This grilled corn salad is packed with charred sweet corn, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, and fresh lime juice for the perfect summer BBQ side dish.

Summer here in Illinois practically screams sweet corn season. And while I’ll never turn down plain buttered corn on the cob, this grilled corn salad might honestly be one of my favorite ways to use fresh sweet corn during grilling season.

It’s smoky, colorful, fresh, and made for backyard cookouts.

Overhead view of grilled corn salad with avocado and tomatoes.

Whether you cook your corn on the grill, in the Instant Pot, or boil it on the stove, sweet corn has a way of showing up at just about every Midwest summer meal.

But grilling the corn gives it something extra.

Just a little char on those kernels adds smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with creamy avocado, ripe tomatoes, and fresh lime juice.

Why You'll Love This Grilled Corn Salad

Perfect for BBQs and cookouts
Smoky charred corn flavor
Easy to make ahead
Pairs well with grilled meats
Fresh, colorful, and summer-y
Great way to use sweet corn season produce

This recipe has a few similarities to my cowboy caviar recipe, but this version leans more into smoky grilled flavors and fresh summer produce.

Simple Ingredients You'll Need

Fresh sweet corn
Cherry tomatoes
Avocado
Red onion
Fresh parsley
Lime juice
Olive oil

Let's Make Grilled Corn Salad

While I love LOVE fresh sweet corn for this recipe, frozen corn can absolutely work in a pinch. No judgement here.

If using frozen corn, just thaw it first and cook it in a hot skillet or grill pan until it gets a little color.

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Grilled corn and onions on a platter alongside ingredients to make a corn salad.

Step 1: Grill the corn and onions. Cook the corn until lightly charred on all sides, rotating every few minutes. Flip the onion slices once during cooking.

We're not trying to cook the life out of the corn here. We just want a little smoky char and color.

Charred corn, sliced cherry tomatoes, grilled onions and fresh parsley in a bowl.

Step 2: Assemble the salad: Let the vegetables cool slightly. Cut the kernels off the corn cobs and chop the onion into bite-sized pieces.

Transfer everything to a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, parsley, lime juice, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss gently to combine.

Tossed grilled corn salad with, tomatoes, and lime dressing in a large bowl.

Step 3: Finish: Right before serving, fold in the avocado. The lime juice helps keep the avocado looking fresh a little longer, too.

Serving spoon scooping grilled corn salad with avocado and charred corn.

Make Ahead Tips

This grilled corn salad is a great make ahead side dish for summer parties and cookouts.

You can grill the corn and onions ahead of time and refrigerate them until ready to assemble. For best results, wait to add the avocado until just before serving.

If the salad sits for a bit, simply give it a quick toss before serving.

What to Serve with Grilled Corn Salad

This grilled corn salad pairs especially well with:

Grilled chicken thighs
Burgers
Pork chops
Beef kabobs
BBQ sandwiches
Steak fajitas

Looking for a fresher picnic-style version? Try my Summer Corn Salad with Tomatoes and Feta.

Tips and Variations

Serve at room temperature or chilled
Add cotija cheese or queso fresco for extra flavor
Swap parsley for cilantro
Add diced jalapeño for a little heat or diced bell pepper for a little crunch
Use a grill pan indoors if the weather doesn’t cooperate

Other Summer Side Dishes You'll Like

Recipe