and texture within the black bean salad.
• Avocado Sliced – this nutrient-dense fruit provides a cool and creamy bite in salads. This powerhouse food is packed with vitamins and minerals and all-important Omega 3 fatty acids.
• Black Beans, Drained – depending on the canning liquid, you may want to give them a quick rinse in a colander to avoid “muddying” this easy corn salad recipe.
• Salt & Pepper, Garlic Salt – seasonings.
• Lime Juice – use the juice from one fresh lime. Roll the lime between your hand and the cutting board to break down the fibers to produce more juice.
• Olive Oil – extra virgin olive oil is from the first pressing with no defects and very low acidity. Highly aromatic and fruity, good quality olive oil will have a complex palate, including a spicey and slightly bitter finish.
• Blue Cheese, Crumbled – creamy, semi-soft is quite “aromatic” with a particularly sharp and salty flavor.
• Fresh Basil Leaves – using fresh herbs is best for this salad.

How To Make Fire Roasted Corn And Black Bean Salad

(full printable recipe at the end of this post)

All you need is a paring knife, cutting board, and a large bowl to throw together this easy corn salad recipe!

Combine roasted corn, halved grape tomatoes, drained black beans, and diced avocado in a large bowl. Add quality olive oil, fresh-squeezed lime juice, salt, garlic salt, and black pepper, and toss until well coated. Top the roasted corn and black bean salad with the blue cheese crumbles and fresh basil.

Cover and put in the fridge to chill and allow the flavors to marry if not served right away.

Fresh Roasted Corn And Black Bean Salad Additions and Suggestions

This roasted corn and black bean salad summer salad recipe is super flexible and can be made the way you want with your favorite vegetables. Here are a few suggestions:

• Sliced Mini Cucumbers
• Mini Sweet Pepper Rings (Red, Yellow, & Orange Medley)
• Cilantro
• Jicama
• Radishes
• Red Onion
• Kale Leaves
• Spinach
• Black Beans can be substituted with cannellini beans, garbanzo beans, or any bean you particularly like.
• Blue Cheese- not everyone is a fan of this strong cheese that definitely makes itself known in recipes; shocking, I know! In that case, you can sub in feta, herbed goat cheese, queso fresco, and extra sharp white cheddar, each of which should give you that crumbly and tangy presence in roasted corn and black bean salad.

Make a roasted corn, black bean, and avocado dinner bowl! (Man, that’s a mouth full!) In a bowl, layer the rice, then the roasted corn and black bean salad, and top with a protein like one of the following:

• Grilled Chicken or Fish
• Blackened Salmon
• Beef
• Cheese
• Hard-Cooked Egg
• Diced Leftover Ham
• Canned Tuna Fish

How To Store Roasted Corn Black Bean Avocado Salad

If well covered, Black Bean Roasted Corn salad should keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. If you are making a day ahead, hold off on adding the avocado until you are ready to serve. You can even toss in a little extra lime juice to help keep the avocado from turning.

FAQs About Roasted Corn And Black Bean Salad

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

Should I oil or butter corn before grilling?

Can I answer a question with a question? Oh, I just did…Well, here’s another. Did you check out my how-to grill corn on the cob link? It’s worth a quick look-see. I’m all about the pre-soaked, partially shucked, silks removed cob slathered in butter, then wrapped back up in the husk.

It’s the best of both worlds; the corn partially steams and can pick up a bit more of the smokey flavor from the grill. The addition of butter helps protect the moisture plus adds wonderful complex flavors when you use seasoned butter like my Chili Lime Buttered Grilled Corn.

What can I use if I don’t have grilled/roasted corn?

If you’ve been a part of my Tidy Mom world, you know I Love Grilling (even to the point of facing down the elements). We aren’t all as committed (or cray), so you can enlist your oven or toaster oven’s broiler to get a different version of a tender, smokey roasted corn.

Render a piece of smokey bacon* then coat fresh off the cob kernels or thoroughly drained canned corn with the bacon drippings. Spread corn kernels on a baking sheet, sprinkle with smoked salt or smokey paprika, and roast under the broiler until the corn is caramelized and charred to your preference.

Roasted corn can be added to the salad when completely cooled. Crumble the crisped bacon and sprinkle over the top.

*If you are watching your cholesterol levels, use a refined Avocado Oil with a 520ºF/271°C smoke point and a neutral flavor.

How do I cut corn off the cob?

You’d be surprised! (I was) at the various tools available to assist in this effort to remove corn kernels from cobs! Some look and are reviewed as quite effective: like a Y-shaped corn ripper, a corn stripper/peeler, or a corn thresher.

If you are a tried and true traditionalist or don’t want or need another kitchen gadget, then select a sharp serrated blade and a good-sized heavy bowl. Place the corn at a 45º angle and slide the knife down the cob. Rotate the cob until all of the kernels are off.

If you have a bundt pan, try this cool hack; balance the corn on the center hole and carefully (watch those fingers) slide the blade down the cob. All the kernels will catch in the fluted bundt area.

Like This Roasted Corn And Black Bean Salad Recipe? Pin It!

Originally posted in July 2013. UPDATED APRIL 2022. We spiffed up this post with more info and better pictures! No changes to the original recipe.