Cowboy Caviar
Posted Jan 27, 2023, Updated Apr 26, 2024
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In this cowboy caviar recipe veggies, beans, herbs and spices are tossed in a delicious homemade dressing. Also known as Texas caviar, this recipe is light, flavorful, quick & easy appetizer or side dish!
This cowboy caviar (also known as Texas caviar) is a delicious and healthy appetizer to serve any time of the year.
Beans, veggies, herbs and spices are tossed in the most delicious homemade dressing for an irresistible dip perfect to feed a crowd!
It’s light and fresh and best served with your favorite tortilla chips! Plus, it’s gluten and dairy free, so it’s a great appetizer for guests with dietary restrictions. Also try black bean & corn salsa and pineapple salsa!
Cowboy Caviar Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Black Beans/Back Eyed Peas. You can choose 30 oz (about 3 cups) of your favorite beans including chickpeas, kidney beans, northern beans, etc.
- Cherry tomatoes. You can use full-sized tomatoes such as heirloom, Roma, etc. but dice them into small pieces.
- Red onion. Green onion, yellow onion, or white onion are great substitutes.
- Sweet corn. fresh corn cooked and cut off the cob, or thawed frozen corn both work well in this recipe
- Olive oil. avocado oil is a good substitute.
- Lime juice. Fresh or bottled are both great choices.
- White wine vinegar. You can substitute any vinegar you’d like here – my recommendations are red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey. you can use sugar or maple syrup in place of honey.
- Mustard. use your favorite variety – we prefer Dijon.
- Optional: for heat you can add jalapeño, chili powder or cayenne pepper. We prefer the mild version
How to Make Cowboy Caviar
Let’s walk through how to make Texas caviar step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Make the Dressing
Begin by making the dressing by whisking together all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl, then, set the dressing aside.
Assemble
Next, in a large bowl, combine all the cowboy caviar ingredients (including spices), except for the avocado.
Then, pour the dressing over the mixture. Stir until all the mixture in homogeneous- uniform throughout.
Once the cowboy caviar is well-mixed, taste and adjust spices (especially salt and pepper) to your liking.
Then, cover the bowl and chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to serve, stir in the diced avocado, then transfer the cowboy caviar to a serving dish.
Once it’s situated in the serving bowl, garnish the Texas caviar with cilantro and enjoy with chips.
Serve
Serve this cowboy caviar recipe chilled as an appetizer or side to your favorite dishes, here are some suggestions:
- Serve it on game day alongside your favorite appetizer recipes, such as warm sausage cream cheese dip, black bean dip, and pretzel dogs.
- It’s a great appetizer or side dish to serve with your favorite Mexican recipes on taco night, like ground beef tacos and homemade guacamole.
- Use it as a garnish for baked chicken breasts.
How to Store Texas Caviar
Store leftover cowboy caviar in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
I don’t recommend freezing this recipe.
Cowboy Caviar Recipe FAQs
Yes, they are two different names referring to the same recipe!
It lasts for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
To add heat you can include jalapeño, chili powder or cayenne pepper. We prefer the mild version
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Cowboy Caviar Recipe (Texas Caviar)
Ingredients
- 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed
- 15 oz black eyed peas drained and rinsed
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cups sweet corn
- 1 red bell pepper finely diced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 avocados diced
Dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon mustard
Instructions
Make the dressing
- Whisk together dressing ingredients in a small bowl, set aside.
Assemble the Cowboy Caviar
- In a large bowl, combine all the cowboy caviar ingredients (including spices), except for the avocado.
- Pour the dressing over the mixture and stir until evenly distributed.
- Once the cowboy caviar is well-mixed, taste and adjust spices (especially salt and pepper) to your liking.
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- When you’re ready to serve, stir in the diced avocado, then transfer the cowboy caviar to a serving dish. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy with chips!
Video
Notes
- Black Beans/Back Eyed Peas. You can choose 30 oz (about 3 cups) of your favorite beans including chickpeas, kidney beans, northern beans, etc.
- Cherry tomatoes. Full-sized tomatoes such as heirloom, Roma, etc. can be used – just dice them into small pieces.
- Red onion. Green onion, yellow onion, or white onion are great substitutes.
- Sweet corn. Use fresh corn cooked and cut off the cob, or frozen corn that has been thawed.
- Olive oil. avocado oil is a good substitute.
- Lime juice. Fresh or bottled are both great choices.
- White wine vinegar. You can substitute any vinegar you’d like here – my recommendations are red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey. sugar or maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
- Mustard. use your favorite variety – we prefer Dijon.
- Optional: for heat you can add jalapeño, chili powder or cayenne pepper. We prefer the mild version.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We have neighbors coming over tonight for a cook out so I thought I would make this…oh my gosh I am so sorry they won’t be able to try it, since apparently I am eating it all by myself instead right now.