What to Make With Black Beans and Corn: 3 Fast Weeknight Dinners
Black beans and corn are a skillet, a salad you can eat for dinner, or a cheesy skillet taco filling. Frozen corn is fine. Canned corn is fine. The beans need cumin and salt or the plate tastes like two sides that never met. These three are all under 20 minutes. Got more in the fridge? Snap a photo and we'll pick dinner for you. Free.
Quick picks: 3 dinners with black beans and corn in 30 minutes or less
Fastest option: a 10-minute dinner
10 min
Black bean and corn salad
Total time, start to plate · One bowl · serves 4 · Kid-friendly
A cold dinner: beans, corn, lime, and salt. No cooking if the corn is already cooked.
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans
- 2 cups corn
- 1 lime
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup red onion
Steps
- Rinse the black beans. Use cooked or thawed corn.
- Stir with lime juice, salt, and a little onion if you want the bite.
- Let it sit 5 minutes so the salt dissolves into the beans.
- Eat it in a tortilla or from a bowl. If the corn was frozen raw, boil it 2 minutes first.
Keeps: Fridge for 2 days. It gets juicier.
One-pan or sheet-pan option
15 min
Black bean and corn skillet
Total time, start to plate · One skillet · serves 4 · Kid-friendly
Beans and corn warmed with cumin until the corn picks up a little color.
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans
- 2 cups corn
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 lime
Steps
- Drain and rinse the black beans. Pat the corn dry if it is canned.
- Char the corn in a hot oiled skillet for a few minutes.
- Add the beans, cumin, and salt. Warm through.
- Finish with lime. Taste. Cumin should be noticeable, not a dusting you can't find.
Keeps: Fridge for 3 days.
The other dinner
15 min
Bean and corn quesadillas
Total time, start to plate · One skillet · serves 4 · Kid-friendly
Mashed black beans and corn with cheese in a tortilla.
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 4 flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
Steps
- Mash the rinsed black beans with the salt. Stir in the corn.
- Spread the mash and cheese on half of each tortilla. Fold.
- Toast in a dry skillet until the tortilla is spotted and the cheese melts.
- Cut and eat. The beans should taste salted, not plain.
Keeps: Filling keeps 3 days. Toast tortillas when you eat.
Make it with leftovers
Both foods are usually coming from a can or a freezer bag, so leftovers means the cooked skillet. It reheats well. The salad is best the day you dress it. Don't boil canned beans. Warm them.
Pantry staples you'll need
- Salt
- Oil
- Cumin
- Lime
- Chili powder
- Cheese
- Tortillas
No corn: the black beans and rice page is the starch swap. No beans: corn and cheese is still a quesadilla, and tortillas and cheese covers that.
Picky-eater and healthy tweaks
Cheese quesadilla filling is the friendly version. The salad is the one with lime and onion, which you can skip. Serve beans and corn side by side if mixing is the problem.
Rinse the beans. A little cheese is plenty. This plate doesn't need sour cream to be dinner, and a lime does more than another shake of cheese.
Have something else in the fridge?
Got more in the fridge? Snap a photo and we'll pick dinner for you. Free.
Snap your fridgeRelated dinners
Questions
What can I make with black beans and corn in 20 minutes?
Black bean and corn salad takes 10 minutes, start to plate. A cold dinner: beans, corn, lime, and salt. No cooking if the corn is already cooked.
What's the easiest dinner with black beans and corn?
Black bean and corn skillet is the low-fuss one: one skillet, 15 minutes. Beans and corn warmed with cumin until the corn picks up a little color.
Can I make this with leftover or cooked black beans?
Both foods are usually coming from a can or a freezer bag, so leftovers means the cooked skillet. It reheats well. The salad is best the day you dress it. Don't boil canned beans. Warm them.
What else can I add to black beans and corn for a full meal?
The cards already use black beans, corn, cumin. A piece of fruit or a handful of frozen vegetables is enough if you want more on the plate. Don't make a second shopping trip.
Is black beans and corn a healthy dinner?
Rinse the beans. A little cheese is plenty. This plate doesn't need sour cream to be dinner, and a lime does more than another shake of cheese.
How do I make black beans and corn kid-friendly?
Cheese quesadilla filling is the friendly version. The salad is the one with lime and onion, which you can skip. Serve beans and corn side by side if mixing is the problem.
Can I make black beans and corn in one pan or a sheet pan?
Black bean and corn skillet uses one skillet and takes 15 minutes. Beans and corn warmed with cumin until the corn picks up a little color.
What if I don't have corn?
No corn: the black beans and rice page is the starch swap. No beans: corn and cheese is still a quesadilla, and tortillas and cheese covers that.