This cowboy caviar is a colorful and hearty dip that’s loaded with beans, avocado and veggies, all tossed in a zesty homemade sauce. It’s the perfect make-ahead dish for a potluck!
Cowboy caviar is a fresh and flavorful dip that is great with tortilla chips. If you have a big crowd to feed, other appetizers that you can serve are garlic knots or beer brat bites.
I love a hearty dip, and this colorful cowboy caviar never disappoints. It’s loaded with different types of beans and veggies in the most delicious dressing. I make this cowboy caviar as an appetizer, side dish, and it’s perfect to bring to a potluck or picnic.
How Do You Make Cowboy Caviar?
This recipe is as simple as tossing together corn, beans, black eyed peas, tomatoes, peppers, onion and avocado in a simple dressing. For convenience sake, I use canned black beans and black eyed peas, but you can also use frozen black eyed peas if needed.
Tips for cowboy caviar
- Cowboy caviar can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it. If you’re making this dish in advance, omit the avocado, and stir it in right before serving.
- You can substitute other types of beans instead of black beans, I’ve used pinto beans before and it’s delicious.
- Not a fan of cilantro? Use sliced green onions instead.
- I typically use frozen thawed corn kernels, but you could use canned corn or even fresh corn off the cob.
- Serve your cowboy caviar either as a dip with tortilla chips, or as a salad over lettuce leaves.
Cowboy Caviar Variations
While I typically serve my cowboy caviar as a dip, sometimes I like to add more ingredients to turn it into more of a meal. There are so many different ways to customize cowboy caviar!
- Protein: Stir in 1 1/2 cups of diced cooked chicken or small shrimp, then serve as salad.
- Bacon: Stir in 1/3 cup cooked crumbled bacon right before serving.
- Spicy: Leave some of the seeds and ribs in the jalapeno, and add a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
- Cheese: Add 1/3 cup of crumbled feta or cotija cheese.
Can I freeze cowboy caviar?
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this dip. While the beans will hold up just fine in the freezer, the tomatoes and avocado will not fare as well. I’d recommend simply making your dip 1-2 days before your event to save on some prep time, then store it tightly covered in the refrigerator.
Once you try this recipe, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis. It’s great for entertaining, but also perfect for a lighter lunch option.
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Cowboy Caviar Video
Cowboy Caviar
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 can black eyed peas rinsed and drained
- 1 cup tomatoes seeded and finely diced
- 1 jalapeno seeded and finely diced
- 1 cup corn can be fresh, canned or thawed from frozen
- 1 avocado chopped
- 3/4 cup red and/or orange bell pepper seeded and finely diced
- 1/2 cup red onion finely diced
- 1/3 cup cilantro leaves chopped
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the beans, black eyed peas, tomatoes, jalapeno, corn, avocado, bell pepper, onion and cilantro in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, honey, chili powder, cumin and salt and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the bean mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve as a salad or with chips.
Notes
Nutrition
This post is sponsored by SignUp.com. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Dinner at the Zoo possible! This post was originally published on July 26, 2017 and was updated on March 7, 2019 with new content.
Cheri says
Would this dip be considered gluten free?
Sara says
Yes it is!
emman damian says
The Cowboy Caviar looks like a salsa for me. It looks and sounds so delicious! Hope I can try it this Sunday.
Connie says
WOW! You weren’t kidding when you said colorful! I love all of these flavors together. It looks amazing and healthy!
Cornelia Martin says
Amazing,
Took it to a birthday party. Lots of compliments. Will make this again for sure.
Heather says
This looks so delicious. I’m going to make this over the weekend!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This will be a sure hit at my house!!
Porsha Carr says
So many yummy colors! This looks so delicious I’d love to test it out 🙂
Stephen says
I love this !! It combines all my favorite foods together! I can’t wait to try it. Do you think it would be good over rice?
Sara says
Yes it would be great over rice!
artchee says
The colors in this dish are very appetizing and pleasing.
Subhashish Roy says
Lovely healthy recipe.I would like to make this & have it as an evening snack with my drinks.Thanks I love all your recipes.
Brianne Tursi Manz says
I’ve seen something similar before, called Tex-Mex caviar. It didn’t have corn it it. This looks equally as good and is very simple to make.
Colleen says
I love cowboy caviar. Since we moved to the southwest, it’s become one of my favorite things to make for the family.
Stacie says
Cowboy caviar is one of my favorite dishes to serve at game day parties. It has that great “game day” feel to it, but it’s a lot healthier than most eats you see at those parties.
Theresa says
I like how nutritional this recipe is! So many healthy and tasty ingredients in one bowl? Sign me up!
Debbie says
Recipe looks so yummy and I’m really interested in the sign up.com !
Ginette Périard says
Can I freeze the Cowboy Caviar? We are a retired couple and I’m the only one that eats beans 🙁
Sara says
This is not a good candidate for the freezer, I would just cut the recipe in 1/2 or 1/4. You can freeze any leftover beans if you choose to make a smaller portion!
Phyllis Phillips says
We have made the. Cowboy Cavier several times. My husband does not like Pveggies but likes this. thanks
Lynn says
We love this and have made it many times. I recently elevated it to a main dish salad by adding shredded chicken and bow tie pasta!
Sara says
So glad to hear you love it, thanks for reporting back!
Bea says
What an amazing collection of colors, textures and flavors! Can’t wait to make it!
Sam says
I think the sign up maybe good for the Boy Scout group I lead. My wife is liking the dip!
Debbie says
Great recipe! I’m going to give sign up a go too! We