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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian & Vegan

    Jan 18, 2021 · Modified: Nov 14, 2022 by Andrea· This post may contain affiliate links · 51 Comments

    Best Black Bean Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    This Tex-Mex Black Bean Salad is simple, delicious and lasts for days! Perfect for packed lunches or a quick and easy dinner. Enjoy it on it's own or serve it as a side to your favourite grilled meat or tofu.

    Tex-mex black bean salad in serving bowl with two individual bowls. Garnished with sliced avocado

    The thing I love about any type of bean salad is the lasting power. In fact, I find that the longer it sits, the better it gets! Those beans just absorb all the yummy flavours of whatever dressing you've used. The veggies can start to lose their crunch but the flavour is still all there.

    For more delicious bean salad recipes check out my Easy White Bean Salad , and Mediterranean Style Chickpea Salad. If you are looking for more Southwestern or Tex-Mex flavours you might like these recipes for Easy Tofu Scramble and One-Pot Tex-Mex Chicken.

    Jump to:
    • Why We Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • How to Make Black Bean Salad
    • Storage
    • More Bean Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why We Love This Recipe

    Quick and easy - This black bean salad comes together in no time and includes ingredients you may already have on hand.

    Delicious and Nutritious - Black bean and corn salad is well balanced with protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Not only is it good for you but it also tastes delicious!

    Perfect for Meal Prep - Bean salads have a way of getting better the longer they sit. This black bean salad is no exception! The beans become more flavourful as they sit and soak up the flavours of the other ingredients. If you like to keep the avocado from browning and the cucumber crunchy, add them just before serving.

    Ingredients

    Prepared ingredients for Tex-Mex black bean salad
    • Black beans - use your own cooked bean or canned. Be sure to rinse well if using canned beans!
    • Corn - can be thawed frozen corn or fresh from the cob.
    • Cucumber
    • Bell pepper - any colour you like
    • Jalapeno pepper - remove the seeds if you don't like things too spicy.
    • Red onion
    • Fresh cilantro
    • Fresh garlic
    • Avocado - optional for garnish
    • Fresh lime wedges - optional garnish

    For the dressing:

    • Fresh lime juice
    • White wine vinegar
    • Avocado or olive oil
    • Chili powder, ground cumin, salt and pepper

    Substitutions

    • Black beans - any type of bean or chickpeas will work for this salad.
    • Corn, cucumber, bell pepper - if you can't have any of these veggies just omit what you can't have and bump up the others. Any colour of bell pepper is delicious in this salad.
    • Jalapeno pepper - omit the pepper if you don't like it spicy or add more if you do! You can also used chopped pickled jalapenos for some extra zing!
    • Red onion - you can substitute white, sweet or green onions.
    • Cilantro - parsley works here too or you can just omit the fresh herbs.
    • Fresh lime juice - in a pinch you could use lemon juice instead.
    • White wine vinegar - red wine vinegar or rice vinegar can be used instead.

    How to Make Black Bean Salad

    It really is as simple as chopping up a few vegetables, mixing up a dressing and then tossing everything together! I don't add the avocado to the salad as it turns brown quickly. Instead, I like to add it before serving. A squeeze of fresh lime juice gives it a bit of extra zing!

    1. Rinse canned beans if using.
    2. Dice cucumber, bell pepper, jalapeno and red onion.
    3. Chop cilantro and garlic.
    4. Thaw corn if using frozen.
    5. Prepare dressing.
    6. Mix everything together until the dressing is thoroughly distributed.
    7. Garnish with avocado slices and lime wedges if desired.
    Close up of a white bowl of tex-mex black bean salad with 2 bowls in the background. Garnished with avocado slices

    Storage

    This salad will last 4-5 days in the refrigerator. The veggies will begin to lose their crunch after a day or two but the flavour will still be delicious. In fact, the flavour gets better with age!

    More Bean Recipes

    • single serving of greek chickpea salad on white plate with fork
      Greek Chickpea Salad
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      Green Minestrone With Pesto and White Beans
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      Greens and Beans Soup
    • One serving of white bean salad on a bed of arugula with a fork.
      White Bean Salad with Arugula and Roasted Peppers

    📖 Recipe

    black bean salad in a black and white bowl with spoon on light grey background

    Tex Mex Black Bean Salad with Chili Cumin and Lime Dressing

    A colourful, nutritious and easy to prepare salad perfect for packed lunches or a hearty vegan dinner.
    4.72 from 46 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 338kcal
    Author: Andrea Mut
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 x 540 ml/19 oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed well
    • ½ cup red onion, diced small
    • 1 bell pepper, red, yellow or orange, diced small
    • 1 cup English cucumber, diced small
    • 1 jalapeno pepper, diced small. Leave in seeds if you like more heat.
    • 1 cup corn. Fresh of frozen and thawed
    • 1 large clove garlic, minced
    • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
    • avocado slices for garnish
    • fresh lime wedges for garnish

    Chili Cumin Lime Dressing

    • 4 tablespoon lime juice, fresh squeezed
    • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
    • ½ cup avocado or olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl or jar mix together all the ingredients for the Chili Cumin Lime Dressing and set aside.
    • Place beans in a large bowl and add all the prepared vegetables, (except avocado) garlic and herbs.
    • Pour in the dressing and toss to coat.
    • Salad will keep in the fridge for one week.

    Notes

    STORAGE - this salad will last 4-5 days in the refrigerator. The veggies will begin to lose their crunch after a day or two but the flavour will still be delicious. 
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 751mg | Potassium: 620mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 6g
    Tried this recipe?Mention @MyPocketKitchen or tag #mypocketkitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.72 from 46 votes (22 ratings without comment)

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    1. Jennifer Mikolajczuk says

      August 14, 2024 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      Hi.Andrea,
      How much is one serving? I doubled the recipe and now I need to calculate my ww points.

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      • Andrea says

        August 15, 2024 at 7:05 am

        The recipe is for 6 servings so if you doubled it you want to divide by 12. Best way to do that is to weigh the whole batch and divide by 12. Hope you enjoy it!

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    2. Eileen says

      May 03, 2024 at 6:57 am

      5 stars
      Delicious! one of my favourite My Pocket Kitchen recipes! Great recipe for family gatherings or just because!

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      • Andrea says

        May 03, 2024 at 9:19 am

        I’m so happy you are enjoying the salad! Thanks so much for coming back to leave a comment 🤗

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    3. Amanda Dexter says

      March 18, 2024 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      This is my all-time favourite bean salad ever. I have tried so many different recipes and this one is perfect! Thanks, Andrea.

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      • Andrea says

        March 19, 2024 at 1:44 pm

        My pleasure! So happy you enjoyed it!

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    4. Shelly says

      March 04, 2024 at 9:23 am

      Is there an option to sub for the red onion?

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      • Andrea says

        March 04, 2024 at 9:31 am

        Hi Shelly! Yes, green onion would be great as well as finely chopped shallots or sweet white onion. You can also omit the onion altogether if you prefer that. Hope you enjoy it!

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    5. Jodi says

      October 18, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this and it’s delicious!

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    6. Audrey Mah says

      September 15, 2023 at 5:39 pm

      5 stars
      Yes definitely the best black bean salad I’ve ever had …and so easy. Haven’t tried a recipe I haven’t loved of Andrea’s. Thank you Andrea

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      • Andrea says

        September 16, 2023 at 9:25 am

        Thank you so much Audrey! I'm so pleased that you are enjoying the recipes 🤗

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    7. Suzanne says

      September 14, 2023 at 3:32 am

      5 stars
      I love this super easy recipe. You know what is really delish? Having this on a bed of romaine lettuce with a dollop of your Spicy Ranch Dressing. Super super delish.

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      • Andrea says

        September 14, 2023 at 7:12 am

        That sounds delicious! So happy you are enjoying it!

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    8. Shelley says

      September 08, 2023 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      Yum,yum,yum! Goes great with grilled fish and Mexican rice.

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      • Andrea says

        September 12, 2023 at 7:11 am

        Sounds like a perfect combination! So happy you enjoyed it!

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    9. Eileen says

      September 04, 2023 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe - it’s my go to for lunch and dinner!

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    10. Jen says

      May 05, 2023 at 9:49 am

      I plan to make this today! Can I omit the sugar from the dressing?

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      • Andrea says

        May 05, 2023 at 11:20 am

        Yes absolutely! Hope you enjoy it!

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    11. Kim says

      February 13, 2023 at 1:00 pm

      5 stars
      Love this. Have made it many times!

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    12. Beatrice Schori says

      January 24, 2023 at 5:59 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is absolutely a winner! It tastes delicious and looks amazing.

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    13. Arlene B says

      January 20, 2023 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      One of our faves. I just made this again today. We'll have it with grilled chicken tonight and there will be lots leftover for lunches on the weekend. Thanks Andrea.

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    14. Carell Elliott says

      January 17, 2023 at 12:21 am

      5 stars
      One of my go to’s! Flavours are delicious and keeps well in the fridge. Great to make up and have on hand! Delish

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    15. Wilma says

      January 16, 2023 at 7:41 pm

      5 stars
      Tex mex salad is a winner. I’ve made this recipe so many times. I have left out cucumbers at times. Put on a bed of greens, a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheese. So yummy! Thank you Andrea for all your recipes. They’re fabulous!

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    16. Mieke Fraser says

      November 16, 2022 at 12:23 pm

      Thank you for another delicious idea you are awesome

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    17. Linda Bier says

      November 15, 2022 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      Love this salad!! Thanks Andrea, your recipes are all so good!

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    18. Lynn Kirouac says

      November 14, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      I plan to make this. I love bean salad but never used black beans (which I love).
      My only problem is that I can't stand cucumber - the smell nauseates me (even if it is in a cosmetic cream. Could I substitute celery?

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      • Andrea says

        November 14, 2022 at 12:40 pm

        Absolutely! Hope you enjoy it!

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    19. Lorna says

      November 14, 2022 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is one of my favourite go to salads and often what I bring for a potluck. Easy to prepare and delicious!!

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    20. Denise says

      July 26, 2022 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      This salad is amazing and a crowd pleaser. I make it both for home and for BBQs we have been invited too! I love that I found your website, so many recipes are delish!

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      • Andrea says

        July 26, 2022 at 10:35 am

        I'm so happy you found my website too! And super happy you are enjoying the black bean salad. Thanks for commenting!

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    21. christine says

      April 04, 2022 at 10:43 am

      if i don't have lime, can i substitue with lemon?

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      • Andrea says

        April 04, 2022 at 11:36 am

        Hi Christine! Yes absolutely. Hope you enjoy it!

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    22. Jady says

      March 08, 2022 at 6:51 pm

      I didn’t see where you add the garlic. Is this to garnish?

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      • Andrea says

        March 08, 2022 at 7:06 pm

        Hi Jady! You mix it in with all the other vegetables and beans. 👌😀

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    23. Cindy B says

      February 25, 2022 at 8:25 am

      5 stars
      WOW! I didn't think I liked black beans, especially from a can, but it was absolutely delicious. I'll be finishing it off today at lunch.
      It was a little 'soupy'...should I have rinsed or drained the black beans from the can?
      Either way it was still delicious and full of flavor!

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      • Cindy B says

        February 25, 2022 at 8:28 am

        OOPS! Now I see it says to rinse beans. I'll remember that next time and note it on the recipe card.

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        • Andrea says

          February 25, 2022 at 8:51 am

          I just made a quick edit on the recipe to add "drain and rinse" to the recipe card 🤗

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      • Andrea says

        February 25, 2022 at 8:48 am

        Hi Cindy!
        Yes you always want to drain and rinse canned beans. I'm happy you enjoyed it!

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    24. Cindy Clark says

      January 28, 2022 at 8:11 am

      5 stars
      Loved this Andrea ,it’s another winner ! and even hubby approved( and he said he didn’t like black beans) I had it for breakfast and lunch
      It will definitely be in my fridge a lot

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      • Andrea says

        January 28, 2022 at 8:18 am

        So happy you and your hubby enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment!

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    25. Merrilee Russell says

      January 19, 2022 at 6:03 pm

      Oh, I can’t wait to try this. I actually have all the ingredients, have to use that cilantro up quickly! Thx Andrea

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    26. Anne Anson says

      October 15, 2021 at 9:48 am

      Having never been a fan of bean salads, I now have this salad in my frig pretty well all the time. I make half the recipe, it is always gone while still fresh and crispy, takes no time at all to put together, and is good at any time!
      Thank you, Andrea, for giving me such a great go-to food. I love it!

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    27. Brittany says

      July 11, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! My husband gobbled it up. I added some garbanzo beans just to use them up and it was still very good. Fantastic combo of flavors!

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      • Andrea says

        July 12, 2021 at 8:55 am

        So happy you enjoyed it! Garbanzo beans are good in anything! 🙌

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    28. Bonnie Bertrand says

      July 03, 2021 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      Even though I couldn't get tge onion chopped quite as well as you did with Gina lol the salad is AMAZING😁👍👍 I've never eaten a black bean in my life I'm now 59 and will definitely be having them from now on. ❤

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      • Andrea says

        July 05, 2021 at 2:00 pm

        This is so amazing Bonnie!!! I'm so happy you have discovered how delicious black beans can be!

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    29. Jean McHarg says

      July 03, 2021 at 1:28 pm

      Loved this salad. Made it after seeing you and Gina on the Spring/Summer program cooking segment. I used half of everything as there only two of us in the house. It was great, for breakfast and lunch!!

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    30. Suzanne says

      June 06, 2021 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      I have made this salad 3 times now and I love it. I have it for lunch with greens and it is perfect. Thanks.

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    31. Jessica says

      May 22, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! Didn't not have 4 tablespoons of lime so used 3 of lemon juice as a substitute, was delicious! So fresh tasting. Love this.

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    32. Kathy says

      April 14, 2021 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      Another smashing recipe. Absolutely delicious. Thank you so much.

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    33. Susan says

      April 14, 2021 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      Only had chickpeas - equally yum!!

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    Andrea from My Pocket Kitchen

    Hello and welcome to My Pocket Kitchen! I'm Andrea, a professionally trained Chef & Pastry Chef . Here you will find easy, step by step recipes that are packed with wholesome, nutrient rich ingredients. Hope you have fun! Read More…

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