Summer Corn Salad

Let me introduce you to the perfect summer salad: my summer corn salad recipe. It’s quick and easy to make, cool and refreshing, and includes the perfect blend of fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing.

Serving Summer Corn Salad

Today I’m bringing you what is, in my mind, the perfect summer salad for a picnic or barbecue. It’s cool, refreshing, has a blend of great flavors that work together perfectly, and is a cinch to make. Don’t you just love recipes like that? I sure do!

My summer corn salad recipe includes lots of fresh vegetables (the more the better when summer comes around, I say). We’re talking fresh corn, fresh tomatoes, onion, and green bell pepper. These crunchy vegetables are tossed in zesty Italian dressing and then refrigerated for several hours, so they can really marinate and soak up all that delicious dressing flavor.

That’s all there is to it! A couple of steps and your summer corn salad is ready to serve to family and friends. I love that I can make it in advance because we all know summer weekends can be just a little bit busy!

At the bottom of the post, I’ve included lots of serving suggestions, but this summer salad truly pairs well with any barbecue or grilled meat. Enjoy!

Summer Corn Salad Ingredients

Recipe Ingredients

  • Italian dressing
  • Whole kernel corn
  • Onion
  • Bell pepper
  • Tomato

How to Make Summer Corn Salad

Chop up vegetables.

Chop up your fresh veggies and drain the cans of corn.

Place all vegetables in a large bowl.

Place all of the veggies in a large bowl. 

Add Italian dressing and stir well.

Add in Italian dressing and stir well. 

Refrigerate corn salad for several hours before serving.

Cover and refrigerate your summer corn salad for several hours before serving to allow flavors to blend.

Serving Summer Corn Salad

Enjoy! This can be made up to two days ahead of time to keep life simple. 

Storage

Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Recipe Notes

  • You can use fresh corn, frozen corn, or canned corn kernels. For fresh and frozen corn, you’ll want to cook it quickly in water on the stovetop or in the microwave so it’s nice and tender before adding it to the recipe. Another option is to grill the fresh corn for a few minutes on each side before adding the grilled corn to the salad. It will add a delicious smoky flavor.
  • Use either regular or zesty Italian dressing.
  • Make this summer corn salad recipe your own with these variations:
    • Add different vegetables, like diced cucumber, red onion, chopped avocado for creaminess, or grilled zucchini to complement the grilled corn.
    • Add black beans or edamame.
    • Use chopped cherry tomato instead.
    • Substitute the green bell pepper for red bell pepper.
    • Add some fresh herbs, like chopped fresh parsley, fresh basil, dill, mint, or fresh cilantro.
    • Before serving, sprinkle it with crumbled feta cheese.

Recipe FAQs

What do you serve with summer corn salad?

Basically, everything goes with summer sweet corn salad. Serve it with your favorite summer main dish, like burgers, pulled pork or pulled chicken, grilled chicken tenders, crockpot beef ribs, or even Southern fried catfish.

You may also enjoy these sensational summer salads:

Recipe for Caprese Salad with Chicken and Avocado

Tomato Onion and Cucumber Salad

Cornbread Salad Recipe

Aunt Cathie’s Grape Salad

Summer Corn Salad

This summer corn salad recipe is quick and easy to make, cool and refreshing, and includes the perfect blend of fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: corn, salad
Servings: 4
Calories: 60.6kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
  • 2 medium diced tomatoes
  • 1 bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 1 diced small onion
  • 1 cup Italian dressing

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir well to combine. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
    2 cans whole kernel corn, drained, 2 medium diced tomatoes, 1 bell pepper, seeded and diced, 1 diced small onion, 1 cup Italian dressing
  • Can be made up to two days ahead of time. This is delicious and the perfect side for a barbecue!

Nutrition

Calories: 60.6kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

 

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Ghandi

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151 Comments

  1. We have made this for years. Soooo good. I also add diced grilled pork or chicken and it is great.

  2. Christy, I received a set of bowls with the sunflower on it for my wedding – 42 year ago! Still use them.

  3. Christy, you go girl!!! I totally agree about the effects of TV on our world. Too bad “goodness” and “integrity” have seemed to get lost in the mix. Thank you for using your site to say what so many of us feel and wish we could say to the world! May you be BLESSED for speaking the TRUTH in love! WE love and appreciate you! 🙂 Pat

  4. So nice to read this post – it made me a bit homesick! I grew up 15 minutes from Rome and have visited that beautiful campus many, many times. But I think I’ll have to go again next time I come home, because I just realized my youngest has never seen the water wheel. (You did see the water wheel, right?)

  5. Thanks for the corn salad recipe, I have one simular, but calls for mayo.
    Christy, when I was growing up in Arkansas, my Mother had a pyrex bowl just like the white one with little red Dutch children on it. When I seen your’s in the corn salad recipe, kind of brought a tear to my eye!!!
    I enjoy your site so very much!!!
    In His Love,
    Maryanna

  6. WHY CAN’T WE ALL MAKE OURSELVES HEARD RE: REALITY TV PROGRAMS?? WE ALL LIVE REALITY DAILY! WE DON’T NEED OR WANT TO WATCH OTHERS REALITY PAIN! THESE REALITY PROGRAMS ARE NOTHING BUT ECONOMICALLY ADVENTAGEOUS PRODUCTION TO MAKE MORE MONEY AT LESS COST FOR TV INDUSTRY. IT IS NOT ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!!!! IT DOES NOTHING TO ENRICH ANYONE’S LIFE. WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH GOOD TIMES..BAD TIMES….JOY..GRIEF….! TV AND OTHER MEDIA SOURCES SHOULD BE PROVIDING US WITH INSPIRATIONAL STORIES…JUST PLAIN FUN ENTERTAINMENT TO GIVE US A RESPITE FROM THE PRESSURES OF DAILY LIFE…..BUT NO. IT’S THE SAME OLD STORY….MONEY…MONEY…..MONEY. MORE….MORE….MORE. TO HELL WITH INSPIRATION AND ENTERTAINMENT. DON’T YOU DARE RELAXE OR ENJOY…..JUST SUCK IT UP AND SUFFER AND BECOME MORE AND MORE DEPRESSED WITH THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. OH GOD, PLEASE HELP US ALL!!!!!

  7. Although I do not post much I truly enjoy your inspiring posts. It is always so refreshing to read. Thank you!

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