Jalapeño Cheddar Corn Salad

This Jalapeño Cheddar Corn Salad mixes charred corn, black beans, red onion, jalapeño, and cheddar cheese tossed with Jalapeño Cheddar Heluva Good! Dip for a fabulous summer salad that's always a crowd-pleaser.

Thank you to Heluva Good! for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. Thank you so much for supporting We are not Martha!

Have you had your fill of corn yet this summer?? Corn on the cob is one of my absolute favorite parts of the summer season, but I actually don't love eating it off the cob. Mainly because it drives me crazy that I often have more corn stuck in my teeth than I actually get to eat. And I can never seem to eat it off the cob fast enough to fully satisfy my craving. So, give me all the summer corn on the cob, but please, give it to me pre-cut. Growing up, my dad always cut it off the cob for me and now, as an adult, my husband always cuts it off the cob for me. That's probably one of those totally embarrassing facts about myself that I really shouldn't share with you, but oh well. Now you know.

Not only do I prefer my corn off the cob, but I like it a little charred, too. Of course, you can char corn on the cob by placing it right on the grill. But I like to strip the cobs (yes, I can do it myself, too!) and put the corn kernels in my grill pan with a little bit of butter. I basically cook the corn until it's charred and starts popping right out of the pan and then add it to all kinds of summer dishes. Like this one I'm sharing with you today, which also involves Heluva Good! Dip.

First of all, if  you haven't tried Heluva Good! Dip yet, I'm urging you to go out and get some immediately. It's perfect for those end-of-the-summer parties and BBQs, whether you're just using it for chip and veggie dipping or you're incorporating it into easy summer recipes. My favorite flavor is Jalapeño Cheddar (featured in this recipe!), but they also make French Onion (a classic!), Buttermilk Ranch, Bacon Horseradish, White Cheddar & Bacon, Bodacious Onion, and Dill Pickle (limited edition and tastes JUST like pickles!).

JALAPEÑO CHEDDAR CORN SALAD RECIPE

This corn salad is especially delicious in that it involves charred corn, black beans, and red onion, plus the perfect dressing... Heluva Good! Dip. I decided to use the Jalapeño Cheddar variety and also give my corn salad a bit more of a kick with some additional chopped jalapeños and sharp cheddar cheese. And then I topped the whole salad off with crushed tortilla chips (because tortilla chips and Heluva Good! Dip is one of the all-time best snacks).

My first favorite thing about this summer salad is that it can be ready in no time at all. Simply char the corn and add it to a bowl along with the black beans, chopped red onion, chopped jalapeño, shredded cheddar cheese, and cilantro. Then toss it all together with the Heluva Good! Dip!

My second favorite thing about this salad is how ridiculously creamy and satisfying it is. It's meant to be a side dish for a summer BBQ gathering, but since we're being super honest in this blog post, I'll also admit that I ate it for dinner one night.

Sometimes summer just calls for a big bowl of corn salad for dinner, enjoyed while sitting outside all by yourself. With a good book and just the sounds of the crickets. And your dog whining because she thinks she'd really, really love corn salad, too. In the name of honesty, I'll also tell you I sometimes sit outside with a bag of chips and a container of Heluva Good! Dip -- it’s so rich, creamy and packed with yummy spices, which makes it hard to stop eating right out of the tub!

Anyway, if you make this to bring to a BBQ, there's a strong chance it could be even more popular than the hotdogs and hamburgers. Maybe even the steak and chicken, if it's that kind of BBQ.

I'm a big fan of the jalapeño and cheddar combination, but you could make this salad with any of the Heluva Good! Dip flavors and a few simple swaps. Use White Cheddar & Bacon dip and add bacon and cheddar to the salad. Caramelize some onions for the perfect French Onion dip match. Dill Pickle dip? Well, that would make for an interesting corn salad... But I can tell you that the Dill Pickle dip is incredibly delicious with simple ridged potato chips.

Oh, and the tortilla chips that top the salad? They add the perfect crunch!

I'm sad summer is coming to an end, but there's still plenty of time to fit in another BBQ or two. Plus, you can generally still get deliciously fresh corn straight through September. And that means there's lots of opportunity for jalapeño cheddar corn dip in your future.

Whether you're eating it with friends at a BBQ or with your dog while sitting outside your house.

Which flavor of Heluva Good! Dip do you most want to try?

The dips are available in dairy cases throughout the Eastern, Southern and Midwest United States, and all of Canada, so be sure to look for them the next time you're at the grocery store. Click here to see where Heluva Good! Dips are available near you.

📖 Recipe