Cowboy Caviar is one of my favorite appetizer recipes! It is easy to make, has the perfect balance of flavors, and is always a hit with guests!
I want to live in a world where it is socially acceptable to sometimes just eat appetizers for dinner. Because, I have in fact eaten a whole recipe’s worth of Cowboy Caviar by myself before.
In my defense, it’s that good.
I have no regrets.
BEST recipe EVER! Love all the ingredients and the taste is amazing!
What is Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar, also called Texas Caviar, is the perfect dip. Made with a wide range of hearty ingredients and then coated in the best dressing, you will adore this recipe. Honestly, you can really think of it as a salad. (Therefore you go ahead and dig in for dinner in front of your favorite Christmas movie. No judgement.)
Its a combination of black-eyed peas and other veggies with a vinaigrette dressing. It’s usually eaten with tortilla chips, but you absolutely could decide this is taco filling.
In fact, we love the flavors of this dish so much that we turned it into Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad.
Cowboy Caviar Ingredients
- Canned corn: You can also use thawed frozen corn here, or if it is in season, fresh corn.
- Black-eyed peas: I go with canned peas for this recipe because it cuts down on prep time. You will want to ensure that you drain them and rinse them well.
- Red onions: These bring a subtle sweetness along with the typical tang of an onion.
- Avocado: Read below on how to pick avocados for this recipe.
- Roma tomatoes: This variety of tomato holds up really well in a dip recipe.
- Cilantro: I love the flavor that this brings to the dip, but there are plenty of people who inherited the gene that makes them taste soap when it comes to cilantro. If that is the case for you, no need to replace it, just skip it.
- Extra virgin olive oil: This is the base of the dressing we are adding to the dip.
- Apple cider vinegar: This creates a ton of great flavor for this appetizer. You will want to avoid the organic brand of this ingredient because the taste is too strong here.
- Hot sauce: This brings a great flavor without making the recipe spicy.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic brings the perfect flavor to this recipe.
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Cowboy Caviar
- Combine all of the main ingredients in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the soft.
- Very gently fold everything together so the avocado doesn’t break up.
How to Pick Avocados for this Recipe
When making this recipe, look for an avocado that is firm to the touch. You want it to just have a very slight give when you push on it. When you to go to slice it, it will easily cut up into cubes and will hold up well in the dip recipe.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use grilled corn. To kick this recipe up a notch, grill two ears of corn and replace the canned corn with that.
- Swap out the black eyed peas. A lot of people cannot stand black eyed peas. If you are one of them, take them out and use black beans and instead.
- Leave out the cilantro. If you are one of the unfortunate souls who tastes soup when you have cilantro, just skip it.
- Add a jalapeño. You already have a lot of heat in this recipe from the hot sauce, but if you want to add a different flavor of spice, throw in a diced jalapeno.
Serving Cowboy Caviar Dip
I think Cowboy Caviar is best served with tortilla chips. Though I would argue that it is also a really great topping for chicken tacos.
This Cowboy Caviar easily serves a group of 8. It makes 4 cups, so that’s a half cup for each person, with chips. If you have a lot of people coming over, this is an easy recipe to double. Or if you are putting out a million other snacks, you will be fine as is. (See my list below for other great ideas for a party.)
Make Ahead Cowboy Caviar Recipe
This recipe is fine to make ahead of time. The vinegar in the dressing will keep the avocado from turning brown. Cowboy Caviar will keep in the refrigerator for four days.
That said, if you are hosting, I suggest making this right before your guests come over. It will look best that way.
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers of this easy cowboy caviar can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. As mentioned above, this is best when it is made fresh, but leftovers are absolutely delicious. As with all recipes, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.
More Appetizers
Like I said above, this is a great recipe for parties. Here are some other great recipes that would go well with it.
- My Corn Salsa is a great recipe to put out because you can just put one bowl of tortilla chips between the two. They are different flavors, but both delicious.
- Along that same line of thinking, you could add in my Guacamole.
- My Spinach Dip in my Beer Bread Bowl is perfect for parties.
If you make this delicious cowboy caviar dip orany of my recipes, I’d love to hear from you! Let me know what you thought and if you made them for people you love, even better.
Cowboy Caviar Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (do not to use the organic brand – the taste is too strong in this)
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 avocado ripe but firm and diced
- 15.8 ounces black eyed peas drained and rinsed (455 grams before draining)
- 11 ounces canned corn drained (312 grams before draining)
- 1/4 red onion diced small
- 2 roma tomatoes diced
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, hot sauce, and olive oil. Stir in the garlic and season with salt and pepper.2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons hot sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, 1 clove garlic
- Stir in the remainder of the ingredients, taste, and add more salt and pepper as needed.1 avocado, 15.8 ounces black eyed peas, 11 ounces canned corn, 1/4 red onion, 2 roma tomatoes, 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- Serve with tortilla chips. Store cowboy caviar that is leftover in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Denise says
Is there a substitute you can suggest other that black eyes peas?
You could use black beans! That would be delicious.
debi says
Love it! Have made it 10 times now and my neighbors keep asking for more!
I’m so happy you like it!
Jonnie P says
I made this and I tweeked it a bit. I had a can of garbanzo beans I rinsed and drained. I also had some sliced black olives I drained them and included in the mix. It was delicious!! Quick and easy. I must say my red onion was extremely strong !!! Next time I’m going to cut back on the red onion just in case it’s strong again . But over all delicious 😋
John says
I think you are fun, insightful and lovely. Good work and keep it up.
Thank you John!
Carolyne Smith says
As a ‘Brit’ that isn’t allowed to visit the USA at the moment. (Due to COVID restrictions). I’m definitely going to try this, next time we gave an ‘American Night’ with friends and relatives.
I just need to tell you that our family visited London in 2019 and it was the absolute greatest trip we’ve ever taken. I can’t wait for us to be able to go back.
Sarah says
Hi, this looks yummy can’t wait to try it, however I’m allergic to Cilantro, what would be a yummy substitute??? It needs a littlw green something? Parsley???
I would first just leave it out and then decide if you really need anything to replace it. I’m not sure parsley would be my pick here. If you wanted that little bit of green, you could add the greens of some green onions.
sherry says
BEST recipe EVER! Love all the ingredients and the taste is amazing!
I’m so happy you like this as much as me!
Elizabeth payne says
I love your recipes so simple affordable and oh so delicious please keep them coming and thank you
I’m so glad you are enjoying them!
Mrs.wms says
Delicious! This was definitely a HIT at our BBQ! I’ll certainly be making this again soon!
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it so much!