Cowboy Caviar is a colorful blend of fresh ingredients and mild spices with a touch of lime juice. Serve the healthy dip with your favorite chips for an appetizer that is ready in less than 15 minutes.
Have you ever heard of cowboy caviar? I was definitely late to the game being introduced to this yummy dip! It’s an easy appetizer to make for any occasion and can also be eaten as a salad or even as a fabulous Tex-Mex topping to fish, chicken and even Rice Bowls or this easy Salsa Verde Chicken.
I was first introduced to cowboy caviar at dinner with my mother-in-law a few years ago. Some people refer to it as Texas Caviar or Mexican Caviar. It’s a very popular, simple dip that is to made up of fresh ingredients – black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado and more! Some versions are made with added sugar for a sweeter taste.
How to Make this Easy Cowboy Caviar Dip
Cowboy Caviar is one of the easiest appetizer recipes to make. It’s perfect for larger gatherings by simply doubling the recipe.
In a large bowl, blend the olive oil, white wine vinegar, chili powder, cumin, lime juice, and salt together.
Add the tomatoes, black-eyed peas, beans, corn, red onion, bell peppers, and cilantro.
Cover and chill for at least an hour for flavors to blend.
Since it is made with beans and vegetables, Cowboy Caviar is gluten-free. Be sure to choose a gluten-free chip, like tortillas chips to dip with. It is also vegan!
Variations
You can always change up the extra ingredients in Cowboy Caviar if you prefer.
Try adding minced garlic, green bell peppers instead of red, feta cheese and/or black olives too.
You can also substitute green onions for the red onions. If you would like to make it without cilantro, feel free to do that as well if you prefer.
Tips
Mix up the Cowboy Caviar ahead of time (at least 3-4 hours) to allow the flavors to blend well together.
Serve with your favorite chips and be ready to hand out the recipe when you make it for a crowd.
You can store Cowboy Caviar in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
Don’t forget to check out our Cowboy Caviar web story!
More delicious appetizer recipes to try:
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Cowboy Caviar
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Juice of 1/2 a lime
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound Roma tomatoes seeded and diced
- 15 ounces 15 ounce can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 15 ounces 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 11 ounces 11 ounce can super sweet corn, drained
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 cup red bell pepper diced
- 1 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 tbsp sugar optional (up to 1/4 cup if preferred)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, blend the olive oil, white wine vinegar, chili powder, cumin, lime juice and salt together.
- Add the tomatoes, black-eyed peas, beans, corn, red onion, bell peppers and cilantro.
- Cover and chill for at least 1 hour for flavors to blend.
- Serve with your favorite chips, as a side dish or as a topping for fish or chicken
- ENJOY!!
Marcia Brainard
It’s a great idea…and it tastes delish!!!
Barbara Davenport
Love love love this recipe!!
Fanny Escudero
Can I make this recipe ahead of time? I will put it together the day of but won’t add dressing ahead of time.
JoAnn
Deeeliciousss! I made this with the original recipe and then made it a second time with a couple of things added. Half a diced habanero pepper and a diced mango for a little added heat and sweet. Both ways were excellent
Alecia
What does adding the tablespoon of sugar do to the recipe?
Sherri
It just gives it a tad of sweetness if you prefer. I like it without but that is personal preference. I like tasting of the vinegar flavor. 🙂
Enjoy!
Andrea
Hi. I was wondering what your thoughts were on adding a pasta (like rigatoni) to make this more of a side dish.
Fanny Escudero
Can I make this recipe ahead of time? I will put it together the day of but won’t add dressing ahead of time.
Sherri
Absolutely!! That’s exactly what I have done. 🙂
Fanny Escudero
Sherri thank you very much . I will make this recipe. I was afraid to make it that much in advance but now I now I can get started ahead of time. I tried this recipe before and my family loved it. Thank you for your help.
Tonya Staab
That’s the perfect addition to food bowl night where we add a protein, rice, and then beans and other produce. Yum!
Melissa Taylor
Delicious! I love that this is such a nutritious and savory combination of flavors.
Alison
Such a delicious recipe! Thank you so much for sharing!
Bargen
I love this mmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Desiree Jenkins
Always a hit at any party I bring this to!
Linda Reno
I’ve eaten this before and it is delicious! I could eat it every day. We had this to snack on Christmas Eve and everyone loved it. Yummy
Clair Ounsy
Wonderful site you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a part of community where I can get comments from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thank you!
Hannah
I keep scrolling through to find the notes on the corn. Am I missing something? In the ingredient list nest to the corner it says (see notes).
Sherri
You are not. I’m so sorry. That was an old note that didn’t transfer over. It was to just say you could use frozen corn (thawed) or fresh off the cob cooked corn too. 🙂 Enjoy!!
Cheryl
Looks Delicious! Will be making this soon.
Miz Helen
We love Cowboy Caviar, this looks so good! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Analida's Ethnic Spoon
Saving this for later. Looks like the perfect burrito bowl or vegan taco filling. So fresh and healthy.
Gentle Joy Homemaker
Your Cowboy Caviar looks great… and very healthy too. 🙂
Amy
This Cowboy Caviar has so many delicious ingredients that it would be impossible for it to be anything but wonderful. Thank you for sharing at Sugar and Spice link party. I’ve shared and pinned this recipe!
Alison's Allspice
This looks so good, I want to make it for a simple lunch! Yum!
Sherri
We literally could not stop once we started eating it! 🙂
Jamie
That looks amazing! My husband would love this, so I’m going to pin it to try later. 🙂 Thank you.
christina nifong
Yum! Really love me some Cowboy Caviar. This looks like a great recipe.
Sherri
I am so in love now!