Cowboy caviar once went viral on TikTok, and for good reason! This easy 15-minute cowboy caviar recipe is filled with black beans, black-eyed peas, fresh veggies and summery Southwestern flavor. I promise that one chip won't be enough... you'll be dipping until it's gone!
Remember when everyone on TikTok was going crazy for cowboy caviar? I'm totally there! This veggie-filled, hearty dip is super flavorful and oh so colorful - perfect for bringing to picnics, potlucks, parties and barbecues.
I went through many iterations of this recipe, tweaking it each time until I got it just right. Ultimately, I landed on this combination of fresh ingredients tossed with a tangy lime dressing that keeps everybody coming for more.
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Clean, healthy and plant-based ingredients
- Easy to make - just mix and serve cold
- Inexpensive yet a total crowdpleaser
- Versatile - can serve as a tasty dip or side salad
- Tastes even better the next day!
Ingredients for Cowboy Caviar
At first glance, cowboy caviar (also known as Texas caviar) kind of looks like pico de gallo... but the truth is, it's packed with so much more than a classic salsa! This flavorful dip has an entire rainbow of veggies that all come together to make each and every bite a total experience.
- Bell peppers - I always use red bell pepper, but prefer to also mix in a yellow and orange bell pepper as well. Use one of each color to really make this dish a rainbow of veggies!
- Black beans - Drain and rinse canned black beans before adding them into the bowl. I love that this flavorful, light snack gets a healthy dose of plant-based protein thanks to the black beans!
- Black eyed peas - Another source of plant-based nutrition with fiber, magnesium, and zinc! I usually eat these in January with black eyed pea salsa for good luck in the new year, but I also enjoy them year round!
- Onions - I use both red and green onions to add an incredible depth of flavor and tons of color to every bite.
- Jalapeños - Pull the stems and seeds, then finely dice the jalapeño. It's worth the extra minute or two to have the finest diced jalapeño pepper you can get!
- Mango - I love yellow Ataulfo mangoes because they're juicy and sweet. Don't skip the mango!
- Yellow corn - I'll often omit the corn given I'm allergic, but my family really does love when I include it.
- Cilantro - I pull the big stems off and chop the rest finely so it distributes perfectly into the entire dish.
- Avocado - While everything else in cowboy caviar can be prepped ahead of time, wait until right before serving to add a ripe avocado in so it stays bright and green.
- Feta - I love the VioLife brand for vegan feta cheese. You could also use a vegan Cotija cheese if you want more Southwestern vibes!
- Black olives - These add an irresistible briny flavor that take it over the top.
The Homemade Dressing
While some people go for just a basic Italian salad dressing, nothing beats fresh and homemade.
For this dish, I took a classic homemade dressing and added my homemade taco seasoning to really boost the Southwestern flavor. The taco seasoning consists of chili powder, cumin, salt, maple sugar, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper.
This dressing is super simple to make. Whisk olive oil, a splash of maple syrup, fresh lime juice, fresh garlic and the taco seasoning until it's thoroughly blended. Or, you can just add all the ingredients to a mason jar and shake!
How to Make Cowboy Caviar
This recipe is so simple. It really just requires mixing the ingredients together and serving cold!
- Prepare the ingredients. Drain and rinse the black beans and black-eyed peas, finely dice the veggies (and fruit, if using) and chop the fresh cilantro.
- Combine all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing and add to the mixing bowl.
- Toss everything together.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately or refrigerate for 2-3 hours to serve cold.
Recipe Tips
- If you have the time, make in advance. Not only does this dish taste better served cold, but the fresh flavors also tend to blend together if it sits for a few hours.
- Vary the ingredients. This dish is fun and doesn't require much structure. Feel free to add other fresh veggies (tomatoes are popular - I recommend Roma or cherry), different types of beans (like pinto) or juicy fruit (peach or pineapple).
This easy recipe is vegan (no eggs or dairy), gluten-free, refined sugar-free and has a corn-free option. If you make it, be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations, and drop a review below letting me know what you think!
15-Minute Easy Cowboy Caviar (Viral TikTok Recipe)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Cowboy caviar once went viral on TikTok, and for good reason! This easy 15-minute cowboy caviar recipe is filled with black beans, black-eyed peas, fresh veggies and summery Southwestern flavor. I promise that one chip won't be enough...you'll be dipping until it's gone!
Ingredients
The Cowboy Caviar:
- 3 bell peppers (one red, one yellow and one orange), stem and seeds removed, finely diced
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounce) can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- ½ large red onion, diced
- 4 green onions, diced
- 2 jalapeños, stems and seeds removed, finely diced
- 1 yellow mango (Ataulfo mango variety ideally - or sub peach or pineapple)
- 1 cup frozen or roasted yellow corn*
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro, large stems removed, leaves chopped
- 1 large ripe avocado, diced (add just before serving)
- 1 cup vegan feta cheese, crumbled (or vegan cojita cheese)
- 1 cup sliced black olives
- optional add-in: jarred sweet and spicy jalapeño slices, diced
The Dressing:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 large juicy limes, juiced
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 2 teaspoons fine salt
Instructions
- Add all cowboy caviar ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake well to combine. Pour over the cowboy caviar and mix well.
- Enjoy immediately with chips. You can also serve in tacos/wraps/burritos, on salads or on toast.
Notes
*I'm allergic to corn so I leave this out but the classic dip calls for it.
This dish is even better served cold! Refrigerate for 2-3 hours if possible. This will also allow the flavors to continue to blend together.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 4 days. Toss well before enjoying.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Southwest
Bobby Gordon says