• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Endless Meal®

Real Food for Busy People

Search
Main Menu
  • Latest Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Side Dishes
  • Soup
  • Salads
  • Dessert

Start Here
About
eBook

Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
Youtube
  • 🍁 Recipes
  • Dinners
  • Cookbook
  • About
  • Start Here
Home Recipes Side Dishes
a bowl of corn salsa with a chip in it, garnished with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges

Fresh Corn Salsa – A Delicious Easy Side

Katie Webster
By: Katie Webster
Updated: 04/19/2025
5 stars (32 ratings)
3 Comments
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Hold onto your spurs, Cowboys and Cowgirls, this fresh corn salsa is going to rock your world! It’s an easy-to-make recipe that takes just 20 minutes to prepare, and pairs well with tortilla chips, grilled chicken, tacos, and a variety of Mexican dishes.

a white bowl with corn salsa

If you love fresh corn, this salsa is your new favorite way to enjoy it. I can never have enough corn recipes at this time of year. From this delicious honey-garlic corn on the cob to this sweet corn gazpacho, there are many fun and tasty ways to use it.

Make this corn salsa recipe for an easy summertime appetizer or add it to your cookout menu or Mexican food party for a fun twist on salsa and chips.

It takes only 20 minutes to make, making it a good condiment for a weeknight dinner. Furthermore, if you omit the optional tomatoes, this is a great tomato-free alternative to traditional salsa or pico de gallo.

Person cutting corn kernels off a cob into a glass bowl, preparing fresh ingredients for corn salsa, with cilantro and corn cobs on a light surface nearby.
The easiest way to remove the kernels from the corn is to stand the corn upright in a large bowl. This prevents them from falling all over the work surface. You can also set the corn on an inverted bowl, as shown in this corn chowder recipe.
A large white bowl filled with Corn Salsa—chopped tomatoes, black beans, red onion, corn, cilantro, jalapeño, and spices—being stirred by hand, with extra corn and herbs in the background.
You may want to taste the salsa before adding more jalapeño pepper or chipotle, as it may be spicy enough without them.

Variations To Try

  • I think roasting or grilling the corn as we did in this recipe would be delicious!
  • You can substitute canned chipotle in adobo to taste for the jalapeño chile and ground chipotle.
  • Instead of tomatoes, try using charred tomatillos.
  • I love adding some avocado to corn salsa. Just know that it will turn brown if you store it, so plan to eat it all!

What to serve with this recipe

  • The best way to serve this corn salsa is with tortilla chips, but I also love it spooned over chicken for a family friendly dinner.
  • Corn salsa is a delicious accompaniment to beef barbacoa tacos as well. I love the sweetness with the rich and tender meat!
  • I also think you could make pork carnitas burrito bowls with this salsa for a yummy dinner idea!
  • These pulled pork tacos are another recipe to pair this with.
Tap stars to rate!
4.97 stars (32 ratings)
a bowl of corn salsa with a chip in it, garnished with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges

Corn Salsa Recipe

Prep: 20 minutes mins
Cook: 0 minutes mins
Total: 20 minutes mins
Rate Recipe Print
SaveSaved!
Add us as a preferred source
This simple corn salsa is ready in minutes and is a great alternative to traditional salsa or pico de gallo. Pair it as an appetizer with tortilla chips or pair it with grilled chicken or your favorite Mexican recipes. 
5

Ingredients

  • 3 cups corn kernels (from about 3 large ears corn)
  • 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers (minced – seeded if desired)
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • ½ cup finely chopped red onion
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 medium tomato (seeded and diced, optional)
  • ¾ cup canned black beans (drained and rinsed, optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle chili or smoked paprika (optional or to taste)

Instructions 

  • Combine corn, jalapeno, cilantro, red onion, lime, salt in a large bowl. Add tomato (if using), black beans (if using.)
    3 cups corn kernels, 1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, ½ cup finely chopped red onion, 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 medium tomato, ¾ cup canned black beans
  • Taste and add chipotle or smoked paprika to taste (if using.) Serve immediately.
    ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle chili or smoked paprika

Notes

Tip: To cut the corn off the cob, stand the corn on end in a large bowl. Cut kernels off the cob with a sharp chef’s knife into the bowl. Measure out 3 cups of kernels and reserve any extra for another use. Proceed with making the salsa in the bowl.
Spiciness: The heat level of this salsa is completely customizable. For mild salsa, use only one seeded jalapeno. For more heat, add the second jalapeno. And for hot salsa, add in the seeds (They carry more heat than the green part of the chili).
Chipotle: Taste the salsa before adding the chipotle. If you want the smoky flavor but no more extra heat use smoked paprika instead.
Make-Ahead: Will keep for 3 days sealed in a resealable container in the refrigerator. The flavors and spiciness will fade after one day. Stir, taste, and adjust seasoning as necessary. Add additional lime, salt, and chipotle chili to taste.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving = ½ cup, Calories: 46kcal (2%), Carbohydrates: 10g (3%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 1g (2%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 209mg (9%), Potassium: 122mg (3%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 2g (2%), Vitamin A: 196IU (4%), Vitamin C: 6mg (7%), Calcium: 6mg (1%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
© Author Katie Webster

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

a bowl of corn salsa with a chip in it, garnished with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges

Did you make this?

We love to see what you made! Tag @theendlessmeal or hashtag #theendlessmeal!

Tag us on Instagram
Rate Recipe
the ingredients for this corn salsa with labels
655 shares
  • Facebook
  • Email
Katie Webster

Katie Webster

Katie Webster is a classically trained chef, cookbook author and owner of the food blog HealthySeasonalRecipes.com. Her mission is to make cooking with locally sourced seasonal ingredients easy and fun for busy families. She lives with her husband, their two daughters and two yellow labs in Vermont.

Learn More
Posted: 06/01/2021 Updated: 04/19/2025
guest
Rate this recipe:




guest
Rate this recipe:




3 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jennifer
Jennifer

5 stars
I made this on the weekend when I didn’t want to cook and was it ever good. I served it for lunch with tortilla chips and there wasn’t a bite left. 

0
Reply
Barbara Gray
Barbara Gray

You have missed one of the best parts of the corn. I am a mid-west girl and we never get rid of
the cob until we have milked the ear. You take a teaspoon and run the edge of spoon over each
row and see how much corn milk you get. It will blow your mind and make corn recipes better.

Thank you for your recipes.

1
Reply
Kristen Stevens
Kristen Stevens
Reply to  Barbara Gray

I’ve never heard of milking the ear but I’ll definitely have to try it next time I buy corn on the cob! Thank you for sharing that tip!

1
Reply

sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Kristen Stevens

I’m a self-taught chef, food photographer, and author of the cookbook Sugar Free Dinner Recipes. Since 2011, I have been sharing my well-tested and approachable recipes, helping home cooks like you feel comfortable and confident in the kitchen. My work has been featured in Food & Wine, Pioneer Woman, The Every Girl, Self, and many more. Let’s have some fun cooking together!

Learn more!

Trending

Parmesan Crusted Carrots on a baking tray.
35 minutes mins

Parmesan Crusted Carrots (The Viral Recipe!)

A thin pork chop on a dinner plate with mashed potatoes and peas.
16 minutes mins

How to Cook Thin Pork Chops (with delicious honey garlic butter)

Baked BBQ Salmon in a dinner bowl
20 minutes mins

Baked BBQ Salmon with Buttery Corn Rice

My favorite Ground Beef Chili in a bowl with toppings.
2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Ground Beef Chili (the recipe everyone asks for!)

Seasonal

4 pieces of tender salmon with creamy lemon dill sauce
20 minutes mins

Baked Salmon with Creamy Lemon Dill Sauce

Baked Ziti with sausage on the dinner table
55 minutes mins

Baked Ziti with Sausage (in tomato sauce topped with pesto)

A skillet featuring Coq au Vin-style chicken drumsticks with bacon, mushrooms, onions, and herbs in a rich sauce.
1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Julia Child’s Coq au Vin

A bowl of cheesy tomato orzo topped with Parmesan Chicken Meatballs
30 minutes mins

Parmesan Chicken Meatballs with Cheesy Tomato Orzo

As seen on:

A bowl of lentil stew with white rice and naan bread, overlaid with text: 10 Big Flavor Simple Dinners with healthier ingredients from The Endless Meal.
Get the e-book

10 Big Flavor Dinner Simple Dinners

Get now!

Explore Recipes

Lemon Baked Fish
Garlic Soup
Steak Salad
Kale Dressing
Hot Honey
Fish Curry
Turkey Soup
Chicken Marinade
Bacon Jam

Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
Youtube
Back To Top

FAQ
Contact
Privacy Policy
Disclaimers
Accessibility
© 2026 The Endless Meal® All Rights Reserved.
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
wpDiscuz

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this!
Thank you for sharing this recipe

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required