Say hello to my favorite appetizer of the summer! This black bean and corn dip is loaded with smoky roasted peppers, crumbled feta, hot jalapeños, and a citrusy vinaigrette for a fresh, crunchy, and flavorful app. And since it gets better over time, it’s the perfect make-ahead situation. All you need is this dip, cold beer, and a sunny patio, and you have summer in the bag!

A hand dipping a corn chip into a white bowl of black bean and corn dip with feta on a wood board of chips next to glasses of ranch water, a white bowl of limes, and a brown bowl of Tajin on an orange marble counter.

Last weekend was our first outdoor dinner party of the season!! And ok, it was a little rainy, but it was also a perfect 75°. So, we just sat under the covered patio, grilled burgers, and enjoyed the sound of rain on the garden. A truly dreamy spring day.

For our appetizer, I made this dip because just like these buttery corn ribs, this creamy boat dip, and my crispy bacon corn fritters, it just screams warm weather. And while I definitely don’t consider this a salsa (because it’s nowhere near a traditional Mexican salsa lol), it is inspired by the southwest ingredients I grew up on in Las Vegas.

This dip has a ton of flavor thanks to the citrusy vinaigrette. The trick is to really make sure the dressing is emulsified, which is a technique I learned in culinary school, so the oil doesn’t separate. You can do this with a whisk or a blender, whatever works for you! Both ways are super easy.

I like to make this dip for happy hour at home with some ranch water or even a spritz. But if you have leftovers, it’s also really good in a salad or spooned over grilled chicken. Also, feel free to add a little diced avocado to this dip, but only add a little at a time, because it doesn’t keep well in the fridge!

Make this recipe

A measuring cup of dressing on a tan counter.
Whisk the lime juice, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, garlic, & spices in a measuring cup.
A hand pouring a measuring cup of oil into a measuring cup of dressing.
While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the avocado oil into the dressing until it’s emulsified.
A white bowl of corn, beans, onions, peppers, jalapenos, and chives on a stone counter.
Then, add the beans, corn, onion, roasted red peppers, jalapeño, & chives to a big bowl.
A hand pouring a measuring cup of dressing into a white bowl of veggies, corn, and beans.
Add the citrus dressing to the bowl of dip ingredients.
A white bowl of corn and black bean dip on a stone table.
Toss, cover, and let the dip marinate for at least 1 hour.
A white bowl of black bean and corn dip on a wood board of chips next to a white bowl of limes and brown bowl of Tajin on an orange marble table.
Right before serving, add the feta. Enjoy with tortilla chips!

Feel free to swap the roasted red peppers with tomatoes and the chives with cilantro. This recipe is super adaptable, so you can kind of use whatever ingredients you have on hand!

Marinate for 1 hour

It’s key that you let the dip marinate for at least 1-2 hours! The longer the dip sits, the more flavorful it will be.

I like to make it the night before, which keeps things nice and easy. Just add the feta right before serving, because it tends to break down in the vinaigrette if it sits too long!

A white bowl of black bean and corn dip with feta on a wood board of corn chips next to glasses of ranch water, white napkins, and brown bowls of limes and Tajin on an orange stone table.

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Easy Black Bean and Corn Dip with Feta

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Marinating Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
This black bean and corn dip is one of my favorite summer apps! It has charred corn, creamy black beans, smoky roasted peppers, crumbled feta, and a citrusy vinaigrette. Not only is this dip make-ahead, but it gets better the longer it sits! Enjoy the dip with corn chips and a cold beer, it's amazing!

Ingredients

Citrus Vinaigrette

  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice (30 milliliters)
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh orange juice (30 milliliters)
  • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30 milliliters)
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic (2 medium cloves)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt more to taste, I use Morton
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil (60 milliliters)

Black Bean Corn Dip

  • 1 15-ounce can of black beans drained and rinsed (425 grams)
  • 1 1/2 cups charred corn (250 grams)
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion (60 grams)
  • 1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers from a jar (115 grams)
  • 1/4 cup finely diced jalapeños (40 grams)
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh chives (10 grams)
  • 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese (115 grams)
  • Corn chips for serving

Equipment

  • Large bowl

Instructions 

Citrus Vinaigrette

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  • While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the avocado oil until the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Set aside.

Black Bean & Corn Dip

  • In a big bowl, add the drained and rinsed black beans, charred corn, red onion, roasted red peppers, jalapeños, and chives. Toss with the dressing, cover, and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour but preferably overnight.
  • Right before serving, add the crumbled feta. Serve the dip at room temperature with corn chips. Enjoy!

Notes

You can use canned, frozen & thawed, or fresh charred corn. I’ve used all 3 and they all taste great! Just make sure to drain off any liquid so it doesn’t make the dip watery.
To mellow out the raw onion taste, soak the onions in cold water for about 10-15 minutes. Drain, shake out as much water as possible, and add them to the dip.
For a milder dip, remove the seeds from the jalapeños. If you like spice, keep the seeds in.
Don’t skip the marinating step! The dip gets better as it sits, so it needs at least 1-2 hours, but I like to make it the night before.
This recipe is not set in stone, so you can customize it depending on your tastes or the ingredients you already have on hand. Feel free to swap the roasted red peppers with tomatoes, the chives with cilantro, use pickled jalapeños, etc.
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 168kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 6.5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 7.5mg, Sodium: 559mg, Potassium: 265mg, Fiber: 4.5g, Sugar: 4.5g, Calcium: 70mg, Iron: 0.4mg
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