Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar is an easy, fresh and flavorful dip made with black-eyed peas, hominy, and veggies all tossed 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 Cowboy Caviar, my family just can’t seem to get enough!
How Do You Make Cowboy Caviar?
This recipe could not be easier! Simply toss black-eyed peas, hominy, red bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro and jalapeño in your favorite salsa. Perfect for throwing together on a whim! Cowboy Caviar takes just a few minutes of veggie chopping and can opening, stir it all together and dig in!
Tips
- This is a great make-ahead recipe! You can make this up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it.
- If you’re not a fan of black-eyed peas, try using any other type of beans. Black beans and pinto beans work great.
- 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.
- Hominy is corn that has been processed in such a way to make it meatier and more bean-like. You can swap it out with regular corn kernels if you’d like.
- 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.
- This recipe keeps about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
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.
- Give it a boost of protein by adding about a cup of diced cooked chicken or small shrimp.
- Bacon makes everything better! Try stirring in about 1/3 cup cooked crumbled bacon right before serving.
- 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.
- Other delicious mix-ins to try: Add 1/3 cup of crumbled feta or cotija cheese. Or add 1 chopped avocado.
Can You Freeze Cowboy Caviar?
I don’t recommend freezing this dip, but you can use the leftovers so many ways! Throw it on top of fried or scrambled eggs, toss it in a green salad, or spoon it over grilled chicken or steak.
I 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, drained
- 1 (15 ounce) can white hominy drained (corn can be used instead)
- 1 green or red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, seeded & chopped
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1-2 fresh jalapeños, seeded or not (I used 1 seeded jalapeño)
- 1 cup salsa (use your favorite)
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste, as needed
Instructions
- Drain, chop, mince, seed all ingredients and then combine everything in a large bowl. Serve with your favorite crackers or chips or as a topping or side salad.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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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!
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.
I loved this cowboy caviar. I’ve typically used black beans but this was even tastier. Thanks for sharing.
I have been looking for an easy dip to serve at a big game party and this perfect! I like how it is hearty and have so many yummy flavors going on. It is so easy to add my favorite tortilla chips and serve to guests.
This looks like such a unique and creative recipe!
Made this as part of our weekly tex mex feast, and we loved it. So refreshing!
Cowboy Caviar is my absolute favourite and your version looks beyond delicious! Can’t wait to try the recipe!
Made this for the holidays and we LOVED it! So delicious!
This is so delicious and colorful, yum!
I love this recipe, I make it all the time with black beans.
I love homemade dips. I feel like they are a much healthier alternative to store bought ones.
A pop of color, such as this great dish, is never a bad thing in winter. Great looking recipe that must be incredibly healthy, too.
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!