An easy to put together and easy to transport Corn and Black Bean Pasta Salad with a refreshing yogurt dressing with lime and cilantro is just what you need for summer!

Summer cooking to me is always about fast and easy prep work and cook times. Anything that goes on the grill is more than welcome because then it doesn’t really count as cooking. You are outside, talking, drinking, just enjoying soaking the summer sun, when your food is getting made in the grill.

Summer also means a lot of picnics – whether at playgrounds when we take the kiddo to play, or by the lake or beach for an evening of family time or to an outdoor movie where we pack a picnic dinner to eat outside and just hang out before the movie starts.

This Corn and Black Bean Pasta Salad satisfies all those conditions to make it the perfect summer meal. I can cook the pasta ahead and get all the veggies prepped ahead of time and in their little zipper baggies. Put all the ingredients for the dressing in a cute little mason jar and pack the pasta in a big enough container to make the salad and we are all set.

Whether we are grilling outside or going out for a picnic. I just have to get the corn grilled. Add it to the pasta and the other veggies. Shake the dressing and pour it in. Serve and dig in! Summer meals can’t get any easier than that!