Make summer complete with this crowd-pleasing Black Bean Salad with Avocado. It’s fresh, tangy, and perfect for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues.

a wooden spoon scooping black bean salad out of a large bamboo bowl.

Corn and black bean salad with avocado

No backyard cookout is complete without a big bowl of this Black Bean Salad with Avocado. Every bite features a refreshing and colorful mix of beans, summer vegetables, lime juice, and creamy avocado. Scoop it up with tortilla chips and enjoy the zesty, protein-packed goodness all day long!

There are endless reasons why you’ll fall for this black bean salad. It’s a picnic staple, just like macaroni salad and potato salad, but is super light and stays fresh in the fridge for days. The summer veggies are tossed in a vibrant lime, oil, and agave dressing, taking each bite way up a notch. It’s seriously addictive!

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

Black beans – Canned black beans can be drained and rinsed in no time. If you really want to impress your guests, cook the beans yourself.
Corn – Freshly shucked ears of corn (cooked or raw) will taste best. For a quicker option, use canned or defrosted frozen corn.
Cherry tomatoes
Cilantro
Lime juice – Squeeze the limes yourself for the brightest, most vibrant flavor.
Olive oil – A little oil goes a long way here. Feel free to leave it out if you’d prefer to make the salad oil free.
Agave – The subtle sweetness helps cut through the tart lime juice and spicy cayenne. If you don’t have agave syrup at home, use maple syrup instead (although this will affect the flavor).
Cayenne pepper – It’s spicy! Tone down the heat by substituting paprika or cumin.
Salt
Avocados – Freshly chopped avocados add so much creaminess to this salad. Be sure to add them at the last minute to keep them as green and delicious as possible.

How to make black bean salad

It’s so easy to make this delicious salad! Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro to a large bowl. Drizzle the lime juice, oil, agave, cayenne, and salt over top. Stir, then chill. Stir the avocados in right before serving. The full, printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

Serving suggestions

This isn’t your typical salad. Sure, you can eat it with a fork, but scooping up the zesty mix with tortilla chips is so much better!

The Mexican-inspired flavors make this a wonderful side dish to serve year-round next to vegan tacos, enchiladas, nachos, and quesadillas. Once summer hits, bring a batch with you to picnics, potlucks, and summer barbecues. It’s easy to make ahead of time and stays fresh for days, making it a great last-minute addition to any party or for meal prep.

Did you end up with leftovers? Scoop them into lettuce cups for a quick, healthy, and protein-packed snack.

Storing

Store the leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. The avocado will brown quickly, so keep it separate if possible.

Want more potluck-perfect salads?

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