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Home » Salads » Black Bean Salad

April 8, 2020 By Sara 11 Comments

Black Bean Salad

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This black bean salad is a color and refreshing blend of beans, corn, peppers, herbs and avocado, all tossed in a zesty lime dressing. A quick and easy salad that pairs well with grilled meats, and makes for a perfect light lunch.

When I’m looking for a simple salad to bring to a potluck or serve with dinner, I turn to favorites such as cucumber and tomato salad, caprese salad and this protein packed black bean salad.

Black Bean Salad Recipe #beans #blackbeans #salad #healthy #dinneratthezoo #avocado Black Bean Salad Recipe #beans #blackbeans #salad #healthy #dinneratthezoo #avocado

A bowl of black bean salad garnished with cilantro.

How do you make black bean salad?

This recipe starts with canned black beans, which are combined with tomatoes, jalapenos, bell peppers, red onion, cilantro, corn and avocado. Whisk together olive oil, lime juice and spices to make the dressing. Pour the dressing over the bean mixture and toss gently to combine. Serve and enjoy!

Black beans in a mixing bowl.

Tips for the perfect salad

  • Be sure to drain and rinse your beans to remove any excess sodium.
  • I typically use frozen thawed corn kernels, but you could use canned corn or even fresh corn off the cob.
  • Not a fan of cilantro? Use sliced green onions instead.
  • This recipe calls for removing the ribs and seeds from the jalapeno, which results in a mild salad with very little heat. If you prefer a spicier salad, leave some of the ribs and seeds in the peppers.
  • I like to use orange bell pepper for added color, but you can use red or yellow pepper if you prefer.
  • This salad can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it. If you’re making this dish in advance, omit the avocado, and stir it in right before serving.

Beans, peppers, tomatoes, corn and avocado in a bowl.

Black Bean salad variations

I love to make this recipe as written, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to the mix to customize the flavors to your tastes.

  • Protein: Stir in some diced grilled chicken or small cooked shrimp to turn this salad into a main course.
  • Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables to the mix such as shredded lettuce, diced cucumber, roasted green chiles or grilled zucchini.
  • Cheese: I love to add a sprinkling of cheese such as crumbled cotija or cubed pepper jack.

Chili lime dressing poured over fresh vegetables and beans.

How long does black bean salad last?

Black bean salad will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 8 hours. If you’d like to store the salad for a longer period of time, I would recommend omitting the avocado, as it will start to brown in the salad. Without the avocado, this salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Are black beans healthy?

Black beans are relatively low calorie, and are packed with protein and fiber. They contain a variety of nutrients including calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc. This salad is a great choice for a healthier diet considering it consist primarily of nutritious foods including beans and vegetables.

A spoon serving up a portion of black bean salad.

I make this salad regularly – it makes for a satisfying lunch that I can feel good about eating!

More delicious salad options

  • White Bean Arugula Salad
  • Avocado Tuna Salad
  • Apple Kale Salad
  • Beet Salad with Avocado and Feta
  • Three Bean Salad

Black Bean Salad Video

A spoon serving up a portion of black bean salad.
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5 from 9 votes

Black Bean Salad

This black bean salad is a color and refreshing blend of beans, corn, peppers, herbs and avocado, all tossed in a zesty lime dressing. A quick and easy salad that pairs well with grilled meats, and makes for a perfect light lunch.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword black bean salad
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 195kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 2 cans black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 jalapeno remove seeds and ribs, then mince finely
  • 1 cup corn kernels can be fresh, canned or thawed from frozen
  • 1 avocado chopped
  • 3/4 cup orange bell pepper seeded and finely diced
  • 1/3 cup red onion finely diced
  • 1/3 cup cilantro leaves chopped

For the dressing

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the salad

  • Place the beans, tomatoes, jalapeno, corn, avocado, bell pepper, onion and cilantro in a large bowl. 

For the dressing

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, honey, chili powder, cumin and salt and pepper.
  • Pour the dressing over the bean mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.

Notes

Make ahead instructions: Assemble according to instructions, except omit the avocado. Refrigerate for up to 8 hours. Add the avocado right before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 10.6mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1.2mg

Filed Under: Salads Tagged With: Avocado, Black Beans, Tomatoes

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Comments

  1. Liz Armstrong says

    June 21, 2020 at 10:49 am

    5 stars
    I made this recipe for a family BBQ everyone loved it!!!

    Reply
  2. Deseree says

    April 21, 2020 at 7:45 am

    Love this light and tasty salad that is perfect with or without meat! One delicious lunch or dinner!

    Reply
  3. Jacque Hastert says

    April 21, 2020 at 6:59 am

    5 stars
    I love how colorful this salad is! I also love that it is loaded with fresh summer flavors.

    Reply
  4. Catalina says

    April 18, 2020 at 7:31 am

    5 stars
    This salad is perfect for a side dish or an appetizer!

    Reply
  5. Eden says

    April 17, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    5 stars
    We made this tonight and it was so good! Everyone loved it!! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  6. stephanie says

    April 17, 2020 at 10:52 am

    5 stars
    I’m planing to make this recipe today for lunch. It looks delicious, yet healthy at the same time.

    Reply
  7. Alisha says

    April 17, 2020 at 10:01 am

    5 stars
    Especially loved the lime dressing – thanks

    Reply
  8. Jen says

    April 17, 2020 at 6:53 am

    5 stars
    This is one of our favorite side dishes all summer long! So easy to make and super delicious!

    Reply
  9. Erin says

    April 16, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    5 stars
    This black bean salad is seriously making me hungry!

    Reply
  10. Dorothy Reinhold says

    April 16, 2020 at 5:04 pm

    I could eat this for every single meal! It is so fresh and tasty.

    Reply
  11. Amanda says

    April 16, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    5 stars
    This looks like so much fun to make and very tasty!

    Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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