This cowboy caviar is an easy, delicious Tex-Mex appetizer loaded with zesty flavor. Beans, peas, corn, onions, and bell peppers, along with zesty spices, vinegar, and just a touch of sugar come together to create a delicious dip that’s perfect for parties of all kinds.
If you’ve never had cowboy caviar, you’re missing out! This bean and vegetable dish can be served as an appetizer or side dish, and boy, is it good. I discovered this wonderful dish when I moved to Texas, and I was hooked from the first bite! Its bright, bold, fresh flavor and a variety of textures make it a dish that is absolutely delicious, and you can serve it at just about any get-together you can think of. I’ve been making it for a few years now, and I decided it was finally time to share my version with al of my readers.
Why You’ll Love This Cowboy Caviar Recipe
- Basic Ingredients: Everything you need to make this is either in your kitchen or at your local grocery store.
- Easy: All it takes to make this recipe is a little measuring and mixing.
- Full of Flavor: The combination of beans, veggies, seasonings, and a touch of sugar makes a dish that explodes with flavor in every bite.
- Great for Parties or Meals: This easy recipe can double as an appetizer or a side dish.
Ingredients
- Beans: Canned black beans and black-eye peas add an earthy, nutty flavor to the dish.
- Veggies: Corn, red and green onions, tomatoes, and a variety of bell peppers gives the caviar and bright, flavorful kick with a touch of sweetness and acidic bite.
- White Wine Vinegar: White wine vinegar adds a bit of acid to accentuate the other flavors in the dish.
- White Sugar: A little white sugar balances out the bite of the onion and the tang of the vinegar.
- Lime Juice: Lime juice adds a citrus note to the dish.
- Seasonings: A bold blend of Slap Ya Mama, cilantro, chili powder, garlic salt, and black pepper adds a huge kick of flavor.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Beans: You can add any of your favorite beans to this recipe. Pinto beans, lima beans, and kidney beans all work well, but any of them are excellent.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne for a kick of heat. You can also add sliced or diced jalapenos.
- Olives: Olives make a wonderfully salty, briny addition to the cowboy caviar.
- Avocado: Diced avocado makes an excellent addition to this recipe.
How to Make Cowboy Caviar
1: Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and stir to combine.
2: Serve at room temperature or chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
Hint
It’s important to stir the caviar gently so you don’t smash the canned beans.
What to Serve with This Easy Cowboy Caviar Recipe
Serve this recipe with tortilla or potato chips as a bold, chunky dip. It also makes a delicious side for Taco Tuesdays along with your favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex main dishes like carne asada street tacos, quesadillas, or beef enchilada casserole.
Tips
- It’s important to rinse your beans thoroughly before adding them to the caviar. The liquid in canned beans and peas is very starchy and far too salty.
- Drain your corn well to prevent a wet recipe.
- Be gentle when mixing your caviar. You don’t want to smash the beans!
- If you use jalapenos, wash your hands thoroughly and DO NOT touch your face.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cowboy caviar is a Tex-Mex recipe made with beans, peas, corn, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and seasonings. It can be served as a dip or a side dish.
If you only drain your beans and peas but don’t rinse them, your caviar will be too salty. The liquid in canned beans and peas is incredibly salty and starchy. It’s important to both drain AND rinse them before adding them to the caviar.
Canned beans are somewhat firm, but they’re still soft. It’s important to be very gentle when mixing your cowboy caviar. Use a folding motion, a light touch, and a large bowl to limit the chances of mashing up the beans as you mix your dish.
Try This Easy Cowboy Caviar Today
This easy, delicious cowboy caviar is loaded with flavor, not work. It uses fresh veggies and canned beans, peas, and corn, so the only real work you have to do is a little chopping and mixing. That’s it! With a recipe this flavorful and easy, there’s no reason not to give it a try. Make it just once, and I promise it will become a permanent part of your Taco Tuesday and party menu!
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes You’ll Enjoy
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Cowboy Caviar
Ingredients
- 15.5 ounce black eye peas, drained, rinsed
- 15 ounce black beans, drained, rinsed
- 15 ounce whole kernel corn, drained
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup red onions, chopped
- ⅓ cup green onions, sliced
- ⅓ cup red bell pepper
- ⅓ cup orange bell pepper
- ⅓ cup yellow bell pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup white wine vinegar
- ⅛ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Using a large bowl, add all of the ingredients into the bowl. Stir to combine.
- Place in the fridge to chill, or serve at room temperature.
Notes
- It’s important to rinse your beans thoroughly before adding them to the caviar. The liquid in canned beans and peas is very starchy and far too salty.
- Drain your corn well to prevent a wet recipe.
- Be gentle when mixing your caviar. You don’t want to smash the beans!
- If you use jalapenos, wash your hands thoroughly and DO NOT touch your face.
Nutrition
