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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Cowboy Caviar

    Published: Apr 20, 2017 · Modified: Feb 5, 2023 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 78 Comments

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    Cowboy Caviar Recipe in a big white bowl
    Cowboy Caviar Dip Recipe

    This easy Cowboy Caviar dip is a colorful blend of fresh ingredients and mild spices with a touch of lime juice. It’s a wonderful appetizer to serve with your favorite tortilla chips and quick to make in less than 15 minutes.

    Love easy Mexican dip recipes? This Rotel Dip and this Layered Taco Dip are both absolute favorites too!

    Cowboy Caviar Recipe in a big white bowl

     

    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. Add a little diced jalapeno peppers for a spicy version.

    It 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.

    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.

    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.

    closeup of Cowboy Caviar recipe with corn black beans, tomatoes and cilantro in a white bowl

    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.

    closeup of Cowboy Caviar recipe with corn black beans, tomatoes and cilantro in a white bowl

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate it in the recipe card. We would love for you to join us and over 350,000 followers on Facebook and Pinterest. For more behind the scenes and everyday life, follow me on Instagram and TikTok too!

    cowboy caviar bean dip in a white bowl

    Cowboy Caviar

    Cowboy Caviar is a colorful blend of fresh ingredients, beans, and mild spices with a touch of lime juice. Serve with your favorite chips for a fabulous, healthy appetizer.
    5 from 252 votes
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    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 182kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • ⅓ cup white wine vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • Juice of ½ 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 tablespoon sugar optional (up to ¼ 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!!

    Notes

    If possible, make it 3-4 hours before serving to let the flavors blend together even more.
    Substitute fresh corn off the cob, or frozen corn instead of the canned corn.
    Substitute green onions for red onion if you prefer.
    Use red wine vinegar or apple cidar vinegar is that’s what you have on hand.
    Add up to ¼ cup of sugar if you prefer a sweeter variety. I wouls start with one Tablespoon and test your preference.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 182kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 915IU | Vitamin C: 23.7mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2.2mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

    Tried this recipe?We love seeing your pictures! Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tonya Staab

      April 20, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      That’s the perfect addition to food bowl night where we add a protein, rice, and then beans and other produce. Yum!

      Reply
    2. Melissa Taylor

      April 20, 2020 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      Delicious! I love that this is such a nutritious and savory combination of flavors.

      Reply
    3. Alison

      April 20, 2020 at 10:00 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious recipe! Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Bargen

      March 27, 2020 at 1:59 pm

      I love this mmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply
    5. Desiree Jenkins

      January 10, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      Always a hit at any party I bring this to!

      Reply
    6. Linda Reno

      January 01, 2020 at 11:44 pm

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
    7. Clair Ounsy

      August 27, 2018 at 7:54 am

      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!

      Reply
    8. Hannah

      August 12, 2018 at 3:44 pm

      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).

      Reply
      • Sherri

        August 12, 2018 at 4:28 pm

        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!!

        Reply
    9. Cheryl

      August 09, 2018 at 9:18 pm

      Looks Delicious! Will be making this soon.

      Reply
    10. Miz Helen

      July 17, 2018 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
    11. Analida's Ethnic Spoon

      May 01, 2017 at 12:01 am

      5 stars
      Saving this for later. Looks like the perfect burrito bowl or vegan taco filling. So fresh and healthy.

      Reply
    12. Gentle Joy Homemaker

      April 30, 2017 at 9:15 am

      Your Cowboy Caviar looks great… and very healthy too. 🙂

      Reply
    13. Amy

      April 28, 2017 at 1:03 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    14. Alison's Allspice

      April 26, 2017 at 2:08 pm

      This looks so good, I want to make it for a simple lunch! Yum!

      Reply
      • Sherri

        April 27, 2017 at 8:00 pm

        We literally could not stop once we started eating it! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Jamie

      April 24, 2017 at 10:51 am

      5 stars
      That looks amazing! My husband would love this, so I’m going to pin it to try later. 🙂 Thank you.

      Reply
    16. christina nifong

      April 21, 2017 at 5:49 am

      Yum! Really love me some Cowboy Caviar. This looks like a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Sherri

        April 21, 2017 at 8:42 am

        I am so in love now!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »
    5 from 252 votes (219 ratings without comment)

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