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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 · 75 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 300,000 followers on Facebook as well as on Pinterest and Instagram 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 250 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. Rebecca

      September 08, 2023 at 12:33 pm

      5 stars
      This is the best cowboy caviar recipe I have tried! The flavors are perfect! I skipped the tomatoes and just used a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies. Highly recommend!

      Reply
    2. Z Girl

      August 30, 2023 at 7:54 am

      Do you need to cook the canned beans or just rinse?

      Reply
      • Sherri

        September 01, 2023 at 8:51 am

        Just rinse and enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Eva

      August 12, 2023 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent! I used fresh corn and blanched it for a few minutes. Will make again!

      Reply
    4. Marsha

      June 28, 2023 at 5:44 pm

      Didn’t like the sugar in it. Otherwise it was good. Hubby loved it!

      Reply
    5. L.Hoog

      June 23, 2023 at 5:49 pm

      It is pretty hard to use when your recipe via e-mail is nothing more than a loop that keeps repeating to this page with NO recipe. I will look elsewhere.

      Reply
    6. Jillian

      June 14, 2023 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      This was delicious. My whole family went nuts for it. I loved it so much I made it twice in two weeks.

      Reply
    7. Emily Torvik

      April 28, 2023 at 12:12 pm

      Can this be made the night before a potluck?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • jeanne cullen

        June 06, 2023 at 11:00 am

        5 stars
        yes

        Reply
    8. Debbie

      October 29, 2022 at 5:59 pm

      I saw where someone asked if this can be canned. I did not see an answer to that question. There are just two of us in the house, an it would be great to have it ready made on a shelf.

      Reply
      • Sherri

        October 30, 2022 at 8:40 am

        Because it contains corn and beans, it’s not safe to can in a water bath canner. I did read that it’s potentially possible with a pressure canner at least 60 minutes. But because it contains oil, I don’t think that is recommended either. I would ultimately choose not to…. to be safe. You can freeze it though in small portioned containers! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Rhonda

      September 03, 2022 at 8:54 am

      How many people would you say this recipe feeds, as a side dish with chips for a football party? I’m trying to decide if I need to double it. My mother in law used to make this and I didn’t get her recipe before she passed away.

      Reply
      • Sherri

        September 06, 2022 at 9:54 am

        It makes a large batch. I have it as 12 servings but it depends on how many scoops each person has which is harder to know. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Dudoanxsmb

      June 14, 2022 at 12:16 am

      Wow! It looks delicious and beautiful. Hopefully I’ll be able to enjoy it one day soon.
      Dự đoán XSMB

      Reply
    11. Julie H

      June 02, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      What size is each serving? Making for a graduation party and am trying to figure out how many batches to make.

      Reply
    12. G D Clark

      April 19, 2022 at 11:38 pm

      Can I had and water bath can this like I do my Cowboy Candy recipe for long term shelf storage???

      Reply
      • Sheena

        May 30, 2022 at 12:50 pm

        What are you asking, very hard to understand your question?

        Reply
        • Cam

          June 13, 2022 at 5:55 pm

          G D Clark is asking if he could “can” in hot water to preserve the food for a longer timeframe

    13. Marcia Brainard

      November 06, 2021 at 2:48 pm

      It’s a great idea…and it tastes delish!!!

      Reply
    14. Barbara Davenport

      July 25, 2021 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      Love love love this recipe!!

      Reply
      • Fanny Escudero

        September 29, 2021 at 3:57 pm

        Can I make this recipe ahead of time? I will put it together the day of but won’t add dressing ahead of time.

        Reply
    15. JoAnn

      July 09, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
      • Alecia

        November 05, 2021 at 10:54 pm

        What does adding the tablespoon of sugar do to the recipe?

        Reply
        • Sherri

          November 06, 2021 at 8:13 am

          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!

    16. Andrea

      June 20, 2021 at 5:54 pm

      Hi. I was wondering what your thoughts were on adding a pasta (like rigatoni) to make this more of a side dish.

      Reply
      • Fanny Escudero

        September 29, 2021 at 3:59 pm

        Can I make this recipe ahead of time? I will put it together the day of but won’t add dressing ahead of time.

        Reply
        • Sherri

          September 29, 2021 at 4:01 pm

          Absolutely!! That’s exactly what I have done. 🙂

        • Fanny Escudero

          September 29, 2021 at 4:50 pm

          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.

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