Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar is an easy, fresh and flavorful dip made with black-eyed peas, tomatoes and veggies all tossed with creamy avocado in your favorite salsa. Endlessly adaptable, it’s the perfect tasty, light, make-ahead dip for any party or gathering!
Cowboy Caviar is also known as Texas Caviar or simply black-eyed pea salad and can be a dip, salad topping, relish, side dish, you name it! It’s zesty and colorful with a kick of spice. It’s a must at any Texas barbecue and is sure to become a favorite. Every time I whip up this Cowboy Caviar recipe, my family just can’t seem to get enough!
It’s so easy to make, too! It’s packed with fresh veggies and canned beans or black-eyed peas, which makes this so quick & easy to mix up in only a few minutes. The flavors blend together perfectly, and once you add in the crunch of tortilla chips, you won’t be able to stop!
Made this for the holidays and we LOVED it! So delicious!
— Beth
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick & easy to make: This appetizer recipe comes together in just about 15 minutes! Other than some veggie chopping, it’s so simple to mix together.
- Healthy: Made with fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients, this cowboy caviar salad is naturally gluten free, vegan, dairy free and great if you’re looking for a well-rounded dish filled with fresh produce!
- Perfect for crowds: This dip is always a crowd favorite! It’s perfect for game day, BBQs, potlucks, parties or any gathering.
Ingredients needed
The ingredients for this cowboy caviar recipe are simple and fresh! Each ingredient adds texture and flavor, and they all come together beautifully. Here’s everything you’ll need to make it:
- Black-eyed peas: The base of the recipe is rinsed and drained black-eyed peas. You can use black beans instead, if preferred.
- Corn: Use canned corn, or it can be fresh corn kernels from the cob. If you use canned corn, make sure that you drain and rinse the corn before adding it to the dip.
- Red bell pepper: Finely diced sweet peppers give the dip a great crunch in each bite!
- Roma tomatoes: The fresh tomatoes add a pop of color as well as flavor. You can use cherry tomatoes, if you’d like.
- Red Onion: Diced red onion brings a sweet and slightly pungent flavor to the dip.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives this dish the perfect savory flavor.
- Cilantro: Chopped cilantro adds a fresh and citrusy flavor, bringing brightness to the dish. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, feel free to omit it or swap it out for another herb like parsley or oregano.
- Jalapeño: For just enough heat.
- Salsa: Use your favorite store-bought salsa, or better yet, try our homemade salsa!
- Salt and pepper: To enhance and bring all of the flavors together.
- Avocado: Slice and dice the avocados into small cubes. Fold it in just before serving, so that it doesn’t brown.
How to make this recipe
This appetizer is one of our favs, and it comes together quickly and easily. Prepare and chop up most of the ingredients, then place everything in a bowl together to be tossed. Here’s the simple process:
- Prep: Drain, chop, mince, seed all ingredients.
- Mix: Combine all veggies in a large bowl.
- Add salsa and avocado: Gently toss with the salsa. Then, gently fold in avocado, if using.
- Enjoy: Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or as a topping or side salad. Add a squeeze of lime, if you’d like for a pop of citrus.
Expert tips
Here are some tips, so your dip is perfect every time you make it:
- Another type of bean: If you’re not a fan of black-eyed peas, try using any other type of beans. Black beans and pinto beans work great.
- Use other herbs: I know there are a lot of cilantro haters out there! If you think cilantro tastes like soap, leave it out or use minced chives or parsley instead.
- Serving: Cowboy caviar can be served so many ways! We love it as a dip with tortilla chips. It’s also great as a salad topping or side dish.
- Chopping the veggies: We recommend chopping the ingredients into very small pieces for the best texture.
Frequently asked questions
According to Wikipedia, the dish was created in the 1940s by Helen Corbitt, a director of food service for the Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas. She first served the dish on New Year’s Eve with black-eyed peas for good luck, at the Houston Country Club. When she later served it at the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, it was given its name, “Texas caviar,” as a humorous comparison to true caviar. It is now known as cowboy caviar or Texas caviar.
Cowboy caviar is typically served as a salsa with tortilla chips, but it can also be served as a side dish or small salad to accompany your main entree. Some other ways we like to enjoy it is stuffed in a burrito with the other filling ingredients, layered in a quesadilla or on tacos.
Cowboy caviar is low in calories and filled with nutrition! There are just over 100 calories in a half cup serving.
Variations
Cowboy caviar is one of those recipes that has an endless amount of variations. There are so many tasty ways to customize it with your favorite flavors and with what ingredients you have available. Here are some options:
- Protein: Give it a boost of protein by adding about a cup of diced cooked chicken or small shrimp.
- Bacon: Bacon makes everything better! Try stirring in about 1/3 cup cooked crumbled bacon right before serving.
- Heat level: You can alter the spiciness of this dip by the amount of seeds you leave in the jalapeño and with what salsa you choose to use. If you’re sensitive to spice, be sure to use a mild salsa.
- Cheese: Try adding 1/3 cup of crumbled feta cheese or cotija cheese for a different taste.
- Spices: If you’d like to add extra seasoning, cumin and/or chili powder would add a hint of spice but not too much heat.
- Light Italian dressing: Many recipes for cowboy caviar use Italian dressing instead of salsa. You can definitely toss the salad in about 1/2 cup to 1 cup Italian dressing instead of the salsa, if you’d like. We like to use either homemade Italian dressing or Newman’s Own or Olive Garden brand light Italian dressing.
Storage recommendations
Leftover fresh cowboy caviar stores well! Avocado is the only ingredient that tends to discolor. Here’s our suggestions for storing:
- Make ahead: Mix together all the ingredients except for the avocado. Leave that out until you are ready to serve the appetizer. This will last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. If you have leftovers after adding the avocado, stir in a little lime juice.
- Storing: If you are worried about storing for a long period of time, prepare each ingredient and store in separate containers in the fridge. When ready to serve, place everything into a mixing bowl and gently stir it together, mixing and blending it well.
- Leftovers: If you want to use the leftover cowboy caviar for something other than a dip, add it to an omelet, top any meat like blackened salmon or grilled chicken, or toss it in a green salad for added flavoring.
We love a hearty dip, and this colorful cowboy caviar never disappoints. I make this cowboy caviar as an appetizer, side dish, and it’s perfect to bring to a potluck or party. Once you try this recipe, you’ll find yourself wanting to make it again and again!
Other dip recipes to try
I’d love to know if you make this (or any) recipe! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Tag @kimscravings on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Cowboy Caviar
Ingredients
- 1 (14 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained (sub with black beans, if preferred)
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweet corn, drained
- 1 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, seeded & chopped
- 1 cup finely chopped red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1-2 fresh jalapeños, seeded or not (I used 1 seeded jalapeño)
- 1 cup salsa , use any favorite brand
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste, as needed
- 1 medium to large ripe avocado, pitted and diced (optional)
- tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- Drain, chop, mince, seed all ingredients.
- Combine all veggies in a large bowl.
- Gently toss with the salsa. Then, gently fold in avocado, if using.
- Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or as a topping or side salad.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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Why does the picture appear to have to have hominy in it, but the recipe calls for corn.
Are you referring to a picture from Pinterest? The new photos on the recipe page have corn. Feel free to use either corn or hominy.
I use 1 can of black beans along with the black eyed peas. I also add avocado with a squeeze of lime….with the Italian dressing. Everyone loves it.
So happy to hear! Thank you for the feedback!
This version was beyond delicious! Loved the addition of salsa and black-eyed peas!
This is so delicious and colorful! We loved it and will definitely make it again!
I grew up on this recipe since the 1980s and love it. I still prefer a bottle of newman’s orginal salad dressing in place of salsa. It take overnight for the dressing to add flavor and marinate everything well.
Oh, I’ll have to try it with the dressing!
Incredible! I brought this to a birthday party and it was the first to go. I wish I doubled the recipe!
I have made this a dozen times and it’s always a hit. Sometimes I add a can of black eyed peas. I think I’m addicted. Thanks for a great recipe.
Made this as part of our weekly tex mex feast, and we loved it. So refreshing!
I made this today and I really enjoyed it! I also like that it’s a budget friendly recipe. I would love to see more like it.
This recipe is so fresh tasting. Hubby loves it and it is my go to dish for potlucks.
Oh my I have making this caviar for many years. It is fun to just open the pantry and be creative. You can’t go wrong. I add sliced olives, celery, banana peppers. And finish it off with Italian salad dressing. Scoop it up with chips or crackers. Your recipes are always a foundation to be creative and use what you have. Your salsa is a good start for this caviar. I love your recipes. Thx.
Made this as an appetizer for a recent potluck and it was gone in a flash! Will make it as a side dish for a 4th of July bbq.
I loved this cowboy caviar. I’ve typically used black beans but this was even tastier. Thanks for sharing.
Made this for the holidays and we LOVED it! So delicious!
I absolutely love cowboy caviar and this recipe is fresh and flavorful. I love the black eyed peas in this recipe. Different from the usual black beans!