Interactive Game-Inspired Sweet Corn and Black Bean Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-22 · Updated 2026-06-22

A colorful and refreshing salad featuring sweet corn kernels and black beans tossed in a zesty lime dressing, perfect for a light, fun meal. This latin american-inspired salads (vegetarian, gluten free) ready in about 10 minutes pairs sweet corn kernels, black beans, rinsed and drained, red bell pepper, diced into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweet corn kernels
• 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup sweet corn kernels, 1 cup rinsed and drained black beans, 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, and 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, stirring gently to mix.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until the dressing is emulsified and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss carefully to coat all ingredients evenly.
4. Step 4: Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and fold it into the salad just before serving to preserve its bright flavor.