Simple Corn Salad

This easy corn salad is fresh and full of tangy flavor, with bursts of bright tomato and basil! The classic summer salad for BBQs and picnics.

It’s not summer until you’ve made corn salad! This one is all about fresh flavor: sweet bursts of corn, juicy tomatoes, and herbaceous basil pair with a tangy, light vinaigrette. If you’re like us…you won’t be able to stop eating it! Top with feta cheese crumbles if you like, or keep it as a plant based salad: it’s just as good either way. Alex and I made this for a BBQ and while the grilled main dish was good, everyone kept talking about the corn salad. Here’s all about how to make it…including a tip on how to cut corn off the cob: without the mess!

Make it grilled! Try our Grilled Corn Salad.

Ingredients in corn salad

This healthy corn salad hits just the right sweet spot: a minimal number of simple ingredients that combine into big flavor. Here’s what you need to make this summer salad:

Corn on the cob: Make sure it’s ripe and in season!
Cherry tomatoes
Red onion
Fresh basil
Apple cider vinegar
Olive oil
Garlic powder and chili powder
Salt and pepper

If you love the salty savoriness of feta cheese crumbles, absolutely add them here! But it’s not lacking in flavor, so we like making it without it. It’s a vegan salad that’s bursting with summer flavor.

Grilled corn salad — Try Grilled Corn Salad for a smoky variation!

Variation: make it grilled!

Here’s a way to step up this corn salad: make it grilled! The grilled corn kernels add a smoky flavor to the salad that makes it even more irresistible. I could not help shouting out my love for the grilled version of this salad! You can make the grilled version two ways:

Make the recipe below with grilled corn. Go to our Perfect Grilled Corn recipe to find out how to do it!
Go to our Grilled Corn Salad. This variation uses a creamy dressing with Mexican flavors inspired by elote. It’s incredibly tasty!

How to cut corn off the cob…without the mess!

Here’s our best trick on how to cut corn off the cob! If you’ve cut corn off the corn on a cutting board, you’ll appreciate the memory of yellow kernels sprayed all over your kitchen. (Right?) Here’s a way to cut corn off the cob and reduce the mess:

Use a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish. The sides of the dish will keep the corn kernels contained inside!
Hold the corn vertically, then use a sharp chef’s knife to slice downward. The kernels end up right on the sheet. Use your fingers to break apart corn that sticks together.

Best classic summer salads

This corn salad is part of our arsenal of classic summer salads! We have to make each of these at least once to feel like it’s truly the season. These are perfect side dishes for a grilled dinner, or to take to BBQs or picnics. Make them all:

Creamy Cucumber Salad The perfect cool and crunchy side dish for summer! For a vegan or plant based version, make Cucumber Salad with Vinegar.
Easy Bean Salad Every summer needs a bean salad! This one is simple to make with a short ingredient list.
Watermelon Salad This refreshing salad pairs watermelon with cucumber, mint and feta cheese.
Creamy Potato Salad (No Mayo) Of course, you can’t go wrong with potato salad. This one’s our favorite classic creamy version. For plant based or vegan versions, try French Potato Salad or Dill Potato Salad.
Antipasto Salad Full of big flavors of Italian antipasti: olives, artichokes, and fresh mozzarella! For a vegan version, try Italian Vegan Pasta Salad.
Greek Orzo Salad A crowd favorite and full of Greek flavors, bursting with fresh dill and mint, feta cheese, and tangy lemon.

This corn salad recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy free.