Cowboy Caviar (2024)

Prep Time:

15 mins

Additional Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

35 mins

Servings:

8

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Cowboy caviar, a crowd-pleasing and incredibly easy appetizer that comes together in minutes, will quickly earn a permanent spot in your recipe box.

What Is Cowboy Caviar?

Cowboy caviar, also called Texas caviar, is a refreshing salad of black-eyed peas and other ingredients tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.

It was invented in 1940 by Helen Corbitt in Texas. Corbitt, who later became the food service director for the Zodiac Room at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, first served the dish on New Year's Eve at the Houston Country Club.

So why is it called "cowboy caviar?" The dish got its tongue-in-cheek name when Corbitt served it at the Driskill Hotel in Austin — it's meant to be a funny comparison to true caviar, which is much more expensive and difficult to come by.

Cowboy Caviar Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this colorful cowboy caviar recipe:

  • Canned veggies: Cowboy caviar starts in the canned food aisle. You'll need one can of black beans, one can of black-eyed peas, and one can of diced tomatoes.
  • Frozen corn: This recipe calls for frozen corn, but you can use a (drained) can of whole kernel corn if it's more convenient.
  • Fresh veggies and herbs: You'll need an onion, a green bell pepper, and fresh cilantro.
  • Pickled jalapeños: For spicier flavor, use a diced fresh jalapeño instead of jarred jalapeños.
  • Garlic salt: Garlic salt takes the flavor up a notch, but you can use regular salt if you like.
  • Salad dressing: A cup of Italian salad dressing brings the whole dish together.

Optional additional ingredients include avocado, garbanzo beans, cucumbers, fresh garlic, and scallions. This dish is super customizable, so it's easy to make it your own.

How to Make Cowboy Caviar

It truly couldn't be easier to make this cowboy caviar recipe: Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl! Find the full, step-by-step recipe below for more detailed instructions.

Can You Make Cowboy Caviar Ahead of Time?

Yes, this cowboy caviar is a great make-ahead recipe. In fact, since you'll need to let it chill in the fridge for a bit to allow the flavors to meld, it might actually make more sense to make this recipe a day or two in advance.

Cowboy Caviar (1)

How to Serve Cowboy Caviar

Traditionally, cowboy caviar is served as an appetizer with tortilla chips. But that's not the only way to enjoy this Southern staple! You can also serve it as a light salad alongside your dinner or you can make it a meal by layering it with rice or lettuce.

How to Store Cowboy Caviar

Store cowboy caviar in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. We don't recommend freezing this dish, as some of the ingredients don't freeze well.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"Easy, delicious, and multiplies easily for a crowd," raves GOOEYDAY. "Substitutions work well. I use fresh garlic (in lieu of salt) and serve with a big chunk of avocado."

"This is my go-to recipe," says Carol (WI). "I love to take this for food days at work and for family functions. It's delicious. You can make it hotter by using jalapeños or you can make it mild by using green chiles."

"This is a summer staple around our house," according to steveweis. "I put everything but the kitchen sink in this one and it is always good. I usually make a double batch and substitute banana peppers for the jalapeño peppers."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients

  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained

  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained

  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained

  • 2 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed

  • ½ medium onion, diced

  • ¼ medium green bell pepper, finely chopped

  • ½ cup chopped pickled jalapeño peppers

  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt

  • 1 cup Italian salad dressing

  • ¾ cup chopped cilantro

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

  2. Mix black beans, black-eyed peas, diced tomatoes, corn, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño peppers together in a large bowl.

  3. Season with garlic salt, then pour in Italian salad dressing and add cilantro. Mix until well coated.

  4. Refrigerate until flavors have melded, at least 20 minutes or up to 3 days, before serving.

    Cowboy Caviar (2)

Recipe Tip

This cowboy caviar is also delicious over a salad, rice, or quinoa.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

233Calories
9g Fat
32g Carbs
8g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe8
Calories233
% Daily Value *
Total Fat9g12%
Saturated Fat2g8%
Sodium1255mg55%
Total Carbohydrate32g12%
Dietary Fiber8g28%
Total Sugars6g
Protein8g16%
Vitamin C15mg17%
Calcium86mg7%
Iron3mg18%
Potassium465mg10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Powered by the ESHA Research Database © 2018, ESHA Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Cowboy Caviar (2024)

FAQs

Why is cowboy caviar so good? ›

It's packed with dietary fiber and plant-based protein, too. This healthy cowboy caviar recipe is essentially a fresh salsa packed with amazing-for-you simple ingredients like tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, beans, and corn and then tossed in an easy delicious lime dressing.

What is cowboy caviar's real name? ›

Texas caviar, also called cowboy caviar, is a bean salad consisting of black-eyed peas lightly pickled in a vinaigrette-style dressing, often eaten as a dip accompaniment to tortilla chips.

What is cowboy caviar made of? ›

Mix black beans, black-eyed peas, diced tomatoes, corn, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño peppers together in a large bowl. Season with garlic salt, then pour in Italian salad dressing and add cilantro. Mix until well coated. Refrigerate until flavors have melded, at least 20 minutes or up to 3 days, before serving.

How long will cowboy caviar last in the refrigerator? ›

How long can you keep Cowboy Caviar in the fridge? If stored in an airtight container this dip can be kept in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind, the longer your dip sits in the fridge the more excess liquid that will accumulate. Just drain off excess juices and enjoy!

What is the controversy with Cowboy Caviar? ›

After Bria's recipe got popular on TikTok, several people called her out for cultural appropriation, claiming that cowboy caviar was a white-washed version of the popular Mexican salsa, pico de gallo, which is traditionally made with chopped tomato, onion, serrano peppers, and cilantro.

What is Cowboy Caviar from Trader Joe's? ›

Instead of black- eyed peas, however, our “caviar” of choice is black beans that are mixed together with corn, onions and red bell peppers. Pickled in a blend of chipotle peppers, adobo sauce and lime juice, this crunchy, savory salsation carries southwestern character and enough heat to take note.

Why is caviar so rare? ›

The first is the rarity of the fish. Wild sturgeon are endangered, and there are simply fewer fish to harvest now. Though farms exist, wild-caught caviar is more prized and thus more expensive. Second, only female sturgeon can be harvested for eggs, so half the fish don't produce caviar.

What are the white balls in caviar? ›

To be considered caviar, the roe must come from sturgeon, or fish of the Acipenseridae family. The unfertilized sturgeon eggs are still considered roe until they're salt-cured, at which point it becomes a delicacy known as caviar.

What does caviar taste like? ›

You'll find that most caviar will have a slight saltiness accompanied by a mild fishy taste. As expected, the taste of caviar tends to resemble ocean water. Besides a mild and fresh taste, quality caviar will also have an unexpected buttery richness that delights the tastebuds.

Can you eat Cowboy Caviar by itself? ›

How to Serve Cowboy Caviar. A great thing about this dish is that you can serve it different ways. It's packed full of tasty vegetables, so it can be enjoyed by itself. With sweet corn, rich beans, and some peppers for flavor and heat, it really does work on its own as a side or salad.

What is the best way to eat black beans? ›

Best Black Bean Recipes

Season them with lime juice and zest, chili powder, oregano, and/or cilantro, and serve them as a side dish with Mexican or Latin American-inspired dishes like tacos or taquitos. Paired with some cilantro lime rice, they could also pass as a meal on their own!

What is so special about caviar? ›

Caviar, with its complex briny flavor and creamy texture, offers a unique culinary experience and a nutritious boost of protein and healthy fats. Its prestige stems from its scarcity and labor-intensive production, requiring skilled harvesting to yield perfect roe pearls.

What is the most delicious caviar in the world? ›

If you ask chefs and other authorities in the culinary industry about the best caviar in the world, you'll probably hear Beluga caviar repeatedly. It comes from Beluga sturgeons that swim in the pollution-free waters of the Caspian Sea.

What makes the most expensive caviar? ›

Among the sturgeon species, the Beluga sturgeon is particularly renowned for producing the most sought-after and expensive caviar.

What makes caviar taste good? ›

The best kind has mild and fresh first impressions, with no pronounced intensity, and rather a buttery richness that is wholly unexpected. If it's very fishy and very salty, then it's not great quality. It also has a wonderful texture.

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