Name: Corn Avocado Black Bean Salsa
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed; 1/2 red onion, finely diced; 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced; 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped (plus more for garnish); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp fresh lime juice; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper; 1 avocado, chopped

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This corn avocado black bean salsa is fresh and robust and has the perfect amount of heat. And it’s hearty enough to be served as a side salad!

Making a fresh batch of salsa to eat outside on a balmy night is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. It means the season of long warm days is officially here. When I eat salsa, I want it to be hearty as well as piquant. Don’t skimp on the veggies or the level of heat – I want all of the tasty salsa components. That’s where my recipe for corn avocado black bean salsa comes into play.

Packed full of corn, cherry tomatoes, black beans, and avocado, it’s robust enough for you to enjoy as an appetizer with your favorite tortilla chips, but filling enough to serve as a side salad when you can’t decide on a vegetable to go with your meal. And it has a nice kick from cayenne and jalapeño. What’s more, this salsa recipe can be made in just 10 minutes (leaving you extra time to make that fancy margarita)!

corn avocado black bean salsa in a large white bowl sitting on a marble counter

cherry tomatoes, corn, diced jalapeno, diced red onion, black beans, and cilantro in a silver mixing bowl

4 Easy Instructions for The Best Salsa

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (except avocado). Add more salt and cayenne if needed.
Gently stir in avocado (adding this last will prevent it from getting mashed).
Cover and chill in refrigerator for around 1 hour. This allows the flavors to marinate.*
Optional: Garnish with additional cilantro.

*Step 3 isn’t necessary if you don’t have time to refrigerate the salsa for 1 hour. It will still be delicious! However, salsa is one of those dishes that becomes more flavorful the longer it marinates.

white bowl containing corn avocado black bean salsa with small bowl of tortilla chips in background and small bowl of cilantro next to it

Variations & Substitutions

Adjust the cayenne and jalapeño to your level of spice. You can omit it completely or add more! Make it to your liking.
Serve this is as a tasty side dish
Serve over a bed of fresh spinach or arugula to turn it into a salad
Turn it into a grain bowl by serving over brown rice, quinoa, barley, etc.
Add smoked paprika to give it a delicious smoky flavor

white hand holding a blue tortilla chip dipping into a white bowl of salsa and a bowl of tortilla chips in background

Enjoy your week, and feel free to drop me a line in the comments – I would love to hear if you try this recipe! Or tag me on Instagram @maryannehoekstra to let me know how it turned out! Also, if you are enjoying my blog, please consider recommending it to your friends. They can subscribe here.

More Healthy Side Dish Recipe Ideas!