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Texas Caviar (aka Cowboy Caviar) is a fresh black bean and corn salsa tossed in a zesty chili-lime vinaigrette. It comes together in about 15 minutes with pantry staples – stir, chill briefly, and serve with chips or spoon over chicken, tacos, or salads.
High ratings from my family! Picky eaters, teenagers, and finicky adults all loved this one! The flavors blended perfectly – and I am not a fan of some of the ingredients but they worked beautifully!
– Chelsea
Why My Version Works
- Make-ahead friendly: We tested chill times from 1 to 24 hours, flavor peaks around 8-12 hours, so it’s perfect for parties and meal prep.
- Avocado-last method: Dice and fold in the avocado right before serving so it stays bright and buttery, not mushy.
- Flexible dressing and spice: Use the from-scratch vinaigrette (best flavor) or a good bottled Italian dressing in a pinch; adjust heat with jalapeño, serrano, cayenne, or a dash of hot sauce.
Canned beans are lined up ready to go into this amazingly easy Texas Caviar Dip, which could also pass as a tex-mex salsa or salad depending on your mood. Also known as Cowboy Caviar, this easy recipe is as fresh as it gets when it comes to canned beans.
We, first, encountered this Cowboy Caviar at Trader Joe’s and then I saw it in a giant gallon size at Costco. So, I know you all know what I’m talking about and wherever we buy it, I always eat the entire container with a bag or two of tortilla chips. It’s totally addicting.
It’s easier than ever to make at home and you can have a giant barrel full in no time flat. Cowboy Caviar Dip is fantastic for parties big or small and it’s great to make in advance since the flavors have time to get all married together.
Ingredients
- Tomatoes– Diced Roma Tomatoes add juicy, sweetness to the dip. Cherry tomatoes are great too, just slice them in half.
- Beans – Black-eyed peas and black beans are our favorites but you can use pinto beans, cannellini beans or white beans, instead. Be sure to rinse them thoroughly before adding to the bowl.
- Corn – Fresh sweet corn is best but frozen corn that’s thawed and drained is fantastic, too.
- Onion – Red onion adds a sweet, peppery bite.
- Bell pepper – A mix of red bell peppers and green bell peppers are a crunchy addition to this dip.
- Jalapeno – Make is spicy by leaving the seeds in the jalapeño peppers or skip them altogether for a milder dip.
- Cowboy Caviar Dressing – The dressing is homemade with a blend of olive oi, honey, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
For the full recipe ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
How To Make Texas Caviar
This recipe couldn’t be simpler to make.
- Whisk the dressing until glossy and emulsified; it should taste bright-tangy with a hint of sweetness.
- Combine beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a large bowl.
- Toss with dressing until everything looks lightly dressed and evenly coated. If flavors seem flat, add a pinch of salt and a splash of lime or vinegar.
- Chill 30–60 minutes (or longer) so the veggies crisp and the flavors mingle without getting watery.
- Fold in avocado just before serving and give a final taste: you’re looking for zesty, a little sweet, and lightly spicy.
Super easy and you can serve with a bowl of chips for a complete meal. I kid, but, seriously. I’ve eaten this dip for dinner.
What is Texas Caviar?
Texas Caviar, also known as Cowboy Caviar and Mexican Caviar, is an easy dip recipe that could easily double as a salsa or side salad.
It’s easy to make with canned beans, chopped fresh tomatoes, canned or frozen corn, herbs and a homemade vinegar based dressing.
It got it’s name, Texas Cowboy Caviar, because it originated in Texas by a woman named Helen Corbitt in 1940. She created the recipe in an attempt to add more flavor to Black Eyed Peas for New Year’s since they’re considered a lucky charm for prosperity in the new year.
Leftover Storage And Make-Ahead Tips
- Freezing: Not recommended, the fresh vegetables will soften and release water making the dip soggy.
- Fridge: Store leftover cowboy caviar in the refrigerator 4-5 days in an airtight container. Stir and re-taste before serving; add a squeeze of lime if the flavor mellowed.
- Make-Ahead: For best flavor, assemble Texas Caviar 8-12 hours before serving. Keep avocado separate and fold it in at the end.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Texas Caviar: Use a serrano (or keep the jalapeño seeds), add ¼–½ teaspoon cayenne, or finish with a few dashes of hot sauce.
- Low-Carb Cowboy Caviar: Skip the corn; add extra peppers and 1 cup diced cucumber for crunch.
- Avocado-Last (Party Proof): Mix everything except avocado up to 24 hours ahead. Fold in 1 diced avocado right before serving.
Kellie’s Tips for the Best Cowboy Caviar
- Use sturdy chips and drain for toppings so it scoops cleanly and won’t sog out tacos or bowls.
- Dice small and evenly so every scoop gets a balanced bite.
- Seed, then blot tomatoes with a paper towel to curb excess moisture.
- Microplane the garlic into the dressing for ultra-even flavor.
- Quick-mellow the onion: Soak onion for 5 minutes in cold water, then drain well.
- Zest the lime into the vinaigrette for extra aroma without more acid.
- Reserve 2-3 tablespoons dressing and toss in right before serving to “wake up” leftovers.
Serving Ideas (and Easy Pairings)
- On greens for a fast chopped salad (add avocado and extra lime).
- With tortilla chips for scooping (game day, potlucks, picnics).
- Spoon over grilled or baked chicken, salmon, or shrimp.
- As a hearty topper for tacos, nachos, quesadillas, or burrito bowls.
More Easy Dip Recipes
- Homemade Pico de Gallo Recipe
- Black Eyed Pea Salad with Corn and Spinach
- The Best Guacamole
- The Best Hummus
- 7 Layer Dip
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Best Texas Caviar Recipe
Equipment
- 1 sharp kitchen knife
- cutting board
- measuring spoon
- whisk
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 pound Roma tomatoes seeded and diced
- 1 15 ounce can black-eyed peas drained and rinsed
- 1 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups sweet corn, frozen and thawed
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
- 1 cup chopped cilantro or parsley
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, honey, cider vinegar, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, onion, bell peppers, jalapeño and cilantro.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Cover and chill for one hour.
- Serve with chips or use as a flavorful topping.
Video
Notes
- You can use a single bell pepper in place of the red and yellow bell pepper. Use what you have on hand.
- Canned corn can be used in place of the frozen corn. Be sure to rinse and drain your canned corn before adding to the salad.
- Beans can be replaced with whatever you have on hand, as well.
- If you prefer to use sugar instead of honey, use half the amount of called for and then add more as you see fit.
- If flavors taste flat after chilling, brighten with ½–1 tsp vinegar or extra lime.
- No cilantro? Use parsley. Want more heat? Add cayenne or hot sauce to taste.
- For low-carb, omit corn and sub in extra peppers or cucumber.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Yes, drain and rinse well. Taste the finished mix; if it’s too sweet, balance with extra lime or a splash of vinegar.
Drain beans and corn thoroughly, seed juicy tomatoes, and chill briefly before serving. If liquid collects after a day, stir and re-balance with a pinch of salt and lime.
Right before serving. It stays green and creamy and won’t break down during chilling.
This is a great recipe, my hubby & I both love it. Very nutritious too. It makes a very large bowl! Very good with a healthy chip or pita chips. Easy to make. Smile.
Good recipe for no-meat Fridays
Would be great for a group of people or a party.
Thank you for your comment, I love that you loved it!
Had already made some with a little different base ingredients. Wanted a new good sauce combo then i found this recipe and made the sauce to add. Great!!
Thank you so much for your comment!