Corn and Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Published: June 22, 2019 Updated: March 11, 2023 / By: Dawn | Girl Heart Food 34 Comments

This corn and black bean quinoa salad combines fluffy quinoa, black beans, lots of colourful veggies and a simple dressing. With plenty of texture and flavour, this easy quinoa salad recipe is delicious on its own for a quick lunch or fantastic paired with a main for a satisfying dinner.

Corn and black bean quinoa salad in a serving dish.

This easy quinoa salad is definitely a favourite in our home. Not only does it tastes delicious, it can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge so it’s ready when that hunger bug strikes (which, if you’re like me, happens pretty regularly).

This recipe came about one day when I had a bunch of ingredients I wanted to use up and, of course, it had to taste good.

These days, I make this corn and black bean quinoa salad on the regular. We just love it so much!

Fan of quinoa? Check out this butternut squash and quinoa salad recipe.

Ingredients

Dressing: The quinoa salad dressing includes olive oil, lime zest and juice, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper.
Quinoa: Prepare the quinoa according to package instructions. Typically, quinoa triples in size once cooked. This recipe uses one cup of cooked quinoa, so to yield that amount you’ll need about ⅓ cup or so of dried quinoa.
Canned black beans: Rinse and drain well before using.
Canned corn: Drain before using so you don’t water down your salad. Instead of canned corn, you can grill some fresh corn and remove the kernels to use in the recipe.
Bell pepper: I used a red bell pepper, but you can use whatever colour you prefer or have on hand.
Cilantro: If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you can use parsley. Of course, it won’t have the same flavour, but will add freshness and colour to your quinoa salad.
Pickled red onion: This really adds a nice vinegary tang to the salad. Bonus, homemade pickled onions are really easy to prepare.
Green onion
Jalapeno pepper: Remove the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno or leave them in, it’s up to you! By removing, your salad will be a tad less spicy. If you’re a fan of spice, you can use more than one jalapeno pepper or a spicier variety.
Tomato: I prefer to use a Roma tomato because they’re nice and hearty.
Queso Cotija cheese: This is optional. Sometimes when I make this salad, I’ll add cheese, other times I’ll leave out. If you can’t find queso cotija cheese, you can use feta cheese. While not quite the same, both cheeses are crumbly and salty and will add another flavour to the salad.
Salt and black pepper

How To Make It

Here is an overview of how to make this corn and black bean quinoa salad (full details are in the recipe card below):

Make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, zest and juice of lime, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper in a bowl. Rather than using a bowl and whisk, you can shake up the dressing ingredients in a covered jar.
To make the salad, combine the quinoa, black beans, corn, bell pepper, cilantro, pickled red onion, green onion, jalapeno pepper and tomato in a bowl. Pour over the dressing and mix to combine,
If you’re using cheese, stir it in, then season with some salt and black pepper if you feel it needs it. That’s it! Flavour-packed, zesty quinoa salad, ready to be devoured!

Quinoa salad ingredients in a bowl before being mixed together.

Corn and black bean quinoa salad in a bowl with a wooden spoon.

Can I Make This Salad Ahead of Time?

Definitely! One of the great things about this corn and black bean quinoa salad is that you can enjoy it as soon as it’s made or make ahead for later (which is why it’s wonderful for meal prep).

If you’re not enjoying right away (or have leftovers), properly store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3 to 4 days.

Corn and black bean quinoa salad, some in a serving dish and some in a small bowl.

Make It More Substantial

This quinoa salad is quite hearty on its own. However, you can make it more substantial by mixing in some canned tuna (drained well first) or some cooked chicken.

You can also mix in some diced avocado, which add a lovely creaminess and flavour. If making the salad ahead of time, though, I wouldn’t add the avocado because it will oxidize (turn brown).

Alternatively, try serving some of the quinoa salad on a lettuce wrap or tortilla with your favourite protein (rotisserie chicken is my favourite) and a little drizzle of sour cream or salsa.

What To Serve With It

If you want to serve this corn and black bean quinoa salad with a main, it pairs yummy with grilled chicken breast or steak, baked fish (like cod or salmon) or stuffed double baked sweet potatoes.

More Yummy Salad Recipes

If you make this corn and black bean quinoa salad recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!

This recipe was originally published in August 2015. It was updated in June 2019 and further updated in March 2023.