Easy Cowboy Caviar - Viral TikTok Recipe (15 Minutes!)

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!

The Cowboy Caviar Ingredients

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.

See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

• 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 using yellow Ataulfo mangoes. They're juicy and sweet! You could also swap (or include!) pineapples or peaches to get that bright color and cheerful flavor.
• Yellow corn - I'm allergic to corn, so I omit this ingredient and just enjoy the mango...but the classic, original cowboy caviar has fresh corn so I included it in this recipe!
• 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.
• Vegan feta - I love the VioLife brand for vegan cheeses. 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 Ingredients

I always finish my favorite recipes off with a really good sauce or 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, lime fresh juice, fresh garlic and the taco seasoning until it's thoroughly blended! You can also add all the ingredients to a mason jar and shake.

How to Make Cowboy Caviar

This recipe is so simple that it is almost self-explanatory. It really just requires mixing the ingredients together and serving cold!

1. 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.
2. Combine all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
3. Make the dressing and add to the mixing bowl.
4. Toss everything together.
5. Serve! Serve immediately or refrigerate for 2-3 hours to serve cold.

Recipe Tips

Other Ingredients to Consider

• Fresh tomatoes - Tomatoes are popular in many cowboy caviar recipes. I absolutely love them too, but eliminating them separates it a little more from fresh salsa. Either way is perfectly fine! If adding, I recommend using either Roma tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.
• Pinto beans - Black beans are the standard, but you can definitely swap them out if pinto is more your personal preference. Better yet, feel free to use both with a mix of black beans and pinto beans!
• Fresh fruit - Any type of juicy fruit works wonderfully. Peaches and pineapple both add such a refreshing sweetness!

Serving Suggestions

My favorite way to eat cowboy caviar is with chips, but it's also delicious in a wrap, taco, burrito, or even spooned on top of a salad or slice of toast!

This simple dip never lasts very long in my house because it's always a big hit for the whole family and there is no wrong way to enjoy it!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The flavors will continue to marinate and I am always so excited to have more the next day!

This dish should not be frozen.

Benefits of Black Beans

I love that this plant-based dip is a great source of protein thanks to the black beans. They're one of my pantry staples that do it all! Black beans are considered a legume and part of both the protein and vegetable group (so important for vegans!). 

They also provide dietary fiber and important nutrients such as iron and zinc. Black beans are also versatile (use for black bean soup, black bean dip or Mexican quinoa salad), budget-friendly and easy to store, making them a pantry item I always keep on hand!

Benefits of Bell Peppers

I use yellow, red, AND orange bell peppers in this cowboy caviar to add tons of color, crunch, and that subtle sweetness throughout.

Red peppers are my go-to; they contain 11 times more beta carotene and four times more vitamin C than green bell peppers. Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keep teeth and gums healthy. Beta carotene benefits your immune system, vision, skin health and bone health. 

Red bell peppers also contain lycopene, an important phytochemical, which could benefit prostate and heart health, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation. I would recommend buying a couple extra bell peppers, slicing them into thick strips, and using them as chips to enjoy this colorful cowboy caviar!

Some of my favorite bell pepper recipes include vegan enchilada stuffed bell peppers, mini peppers stuffed with hummus and sheet pan veggie black bean tacos.

More Vegan Dips & Salsas

• Best Vegan 7-Layer Dip (paleo)
• Chipotle Guacamole (Copycat)
• Strawberry Salsa
• Creamy Vegan Black Bean Dip
• Best Vegan Whipped Feta Dip
• Easy Paleo Zucchini "Hummus" (no chickpeas)
• Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
• Best Peach Salsa - quick and easy!
• Creamy Vegan Cinnamon Vanilla Fruit Dip