Easy Cowboy Caviar Recipe – Party Favorite Dip
Colorful, packed with fresh flavor and a zesty dressing, this Easy Cowboy Caviar is a total crowd-pleaser! Made with black beans, corn, peppers, and a tangy homemade dressing, it comes together in just 20 minutes and is the perfect make-ahead dip for potlucks, BBQs, game days or family gatherings. Serve it with tortilla chips or as a side dish — it’s always a hit!
Try my creamy cowboy corn dip, million dollar dip, 7 layer dip next!
Easy Black Bean and Corn Dip (Cowboy Caviar)
Cowboy caviar is also known as Texas caviar is a popular, colourful dip or salsa recipe, often seen on social media like TikTok.
This fresh black-eyed pea dip was created by dietician and chef Helen Corbitt in the 1940s and It has withstood the test of time.
Tried, tested and true, this crowd-pleasing zesty dip has no caviar but it does taste exquisite scooped up with nacho chips!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Ingredients
- Black Eyed Peas – feel free to subsitute with your favorite mixed beans if you don’t have black eyed peas.
- Black Beans
- Red Onion – in a pinch? substitute sweet onions
- Avocado – look for ripe avocado that give just a little when squeezed
- Roma Tomatoes – diced we like to use Roma tomatoes because they have less seeds which are great for dip recipes
- Green and Red Bell Pepper – chopped
- Corn Kernels – can of corn you can use fresh canned or thawed frozen corn
- Garlic Cloves – fresh garlic for best flavor here!
Substitutions
Make cowboy caviar without avocado by omitting it altogether. Try adding mango, cucumber or chickpeas in it’s place.
Step by step instructions for how to make cowboy caviar
You can find a full, printable recipe card by scrolling to the bottom of this page. Did you know that I also have a handy jump-to-recipe button at the top!?
Cowboy caviar dressing recipe
This tangy dressing combines perfectly with the beans and veggies in this ‘bean salad’ as I like to call it. It’s quick and easy to make.
STEP ONE – In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, pepper and lime juice. Set aside.
STEP TWO – In a separate, large mixing bowl, combine the roma tomatoes, red onions, jalapeno peppers, bell pepper, sweet corn, black eyed peas, black beans, garlic and Cilantro.
STEP THREE – Pour the dressing on top of the mixture, then stir in the chopped avocados. I like to add the avocados last in case they are a bit on the ripe side and softer.
Variations
Cowboy caviar with Italian dressing – replace the homemade dressing with Italian dressing to make things simpler.
Sandra’s Tips & Tricks
- If you’re making this appetizer in advance, don’t add the avocado until 30 minutes before serving. You know how it can get mushy!
- Leftovers taste decliious piled on top of your favorite burrito!
- Want to skip the nachos? Serve it up with a fork and let’s call it a salad!
Storage and freezing instructions
Cowboy caviar keeps in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Give it a good stir to combine the dressing with the ingredients again before serving.
Cowboy Caviar
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Crowd-pleasing & hearty with a zesty dressing, this Easy Cowboy Caviar Recipe is always a hit at parties and family gatherings. You can mix it up in about 20 minutes prep time and it’s the perfect make-ahead for a potluck.
Ingredients
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 avocados, peeled and diced
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 can (19 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (19 ounces) black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 can (12 ounces) corn, drained
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 and 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, granulated ssugar, salt, pepper and lime juice. Set aside.
- In a separate, large mixing bowl, combine the roma tomatoes, red onions, jalapeno peppers, bell pepper, sweet corn, black eyed peas, black beans, garlic and Cilantro.
- Pour the dressing on top of the mixture, then stir in the chopped avocados. I like to add the avocados last in case they are a bit on the ripe side and softer.
Notes
Storage instructions:Cowboy caviar keeps in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Give it a good stir to combine the dressing with the ingredients again before serving.
If making one day ahead, do not add the avocado until 30 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
