• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Mind "Full" Mom
  • ingredient
    • Pasta
    • Beef
    • Poultry
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Vegetarian
    • soups
    • burgers
  • course
    • Beverages
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Main Courses
    • Sides
    • Salads
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Condiments
  • method
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Air Fryer
  • All Recipes
    • Main Courses
      • Beef Recipes
      • Chicken & Turkey
      • Pasta
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Soup, Stew, and Chili
      • Vegetarian
    • Breakfast
    • Breads and Muffins
    • Desserts
    • Kid-Friendly
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Snacks
    • Pantry Staples
    • Allergy Friendly Recipes
      • Plant-Based
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
  • Instant Pot
  • 30-Minute Meals
  • Meet Kristen
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Instant Pot
  • 30-Minute Meals
  • All Recipes
  • Meet Kristen
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Corn Salsa

    Appetizers Gluten Free Grilling Side Dishes Vegetarian Recipes July 18, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 47 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Corn Salsa is the ultimate addition to your summer menu! Made with fresh corn, red onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and a sweet and spicy dressing, this corn salsa is light, fresh, and bursting with flavor.

    Corn Salsa is the ultimate addition to your summer menu! Made with fresh corn, bell peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, and a sweet and spicy dressing, this corn salsa is light, fresh, and bursting with flavor.

    Whether you serve Corn Salsa as a dip for tortilla chips, as a side dish for Beef Tacos, or as a topping on Honey Lime Fajitas, the flavors in this simple corn salsa will elevate any meal!

    Bowl of grilled corn salsa with red pepper and honey lime dressing.


    While Instant Pot Corn or grilled corn makes a delicious side dish for burgers and BBQ Chicken, Corn Salsa transforms fresh summer corn into a memorable appetizer that is suitable for any meal.

    Made with grilled corn, sweet bell peppers, spicy jalapenos, and salty feta cheese, this corn salsa is incredibly fresh and flavorful. But the sweet and tangy dressing that pulls this whole dish together is what makes this recipe for corn salsa the best!

    The dressing for this corn salsa stars honey, fresh lime zest, lime juice, and minced garlic. It brings out the sweetness in the corn and adds an acidic brightness to the salsa with the lime juice. Irresistibly good!

    why you will love corn salsa

    • Easy Recipe. This recipe for corn salsa only takes a few minutes of hands-on prep, yet delivers a dish with layers of flavor.
    • Endless Uses. Corn Salsa is an obvious appetizer choice, but it also can be served on top of fajitas, burritos, and salads or as a side dish to any meal.
    • Can be Made with Frozen Corn. While fresh corn is best, you can roast frozen corn kernels for a similar result.
    • Adaptable for Allergies/Food Sensitivities. Corn Salsa is already naturally gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free, and nut-free. You can omit the cheese for a dairy-free dish.

    Ingredients Needed For Corn Salsa

    Ingredients for corn salsa labeled on counter.
    • Corn: For this salsa, you can use fresh corn on the cob or frozen corn kernels. Instead of grilling frozen corn kernels as you would for fresh corn on the cob, you would roast the kernels in the oven for similar results.
    • Bell Pepper: I recommend using a red, orange, or yellow bell pepper for a sweet, fresh flavor.
    • Jalapeno Pepper: I recommend removing the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno to keep this salsa from being overly spicy. And feel free to omit the jalapeno if you don't like spicy foods.
    • Cilantro: Skip the cilantro if you are someone who has an aversion to cilantro.
    • Cheese: Finishing the salsa with crumbled queso fresco or feta adds a salty, creamy bite but is an optional addition.
    • Honey Lime Dressing: This dressing is made with honey, lime zest, fresh lime juice, kosher salt, and garlic. It is what makes this salsa so irresistibly good.

    How to Make Corn Salsa

    Step One: Prepare Corn. For homemade corn salsa, you can choose to grill corn on the cob, air fry corn on the cob, or cook on the stovetop using a grill pan. Any of these methods will help to develop the sweetness of the corn and help to char the corn kernels which adds a layer of flavor to the salsa.

    Fresh corn on the cob on a grill plate.

    Step Two: Prepare Honey Lime Dressing. While the corn is grilling, use that time to whisk together the honey lime dressing for the salsa, to maximize your prep time. Keep in mind that when working with fresh limes, it is best to zest the lime prior to juicing them. Once you cut the lime open, it is next to impossible

    Dressing for corn salsa in clear bowl.

    Step Three: Remove Corn from Cob. A great tip when slicing corn off the cob is to place the tip of the corn cob into the opening on a bundt cake pan and then carefully slice off the kernels. All the corn will fall into the bundt pan, leaving your kitchen counters free from random corn kernels.

    Knife cutting off corn from the cob into a bundt pan.

    Step Four: Toss Corn Salsa Together. Add the corn, along with the minced jalapeno, bell pepper, and cilantro to the honey lime dressing and stir it together to fully incorporate. While you can dig in right away, it is best to cover and refrigerate the salsa for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to marry together.

    Corn, peppers, cilantro, and jalapeno with lime zest.

    Step Five: Add Cheese and Serve. Right before serving this corn salsa, crumble the cheese over the salsa, give it a good stir, and then transfer it to a serving bowl.

    Bowl of grilled corn salsa with red pepper and honey lime dressing.

    How to Serve Corn Salsa

    This corn salsa is extremely versatile. It can be served as an appetizer with tortilla chips, as a side dish for Tex-Mex dishes, as a topping for tacos, or as a light salad. Below are a few of my favorite suggestions, but use your imagination or taste buds to guide you.

    • Use this corn salsa as a topping to add flavor to tacos, be it Beef Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Cauliflower Tacos, Lentil Tacos, or Instant Pot Chicken Tacos.
    • Elevate Honey Lime Chicken Fajitas, Vegetarian Fajitas, Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas, or Crockpot Steak Fajitas by finishing them with a scoop of corn salsa.
    • Add corn sala to Taco Pizza, Taco Salad, Southwestern Chicken Salad, or Tostadas for another layer of delicious flavor.
    Tortilla Chip scooping out corn salsa.

    Storage Instructions

    Corn Salsa is best served after being refrigerated for at least an hour before serving. However, it can be prepped up to 48 hours in advance for parties and leftovers will last in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

    FAQs on Fresh Corn Salsa

    Is it necessary to roast or grill the corn first?

    Grilling your corn will add a delicious layer of flavor to the corn salsa. However, there is absolutely no need to cook corn prior to eating it. You can simply cut the corn off the cob or even use defrosted corn kernels to make this corn salsa if desired.

    Can you use leftover corn to make corn salsa?

    Absolutely! One of my favorite things to do with leftover corn is to use it to prepare this salsa.

    More Delicious Recipes Featuring Corn

    • Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
    • Succotash
    • Hot Corn Dip
    • Corn Casserole
    • Potato Corn Chowder
    • Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    Serve this Corn Salsa as an addictive chip dip or as a topping for any taco, salad, or fajita. I would love to know your favorite way to dish it up--let me know in the comments. 

    Corn Salsa served in bowl with limes in background.

    Corn Salsa

    Made with fresh corn, bell peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, and a sweet and spicy dressing, this corn salsa is light, fresh, and flavorful.
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Mexican, Tex Mex
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Refrigerate: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 44kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • olive or canola oil for greasing grill
    • 4 ears corn on the cob husked
    • 1 large red bell pepper diced
    • 1 small jalapeno seeded and finely minced
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
    • ¼ cup minced red onion optional
    • ¼ cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese optional

    Honey Lime Dressing

    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
    • 1 large lime juice and zest
    • ½ teaspoon fresh minced garlic
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    To Grill Corn

    • Rub the grates of a grill or grill pan with oil. Preheat the grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat. Once heated, add the husked corn right to the grill or grill pan and grill for 10-15 minutes until beginning to char, turning the corn frequently. Remove corn from grill and allow to cool until cool enough to be handled.

    Prepare Salsa

    • Remove the corn kernels from the cobs of corn using a sharp knife. A great way to do this is to place corn cobs in the center of a Bundt pan and cut off the kernels with a sharp knife, the kernels will fall directly into the cake pan instead of all over the kitchen.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine honey, hot sauce, lime juice, lime zest, salt, and garlic together.
    • Add the corn to the dressing, along with the minced jalapeno, diced bell pepper, onion if using, and cilantro. Stir to incorporate.
    • Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours for flavors to develop.
    • Right before serving, add the crumbled cheese and toss again before serving. Serve with tortilla chips, corn chips, or as a side.

    Notes

    Dietary Modifications: To make this dairy-free, omit the cheese. To make this vegan, use agave in place of honey and omit the cheese. 
    Heat Level: Be sure to remove the seeds and ribs of the jalapeno to control the level of spice, or omit them altogether for sensitive palates. 
    Onion: The onion is completely optional but adds a nice sharp bite to the salsa. 
    Storage: Corn Salsa can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 44kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 242mg | Potassium: 107mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
    « Air Fryer French Fries
    Tomato Mozzarella Salad »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Belle

      May 19, 2022 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is a flavor bomb. So fresh and light. Fresh corn on the cob isn't quite in season yet so I improvised. Thawed frozen sweet white corn, roasted in a skillet with just a touch of avocado oil. Let it get a nice char and it was delicious. Definitely going into my rotation for easy and delicious salads. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 20, 2022 at 11:42 am

        Hi Belle! I love that you made improvisations using what you have on hand. I also love hearing you enjoyed the flavor. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Lily

      July 12, 2021 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      I made grilled chicken today and was trying to find the perfect side, and this was incredible! We ate it as we would a salad!! This was so good, so perfect for grilling season!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 13, 2021 at 6:55 am

        I love hearing you how you served this corn salsa as a side dish! I love it that way myself.

        Reply
    3. Betsy

      July 12, 2021 at 6:40 pm

      5 stars
      This was awesome! Better even than Chipotle's corn salsa! So good. Love that I can make this at home now! Perfect topping for tacos, taco salad, nachos...enchilada soup! YES! I need this in my life! 🙂

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 13, 2021 at 6:55 am

        Oh I love the idea of topping enchilada soup with it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!

        Reply
    4. Beth

      July 12, 2021 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! My hubby and I love adding this to our tacos on taco nights! Such a refreshing and very tasty salsa!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 13, 2021 at 6:56 am

        Thanks for sharing Beth! I love hearing that you (and your husband) enjoyed this!

        Reply
    5. Debbie

      May 08, 2021 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      I love this salad so much! It's what's on the menu for Mother's day ❤

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Corn Salsa is the ultimate addition to your summer menu! Made with fresh corn, red onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and a sweet and spicy dressing, this corn salsa is light, fresh, and bursting with flavor.

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

    Instant Pot Favorites

    • jar of plain yogurt next to instant pot
      Instant Pot Yogurt
    • Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Sliced Open on cutting board
      Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
    • Instant Pot Pot Roast sliced up on white platter with carrots and potatoes.
      Instant Pot Pot Roast
    • Whole seasoned chicken on trivet inside inner pot.
      Instant Pot Whole Chicken
    • Bowl of Cold Start Yogurt
      Instant Pot Cold Start Yogurt
    • Inner pot of instant pot filled dried beans
      Instant Pot Beans
    • How to use the instant pot as a slow cooker
      How to Use Your Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker
    • 4 chicken breasts cooked inside instant pot.
      Instant Pot Chicken Breast (Fresh or Frozen)

    Reader Favorites

    • Bowl of creamy coleslaw made with shredded green cabbage.
      Easy Homemade Coleslaw
    • Homemade Chicken Tenders on platter.
      Homemade Chicken Tenders
    • Baked Instant Pot Sweet Potato on white plate topped with pat of butter.
      Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
    • Chili seasonings labled on wooden board
      Chili Seasoning Recipe
    • 3 Salmon Fillets on green plate topped with limes.
      Easy Baked Salmon
    • Instant Pot Chicken Wing being dipped into ranch dressing.
      Instant Pot Chicken Wings
    • Latte in glass mug with coffee beans on the counter.
      Easy Homemade Latte Recipe
    • Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice in yellow casserole dish
      Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice

    Footer

    Corn Salsa is the ultimate addition to your summer menu! Made with fresh corn, red onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and a sweet and spicy dressing, this corn salsa is light, fresh, and bursting with flavor.

    Featured on:

    Websites AMind"Full"Mom has been featured on

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me

    DISCLAIMER: THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE AND IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR TREATMENT. AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I GENUINELY LOVE ARE OFTEN INCORPORATED IN MY POSTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

    Copyright © 2020 · A MIND "FULL" MOM