Easy Corn Salad Recipe (Perfect Cookout Side Dish)
This easy corn salad has tomatoes, feta, and basil for the perfect make-ahead party dish for a summer cookout or potluck BBQ. Use fresh, canned, or frozen corn to make this recipe year round.

This dish is highlighted by the process of caramelizing the corn which gives a light crust to the kernels and brings out the natural sweetness. The balance of flavors and texture makes this a must-add to your list of summer side dish recipes.
- It’s full of fresh ingredients that add crunchy, acidity, salty, and sweet.
- There’s no mayo.
- It’s quick and easy to make ahead, and goes with everything!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Corn. The beauty of this recipe is that you can use fresh, frozen, or canned corn. I use yellow corn but you can substitute with white or shoepeg corn which is smaller and sweeter. If you use canned corn, I recommend Green Giant Niblets – they’re crisp and packed in less liquid.
- Cherry tomatoes. Cut them in halves or quarters for the perfect bite size ingredient.
- Cucumber. Use seedless and peel it first, or cut it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Then slice it so you get half moon shapes.
- Red onion. Use pickled onions in the salad to take the bite out of raw onion. Make them several days ahead if you want to save time when making the dish.
- Fresh basil. This adds so much flavor to the salad. You can make a variation with chopped cilantro too.
- Feta cheese. This gives a nice salty bite to the salad but you can swap it out with one of these options:
- Crumbled goat cheese.
- Small balls of bocconcini is a nice compliment to the basil and tomatoes.
- Try freshly shredded Parmesan to add a mild salty-nutty flavor.
- Small cubes of sharp cheddar.
- And if you are looking for a dairy-free version, just omit the cheese completely!
Toss in some diced avocados too, if you like.
Dressing
The citrus dressing has just a hint of heat!
- Extra virgin olive oil. I always use a good quality olive oil for vinaigrettes, dipping, or drizzles. Use this basil-infused olive oil to add even more fresh herb taste. It gives it a tremendous pop of flavor!
- Lime juice. Use the fresh squeezed juice of 1 lime.
- Tabasco sauce. Tabasco brand hot sauce has a sweetness to it which adds balance. Don’t worry, the dressing won’t be “spicy.” It just adds a bit of zing.
Helpful Tips
- If you’re making this last minute and don’t have time to caramelize the corn, you can use canned corn (drained) without caramelizing it.
- Let it chill for at least 2 hours so flavors can combine.
- Wait to add the feta and chopped basil just before serving.

This easy corn salad recipe travels well so you can serve it for a potluck party or tailgate party. It pairs well with plank grilled salmon, or grilled meats like juicy burgers, jerk seasoned chicken skewers and beef kabobs, or roasted hot dogs.
I think it’s worth the purchase of basil olive oil too, because you can use it later for pasta, for other side salads, or to dip bread into.
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Easy Corn Salad recipe
This summer corn salad is bursting with flavor! The sweetness from the corn combines with salty feta cheese, fresh basil, and crunchy cucumbers. This is a side dish all your guests will love.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup finely chopped cucumber
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- ¼ – ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
Dressing:
- 4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon hot sauce (Tabasco)
Instructions
- Prepare dressing by combining the olive oil with lime juice, salt, and hot sauce. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, add 1 teaspoon oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add corn and cook until the corn begins to caramelize, stirring often.
- Transfer to a salad bowl and let cool.
- Add tomatoes, cucumber, and onion to the corn.
- Drizzle dressing over salad ingredients and toss to coat.
- Cover and chill for about 2 hours so flavors can combine.
- Top with feta and chopped basil when ready to serve.
Notes
Try this recipe using basil infused olive oil for a fantastic burst of flavor.
It looks so good!
it is Julie, and I’m making it again this week! 🙂
Savannah, I’ve updated and linked it in the post. It’s so good.
If you want to make your own, you can do a Google search for directions. 🙂
Yummy! Fabulous salad! What is this basil-infused olive oil? How is it made? Can i make it at home?