Cowboy Caviar - A Beautiful Mess

Have you ever tried Cowboy Caviar? This fresh dip recipe is great with chips or as a topping for a taco salad. It reminds me of the flavors of a fresh Pico De Gallo with beans and veggies, like corn, peppers and avocado added. I made this recipe and my family ate it for several days with tortilla chips.

Related: Salsa, Avocado Salsa, Mango Salsa, 7 Layer Dip, Queso.

Ingredients

Tomatoes – You’ll need diced tomatoes. Choose roma tomatoes or whatever you have in season.
Avocado – Chopped fresh avocado.
Red Onion – Chopped red onion.
Canned Black Beans – You’ll need a 15-ounce can (rinsed and drained).
Black Eyed Peas – You’ll need a 15-ounce can (rinsed and drained).
Frozen Corn – Thawed. You may also use fresh corn.
Jalapeño – One diced jalapeño (remove all the seeds).
Bell Pepper – One diced bell pepper, we recommend orange or red to add color.
Cilantro – Fresh chopped cilantro.
Tortilla Chips – For serving.

Dressing Ingredients

Olive Oil – Or avocado oil.
Lime Juice – Fresh lime juice is a must.
Red Wine Vinegar
Salt
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper
Granulated Sugar (optional)

Instructions

Begin by prepping and chopping all the ingredients. Thaw the corn. Rinse and drain the beans.

In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, avocado, red onion, black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, peppers and cilantro. Gently mix then together until the ingredients are evenly mixed.

In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dressing ingredients and whisk them together (or shake in a sealed jar) until they are fully combined. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently once more.

Serve immediately with fresh tortilla chips.

Tips for Making

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days. I ate mine as a snack for several days and even with the avocado mixed in, it was still delicious (but definitely best served fresh!).
If you want to make this ahead for a party, I recommend not adding the fresh cut avocado until you are ready to serve.
Feel free to tweak the ingredients a little. If you don’t like cilantro, omit it. If you are a garlic lover, add more. I ended up adding a bit more salt to mine. This is the sort of recipe that’s easy to tweak!
Save dishes by serving this dip with chips—no utensils needed.
This is a great potluck dish and it makes a good appetizer or side dish for taco nights at home.
Want to add protein? Add some chopped chicken or shrimp to the mixture.
Variations: You can also use garbanzo beans, kidney beans, pinto beans and any fresh vegetables for this dip recipe.
Try spooning some Cowboy Caviar on a burrito or a quesadilla for a ton of added flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cowboy Caviar made of?

This dippable salad recipe is made with tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, cilantro, onions and avocado.

Is there another name for Cowboy Caviar?

Texas Caviar.

What does Cowboy Caviar taste like?

Imagine Black Bean Salad and Pico De Gallo had a baby. 🙂
Cowboy Caviar tastes like Pico De Gallo with beans and more vegetables (such as peppers and corn) added to it. It’s a hearty salad you can eat with tortilla chips.

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Learn to make Cowboy Caviar using tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, cilantro, onions and avocado. Serve with tortilla chips!

Yield 12 servings

Prep 20 minutes

Instructions

Begin by prepping and chopping all the ingredients. Thaw the corn. Rinse and drain the beans.
In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, avocado, red onion, black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, peppers and cilantro. Gently mix then together until the ingredients are evenly mixed.
In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dressing ingredients and whisk them together (or shake in a sealed jar) until they are fully combined. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently once more.
Serve immediately with fresh tortilla chips.

Notes

If you have leftovers, you can store them in a sealed container in the fridge for several days. I ate mine as a snack for several days and even with the avocado mixed in, it was still delicious (but definitely best served fresh!).
If you want to make this ahead for a party, I recommend not adding the fresh cut avocado until you are ready to serve.
Feel free to tweak the ingredients a little. If you don’t like cilantro, omit it. If you are a garlic lover, add more. I ended up adding a bit more salt to mine. This is the sort of recipe that’s easy to tweak!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Cowboy Caviar

Amount per Serving

% Daily Value*

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Cowboy Caviar – A Beautiful Mess