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Black Bean Salsa

Meggan Hill

• Updated

4.97 from 120 votes

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Transform canned beans into Black Bean Salsa, an easy recipe guaranteed to please. It’s fresh, colorful, and delicious, and it might just be your new favorite party recipe.

Black bean salsa in a red square dish.

When I first began dabbling in the world of the culinary arts, I found a recipe for black bean salsa on a can of Bush’s brand canned beans.

Over the years the recipe has evolved, but Black Bean Salsa and I continue to feed people at all the parties that matter. It’s super easy to make, everyone loves it, and now this cherished recipe can be yours, too.

Table of Contents

  1. Recipe ingredients
  2. Ingredient notes
  3. Step-by-step instructions
  4. Recipe tips and variations
  5. Black Bean Salsa Recipe

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for black bean salsa.

Ingredient notes

  • Black beans: 1 ½ cups cooked beans can be substituted for the 1 can (that’s about ½ cup dried beans before cooking). You can use any type of canned or cooked bean instead of black.
  • Corn: 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) frozen corn, thawed, may be substituted for canned corn. To substitute fresh corn, bring a medium pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add 2-3 ears of corn and boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Submerge ears in a large bowl of ice water. When the corn is cool enough to handle, cut it off the cob.
  • Bell pepper: Substitute any color of pepper you prefer.
  • Onion: Red, white, yellow, green, sweet, or even shallots will do; dice and stir in whatever you have on hand.
  • Cilantro: If you or someone you are feeding has an aversion to cilantro, consider fresh parsley instead. Mexican oregano is also tasty here.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and cilantro. Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper).
Black bean salsa ingredients in a bowl.
  1. Stir to combine, then cover and chill until serving time. Serve with tortilla chips or grilled meats.
Black bean salsa in a clear glass dish.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes 8 appetizer-size portions, but the recipe is easily doubled or tripled to feed more.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: All the ingredients can be prepped a day in advance and tossed together 1 hour before serving time.
  • Sweeter: For a similar recipe with a little sugar in it, try Cowboy Caviar.
  • More mix-ins: Fold in chopped avocado, diced jalapeño or serrano chiles, or a dash or two of hot sauce, if desired.
  • Serving ideas: Tortilla chips are a classic choice, but anything from pita chips and crackers to bell pepper wedges and cucumber slices also taste amazing. Or try this dip as a condiment: spoon it over grilled chicken, steak, or pork.
Black bean salsa in a red square dish.

Bonus bean recipes

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Black bean salsa in a red square dish.

Black Bean Salsa

Transform canned beans into Black Bean Salsa, an easy recipe guaranteed to please. It's fresh, colorful, and delicious, and it might just be your new favorite party recipe.
Author: Meggan Hill
4.97 from 120 votes
ReviewPrint
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 servings (about ¾ cup each)
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Mexican
Calories 185

Ingredients 

  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed (see note 1)
  • 1 (14 ounce) can corn drained (see note 2)
  • 1 medium tomato diced
  • 1 green bell pepper stemmed, seeded, and diced (see note 3)
  • 1/2 cup red onion diced (1 small, see note 4)
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro (see note 5)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • tortilla chips for serving

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, add beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and cilantro. Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper). Stir to combine.
  • Cover and chill until serving time. Serve with tortilla chips or as an accompaniment to grilled meats.

Recipe Video

Notes

  1. Black beans: 1 ½ cups cooked beans can be substituted for the 1 can (that’s about ½ cup dried beans before cooking). You can use any type of canned or cooked bean instead of black.
  2. Corn: 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) frozen corn, thawed, may be substituted for the canned corn. To substitute fresh corn, bring a medium pot of water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over high heat. Add 2-3 ears of corn and boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Submerge ears in a large bowl of ice water. When the corn is cool enough to handle, cut it off the cob.
  3. Bell pepper: Substitute any color of pepper you prefer.
  4. Onion: Red, white, yellow, green, sweet, or even shallots will do; dice and stir in whatever you have on hand.
  5. Cilantro: If you or someone you are feeding has an aversion to cilantro, consider fresh parsley instead. Mexican oregano is also tasty here.
  6. Yield: This recipe makes 8 appetizer-size portions, but the recipe is easily doubled or tripled to feed more.
  7. Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  8. Make ahead: All the ingredients can be prepped a day in advance and tossed together 1 hour before serving time.
  9. Sweeter: For a similar recipe with a little sugar in it, try Cowboy Caviar.
  10. More mix-ins: Fold in chopped avocado, diced jalapeño or serrano chiles, or a dash or two of hot sauce, if desired.
  11. Serving ideas: Tortilla chips are a classic choice, but anything from pita chips and crackers to bell pepper wedges and cucumber slices also taste amazing. Or try this dip as a condiment: spoon it over grilled chicken, steak, or pork.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.004gSodium: 11mgPotassium: 409mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 288IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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Comments

  1. This recipe is my absolute favourite! I cook up some brown rice, toss a scoop of warm rice in a bowl, top with shredded sharp cheddar, add a handful of mixed greens, a dollop of sour cream, slices of avocado, and a generous scoop of this recipe on top.. I garnish with crunchy pita chips or wheat thins… my three fussy children completely devour this, and it’s a family favourite! Thanks for this!❤️5 stars

    Reply

  2. Hey Meggan,
    I love the black bean salsa recipe. What are your thoughts on canning it in a hot water bath? I know it has enough acid but wondered if you know of anyone who has done it.
    Keep Smilin’,
    Laura

    Reply

    1. Hi Laura, happy to hear you love this recipe! I have limited experience with canning. Since beans are low-acid, it is likely this would need to be done in a pressure canner. If you’re wanting specifically to can this, I would look for another recipe that’s been developed specifically for canning. Sorry about that! Can’t be too careful when it comes to food safety. Take care! – Meggan

  4. Wow, what a quick and easy recipe that took my shrimp tacos to the next level! Thank you this is going to be a staple in this house for taco night or anytime we need a good salsa. Even the kids liked it, Thank you!5 stars

    Reply

  6. The dressing makes this recipe sing. I added a jalapeño pepper and added homemade black beans. I’ll definitely make this again!4 stars

    Reply

  7. Thank you for great ingredients (skip Cilantro) with a squeeze of Garlic and we’re good to go!! I’ve made salsa working in a Pub know one thought of changing it up. It was meant to be, today was the day that I got to come across a simple and healthy salsa and with Black Beans. Love the fact that it’s what I want and to taste. Again, thank you for my future go to Salsa for my Nachos and other things. Looking forward to getting fresh ideas for cooking as the weather starts to get colder. Our tummies thank you in advance!! :)

    Reply

    3. Hi Tammy, I don’t see why not! The vegetables may lose some of their crispness in the freezer. If you do freeze, make sure to leave some headspace for the salsa to expand into. Enjoy – Meggan

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