Easy Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapenos
Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapenos is the perfect side dish for any night of the week, holiday, or summertime cookout. This recipe comes together super fast and will be chilling in your refrigerator in no time.
This corn salad is one of my favorite salads to eat. It’s creamy, and it has bacon. Who doesn’t love bacon? All of the flavors go together so well, and the taste is irresistible. You will be hooked after the first bite–promise!
This is a great on-the-go recipe. You can make this dish the day before, store it in the refrigerator, and grab it and go the next day. If you make this dish beforehand or make it in advance, it certainly makes for a great crowd pleaser salad.
Corn on the Cob is great on its own, but when you throw it together in a side dish… well–this becomes a hit at dinner time. The freshness, spiciness, and seasonings all work together to make this a very tasty and satisfying dish.
Why This Recipe Is Great
This is a delicious Mexican Corn Salad that is full of great flavor and perfect for summer cookouts. It brings together fresh corn with other simple ingredients to create an easy side dish perfect for any time of year.
Fresh and Flavorful: This salad is fresh tasting and contains flavorful ingredients. You can whip up a batch of this summer corn salad in no time.
Colorful and Versatile: This creamy salad is full of vibrant colors and will add visual appeal to your table. It’s not only a delicious side dish, but it’s also great on tacos or added to a wrap.
Perfect For Any Occasion: Mexican Street Corn Salad is perfect for any occasion. Whether you are enjoying a backyard barbecue, going to a potluck, or adding this dish to your weeknight meal, this creamy corn salad recipe is a winner every time.
Ingredients Needed for Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapenos
Corn Salad with Jalapenos is a delightful corn mixture made with simple ingredients easily found at your local grocery store or farmers’ market. This delicious salad captures the essence of the summer months. With a little prep and huge flavor, this salad recipe is the perfect choice for summer gatherings. Please see the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and amounts.
Canned Corn
Bacon
Green Onions
Jalapeno
Lime Juice
Shredded Cheese
Ranch Dressing
Seasonings: garlic powder, salt, and pepper
Corn— Corn is the star ingredient in this delicious salad recipe. It’s the perfect time to use peak-of-season produce. Fresh yellow corn, frozen or canned, will work for this recipe. I use canned corn because I always have it in my pantry, and it’s easy to grab. This also makes it super fast to pull together for a dinner, a summer bbq, or a cookout.
Bacon— Need I say more? Fry till crispy and crumble.
Green Onion— If you don’t have any green onions, use regular onions; red onion, sweet onion, or Vidalia onion will work just fine. I’ve done this before, and the outcome was still delicious.
Jalapenos– Using a fresh jalapeno is a good thing when adding a little bit of heat without being overpowering. Wear gloves when cutting jalapenos. Remove the seeds and membrane to take away the heat. If you like spicy, leave some of the seeds.
Lime Juice— Fresh lime juice is the best, but bottled juice will work, too.
Cheese–I use cheddar cheese, but feel free to use your favorite, such as Pepper Jack Cheese, Parmesan, or Feta Cheese. Use a variety of shredded cheeses.
Ranch Dressing–I like Ranch Dressing. It’s creamy and has the perfect seasonings. Feel free to make your own homemade version if so desired.
Seasonings–Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder are my three go-to seasonings. They blend nicely with the corn and other ingredients.
Cilantro — Fresh cilantro is optional but adds freshness to this salad.
How Do You Make Mexican Corn Salad
You will have a side dish ready to serve or on the go with just a few easy steps.
- Fry bacon. Crumble and set aside.
- Add the drained corn, bacon, onions, jalapeno, cheese, seasonings, and lime juice in a large mixing bowl. Stir well.
- Add ranch dressing, and stir again.
- Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving.
Canned Corn
This is a vibrant salad of sweet corn with simple salad ingredients. I used canned corn for this easy recipe, but feel free to use fresh sweet corn, frozen, or leftover corn on the cob. All you need to do is open the can, drain the corn kernels thoroughly, and add them to the bowl. No surprise here. This recipe calls for a lot of corn. I usually have corn in my pantry, so this recipe comes together with no problem at all.
Corn Salad with Jalapenos
I like to use fresh jalapenos during the summer when they are plentiful from the garden. Fresh peppers give it that added kick of heat. I usually take all of the seeds out of the pepper. I want to taste the pepper but not burn my taste buds. Your guest may appreciate this as well. **Use gloves when slicing jalapeno. The burn is real!
How Long Does Corn Salad Last
You can store this salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep covered in a container, and it will do fine. Please give it a good stir before serving. Personally, I like to eat this salad the next day. The flavors have had time to mix, and the taste is fantastic.
If you like jalapeno peppers, be sure to try bacon wrapped jalapenos, cheesy stuffed jalapenos, or jalapeno pepper jelly. All of these recipes are sure to satisfy your taste for jalapenos.
Tips, Add-ins, and Variations for Mexican Corn Salad
- Make sure you drain the corn completely. If not, you will have a watery salad.
- Deseed the jalapeno. This will keep the heat down a bit.
- Start with 3/4 cup Ranch Dressing. If you need more, add it.
- Make sure the bacon is crispy. It seems to hold up well in the salad.
- Serve as a dip with crackers or tortilla chips.
- Refrigerate at least an hour before serving.
Recipe Variations
Feel free to mix and match a few of these variations to make this Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapenos your own to suit your taste preferences.
- Add in diced fresh cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. During the summer, when tomatoes and cucumbers are fresh off the vine, I do.
- Make your own Creamy dressing from scratch.
- Serve as a dip with crackers or tortilla chips.
- Add a can of drained and hearty black beans or diced creamy avocado.
- Use bell pepper instead of jalapenos for a more mild flavor. Green or red peppers would add nice color.
- Serve on a bed of baby spinach to make a cool and refreshing salad for the summer months. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this salad.
What to Serve with Bacon Jalapeno Corn Salad
This salad goes great with just about anything. I especially like to serve it with food cooked on the grill. This is the perfect summertime side dish. It transports well to cookouts and reunions. Some of my favorites to serve it with are Ribs, Sticky Chicken, Buffalo Chicken Tenders, or Italian Sausage and Pasta. No matter what you decide to serve Corn Salad with– the taste is quite irresistible.
Easy Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapenos is not just a summer salad. It can be served year-round, especially if using canned corn. So, what are you waiting for? Try it today.
More Jalapeno Recipes
More Corn Recipes
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Parmesan
More Salad Recipes
Mixed Bean Salad— Mixed Bean Salad–kidney beans, black beans, onion, tomatoes, vinegar, and oil. A simple, delightful, and very satisfying salad that is bursting with flavor. This salad only has 6 ingredients and takes less than 5 minutes to throw together. It’s healthy and delicious!
Bacon and Broccoli Salad–– It’s perfect served as a side dish for dinner, a cookout, or a holiday celebration. Bacon and Broccoli Salad is a quick summer salad that is sure to please your family and guest and make your taste buds dance.
Southern Cornbread Salad–– Southern Cornbread Salad is a crowd pleasing layered salad with bacon, cheese, and cornbread that comes together easily for all of your gatherings. Perfect for any time of the year.
Mexican Corn Salad with Jalapenos
Ingredients
- 4 15 oz. cans Whole Kernel Corn drained
- 12 ounce bacon cooked till crispy and crumbled
- ⅓ cup green onions diced
- 1 jalapeno diced and seeded
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Lime Juice fresh
- 1 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- ¾ cup Ranch Dressing
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon each pepper and garlic powder
Instructions
- Fry bacon. Crumble and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the drained corn, bacon, onions, jalapeno, cheese, lime juice, and seasonings. Stir well.
- Add Ranch Dressing and stir again.
- Cover and chill at least an hour before serving.
Wonderful salad! I am kicking myself for not trying this recipe sooner! Great balance of flavours! It will definitely be a start dish at our bbq parties this summer!
I love how quick and easy this recipe is and the added tips, Add-ins, and Variations so i can change it up. Thanks
This salad has all of my favorite flavors in it. Next time, I’m making double the amount because once my family had second helpings there were no leftovers for my lunch the next day!
OOH I love the ranch and bacon in this! I’ve had corn salad before but it was more tomato based. I like this idea so much better!