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Home » Salads » Easy Corn Salad

Published: June 3, 2020 Last Modified: June 3, 2020 By Sara 16 Comments

Easy Corn Salad

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Easy corn salad with tomato and avocado, all tossed in a zesty lime dressing.

This corn salad is filled with sweet corn kernels, avocado, tomato, jalapeno and red onion, all tossed in a zesty cilantro lime dressing. An easy and colorful side dish that pairs well with chicken, beef and seafood.

During the warmer months, I serve a variety of refreshing salads such as caprese salad, Asian slaw and this simple yet totally satisfying Mexican-style corn salad.

Easy corn salad with tomato and avocado, all tossed in a zesty lime dressing. Easy corn salad with tomato and avocado, all tossed in a zesty lime dressing.

A bowl of corn salad with avocado and tomato, all tossed in a lime dressing.

There’s nothing better than fresh corn on the cob. While corn is delicious when boiled or grilled, it’s even better when it’s combined with fresh veggies and creamy avocado to make a  fabulous corn salad.

How do you make corn salad?

Place corn kernels in a large bowl along with thinly sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and minced jalapeno. Whisk together a dressing of lime juice, olive oil, spices and fresh cilantro. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss to coat. Add a sprinkle of cilantro for garnish, then serve and enjoy.

Corn, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeno and red onion in a bowl.

How to cut corn off the cob

This dish tastes best when made with fresh cooked corn. To remove corn kernels from corn cobs, simply remove the husk of the corn and discard it. Take care to remove loose strands of corn silk. Hold the cob upright with your fingers at the top and place the bottom stem end on a cutting board. With a sharp chef’s knife or paring knife, cut downward away from your fingers. Try to follow the shape of the corn to cut at the bottom of each kernel, so that you get individual cut kernels and not large chunks of corn. After you move the knife down the side of the corn, rotate the corn and cut down again. Repeat until all the kernels are on the cutting board.

Homemade salad dressing in a bowl with a whisk.

Tips for the perfect salad

  • While I prefer to make this salad with fresh corn, thawed frozen corn kernels or canned corn will also work if that’s what you have on hand.
  • I use a mandoline to get ultra thin slices of red onion.
  • Choose a ripe, but firm avocado so that it doesn’t get mushy when you toss it with the rest of the ingredients.
  • I like the flavor that a little jalapeno adds to the salad. I remove the seeds from my jalapeno which removes most of the heat. If you prefer a spicy dish, add in some of the seeds too.
  • This dish can be made up to 2 day in advance. If you’re planning to make it ahead of time, omit the avocado and stir it in right before serving.

Dressing poured over tomatoes, corn and avocado in a salad bowl.

Corn Salad flavor variations

This salad is absolutely delicious as-is, but you can add other ingredients to the mix to customize it to your tastes.

  • Protein: Turn your salad into a main course by adding cooked crumbled bacon, grilled chicken, shrimp or steak.
  • Cheese: I like to add a sprinkle of feta or cotija cheese for added flavor.
  • Vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables such as bell peppers, roasted or grilled zucchini, cucumbers or poblano peppers.
  • Beans: Stir in a can of drained black or pinto beans.

A spoon serving up a portion of corn salad.

There are so many ways to enjoy this corn salad. You can eat it over lettuce, serve it as an appetizer with chips, or even use it as a topping for grilled chicken. No matter how you serve it, the salad is sure to be a hit!

More salad recipes to try

  • Mexican Salad
  • Tabbouleh
  • Avocado Tuna Salad
  • Seafood Salad
  • Italian Pasta Salad

Corn Salad Video

A bowl of corn salad with avocado and tomato, all tossed in a lime dressing.
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5 from 12 votes

Corn Salad

This corn salad is filled with sweet corn kernels, avocado, tomato, jalapeno and red onion, all tossed in a zesty cilantro lime dressing. An easy and colorful side dish that pairs well with chicken, beef and seafood.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 269kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 4 cups corn kernels can be fresh, canned or thawed from frozen
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
  • 1 jalapeno remove seeds and ribs, then mince finely
  • 1 avocado 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
  • 1/3 cup cilantro leaves chopped, plus more for garnish if desired

Instructions

For the salad

  • Place the corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno and avocado in a large bowl.

For the dressing

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, honey, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper and cilantro.
  • Pour the dressing over the corn mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately, garnished with additional cilantro if desired.

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: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
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Filed Under: Salads

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    Comments

    1. Calli says

      September 14, 2022 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing!!!!!! I used 2 cans of corn and it was great.

      Reply
    2. Pam says

      September 7, 2022 at 4:48 pm

      What do think about adding greens?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 8, 2022 at 8:27 am

        That should be fine, you may need to double the dressing!

        Reply
    3. Kelly says

      July 24, 2022 at 1:43 pm

      I just made this and it was wonderful! So fresh. I can’t imagine canned corn could compete. I had meant this as a salad but my husband assumed it was a salsa and started eating it with chips. He said he liked this “salsa” much more than all the tomatoes salsas. So I tried it with chips. It is really great that way as well. I can see this being used in many ways and will definitely be making this many more times. Thanks!

      Reply
    4. Tracy says

      March 9, 2021 at 5:37 am

      This was OUTSTANDING!!!!!!! I added cucumber to make it even better!!

      Reply
    5. Marcy says

      July 23, 2020 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious! One of the tastiest side dishes ever. The flavors and textures work so well together.

      Reply
    6. Jacque says

      June 13, 2020 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      Served this with your bbq chicken recipe and it was a huge hit! Definitely what a gourmet meal should be, and then some! Delicious!

      Reply
    7. Kimberly says

      June 11, 2020 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      LOVE the sound of this corn salad, the ingredients look perfect and that lime juice-based dressing sounds so yummy!

      Reply
    8. Natalie says

      June 11, 2020 at 11:47 am

      5 stars
      This is one of my favorite summer salads! It has so much flavor! It’s a great way to use corn!

      Reply
    9. Chelsea says

      June 11, 2020 at 11:38 am

      5 stars
      This is the best summer salad! We’re so obsessed! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    10. April says

      June 11, 2020 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      So many fresh flavors! It’s like summer in a bowl!

      Reply
    11. Beti says

      June 11, 2020 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      I would love this corn salad for lunch! It looks incredibly delicious!

      Reply
    12. katerina says

      June 11, 2020 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      SO many fantastic flavors in this salad!! Perfect for summer!

      Reply
    13. Amanda says

      June 10, 2020 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      This corn salad is so delicious and I highly recommend it!

      Reply
    14. Suzy says

      June 10, 2020 at 12:47 pm

      5 stars
      One of our favorite side dishes to prepare! Love that you can use fresh or canned corn for it!

      Reply
    15. Beth says

      June 10, 2020 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      Yum! This is so delicious and flavor filled! I love all the colors!

      Reply

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