What do you serve with cowboy caviar?

Scoop-shaped tortilla chips are classic. It is also great over grilled chicken, tacos, or a rice bowl.

Recipes · Party Food

Cowboy Caviar

Name: Cowboy Caviar
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: About 10 servings
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed; 1 can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed; 1 can sweet corn, drained; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 1 small red onion, finely diced; 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered; 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced; A big handful of cilantro, chopped; 1 avocado, diced; 3 tablespoons olive oil; Juice of 2 limes; 1 to 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1 teaspoon cumin, salt and pepper to taste

By Janet
From Janet's Recipe Box · 15 min · no cooking

A bowl of cowboy caviar with black beans, corn, peppers, and avocado, with tortilla chips — The dip that never makes it home from the party. Just chop, stir, and scoop.

If I bring one thing to a cookout, it is this. Cowboy caviar (some people call it Texas caviar) is a big, colorful bean and veggie salad that you scoop up with tortilla chips, and it is always the bowl that gets scraped clean. It is basically a salsa and a salad had a baby. No cooking, everything gets better as it sits, and it makes a giant batch, which is exactly what you want when people are coming over.

Prep

15 min

Cook

None

Chill

30 min

Serves

A crowd

Honesty note: this is how I roughly throw it together, not a science. Treat the amounts as a starting point and adjust to taste. Add the avocado last so it stays pretty.

Ingredients

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 can sweet corn (or the kernels from 2 grilled ears), drained
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered (or 2 Roma tomatoes)
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced (leave the seeds if you like heat)
A big handful of cilantro, chopped
1 avocado, diced (stir in last)

For the dressing

3 tbsp olive oil
Juice of 2 limes (about 3 tbsp)
1 to 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp sugar or a drizzle of honey
1 tsp cumin, salt, and pepper to taste

How I make it

Drain and rinse the beans, black-eyed peas, and corn really well, then add them to your biggest bowl.
Add the bell pepper, red onion, tomatoes, jalapeno, and cilantro.
Whisk the dressing in a small jar: olive oil, lime juice, red wine vinegar, sugar, cumin, salt, and pepper.
Pour the dressing over everything and toss until it is all coated.
Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavors get friendly. This is the step people skip and it makes all the difference.
Right before serving, gently fold in the diced avocado. Taste, add more lime or salt if it needs it, and serve with a big bag of scoop-shaped tortilla chips.

What I have been scooping with: lately my move is Quest Chili Lime tortilla protein chips. They are sturdy enough to hold a heaping scoop, the chili lime plays perfectly with the caviar, and they sneak in extra protein so I feel a little better about going back for thirds.

My tip: make it the night before minus the avocado. It only gets better overnight, and you just fold in fresh avocado before the party.

Make it your own

This recipe is very forgiving. Swap the black-eyed peas for pinto beans, add a diced mango when they are in season, or throw in some feta if you are feeling it. Leftovers are amazing spooned over a simple protein or a bowl of rice for lunch the next day.

My party-dip staples

The good olive oil, a solid citrus juicer, and the big serving bowl I always reach for are all in my Amazon storefront.

Shop my kitchen staples → As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How long does cowboy caviar last?

It keeps in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days, though the avocado is best eaten within a day. If I know there will be leftovers, I stir the avocado into individual servings instead of the whole bowl.

Can I make it ahead?

Yes, and you should. Make everything except the avocado up to a day ahead so the flavors meld, then fold in fresh avocado right before serving.

What do you serve it with?

Scoop-shaped tortilla chips are the classic move, and lately I love Quest Chili Lime protein chips for the extra crunch and protein. It is also great over grilled chicken, tacos, or a rice bowl, so it doubles as a side dish.

Heads up: some links in this post are affiliate links to my Amazon storefront, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. I only share things I actually use.

Janet

Orlando mom and the creator behind Planet Janet TV. Janet's Recipe Box is my collection of the approachable, slightly elevated meals I actually cook. Come say hi on Instagram.

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