Grilled Corn Salad

Bring all the best flavors of summer to life in this grilled corn salad recipe. It’s made with fresh ingredients and delicious as a side dish, topping, or dip!

Update: This recipe was originally published in 2021 and has been republished with all new photos.

I’m keeping the theme of “hey it’s summer so I’m very into summery food right now” going with this delicious Grilled Corn Salad.

Y’all. Y’all.

This beauty is simply flavored and loaded with fresh produce. The sweetness of the corn pairs beautifully with the creamy saltiness of feta, juicy tomatoes, and fresh basil. It’s all tossed in just the right amount of olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. I think you’ll quickly see why this summer corn salad is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the warm weather.

This is a perfect side dish, a topping for grilled chicken or fish, OR serve it as a dip for chips! It’s so versatile and yummy!

Grilled Corn Salad Ingredients

• Corn: Grill ears of corn to really bring out their flavor. You can use an outdoor grill or a grill pan if you prefer to do this indoors. Then slice the kernels off the corn cob.
• Grape tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work beautifully in this corn salad. We’ll slice them into thirds or fourths so they’re not too large.
• Red onion: I recommend red onion instead of white or yellow because it has a slightly sweeter flavor. The raw onion adds a bit of bite that balances out well with the other ingredients.
• Fresh basil: You can use other fresh herbs if you prefer (fresh cilantro would be yummy too) but I think basil adds the best flavor.
• Feta: Crumbled feta cheese adds a salty creaminess to this dish. It’s one of my favorite cheeses. Cotija cheese is a good swap if you’d like to use another cheese.
• Olive oil: We’re creating a quick vinaigrette with extra virgin olive oil.
• White wine vinegar: A little bit of vinegar is a must in our vinaigrette.
• Salt and pepper: Salt and black pepper are the only seasonings you need.

How to Make Grilled Corn Salad

The first step is to grill your corn. You should see grill marks when the corn is ready. Then carefully slice the corn kernels off the cob.

In a large mixing bowl, stir in tomatoes, red onion, basil, and feta. Drizzle with olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve!

Can You Grill Frozen Corn?

You can! I grill frozen corn all the time simply because it’s so easy to keep frozen corn on hand!

The finished texture will be a little chewier if you start with frozen, but it still tastes delicious and works well! So feel free to use fresh or frozen. Whichever you have will be great.

Can You Skip the Grilling and Use Canned Corn?

Yes, you can definitely use canned corn (drained); however, grilling brings out so much flavor and natural sweetness. I’d personally spend the extra few minutes to grill fresh or frozen corn. It’s worth it!

Can You Make Grilled Corn Salad Ahead of Time?

Absolutely. I love this delicious recipe cold or at room temperature so make it the day before if you like! Refrigerate in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve.

How to Customize Grilled Corn Salad

• Swap the basil for cilantro and add a squeeze of fresh lime juice and diced jalapeno or poblano pepper for a Mexican-inspired variation. Cotija cheese would be a great swap for feta too!
• Try adding diced cucumber if you want an even fresher, brighter flavor.

How to Serve Grilled Corn Salad

I have THREE ways you can enjoy this beautiful dish:

1. It’s a side! Pair this with something grilled (like my Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken or Lemon Herb Grilled Chicken) and a simple salad.
2. It’s a dip! Enjoy in a serving bowl with tortilla chips on a game day, at a cookout, or at a dinner party. I’m warning you that it will go quickly so you might want a double batch!
3. It’s a topping! Add this to a main dish like grilled chicken, sautéed chicken, store-bought rotisserie chicken, or flakey white fish to really make it wow!

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