Cowboy Caviar is a fresh bean and corn salsa made with black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, and a tangy lime vinaigrette. Serve it with tortilla chips as an appetizer, or spoon it over grilled chicken, tacos, burgers, or salmon.
Why You’ll Love This Cowboy Caviar
Cowboy Caviar is part dip, part salsa, and part side dish. It is easy to make ahead, travels well, and works for cookouts, potlucks, game day, or a quick snack with chips.
The mix of beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, peppers, and lime dressing gives it a lot of texture and flavor without much work.
The avocado adds creaminess, the peppers and corn add crunch, and the lime vinaigrette keeps everything bright and fresh.
Serve it chilled with tortilla chips, or use it as a topping for grilled meats, tacos, rice bowls, or salads.
Ingredients for Cowboy Caviar
This recipe starts with black beans, corn, bell pepper, avocado, tomatoes, red onion, garlic, and shallot. Everything gets tossed with a simple lime vinaigrette, then chilled so the flavors can blend.
For extra flavor, grill the corn before adding it to the salsa. The char adds a smoky flavor that works well with the lime dressing.
Make the Lime Vinaigrette
The dressing is a quick mix of olive oil, white vinegar, lime zest, lime juice, sugar, cilantro, salt, pepper, cayenne, and cumin.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
Cowboy Caviar tastes best after it chills for at least 2 hours. If making it ahead, wait to add the avocado until closer to serving so it stays fresh.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. The avocado may soften or brown slightly over time.
What to Serve with Cowboy Caviar:
Serve Cowboy Caviar with tortilla chips, or spoon it over burgers, grilled chicken, blackened salmon, shrimp tacos, rice bowls, or salads.
Cowboy Caviar
- Total Time: 2 hr 10 min
- Yield: 6–8 servings as appetizer 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A fresh bean and corn salsa with avocado, tomatoes, bell pepper, cilantro, and a tangy lime vinaigrette.
Ingredients
For the Salsa
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 ears corn, grilled or cooked, kernels removed
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced, any color
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 5–6 grape tomatoes, quartered
For the Lime Vinaigrette
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 4 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ÂĽ cup cilantro, finely chopped, or parsley
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ÂĽ teaspoon black pepper
- ÂĽ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ÂĽ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the corn, bell pepper, garlic, shallot, red onion, avocado, and tomatoes.
- Drain and rinse the black beans, then add them to the bowl.
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients. Pour over the salsa.
- Toss gently, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- For best color and texture, add the avocado shortly before serving if making this recipe ahead.
- Grilled corn adds extra flavor, but cooked fresh corn or thawed frozen corn can also be used.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Chill Time: 2 hr
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American, Mexican
COWBOY CAVIAR RECIPE
Like this recipe? Pin it to your SALSA board!
Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on Facebook and Pinterest
I always wanted to make this dish. Thanks for sharing your recipe
Great recipe! I used some honey in place of the sugar and served it with Trader Joe’s corn chip dippers (Mexican street corn flavor). Crowd pleaser!
Excellent! I substituted the black eyed peas with kidney beans, used fresh parsley instead of cilantro and I used fresh corn off the cob. wow! the flavor difference with fresh corn!! There seemed to be a lot of the marinade leftover in the bottom of the container. Perhaps, it was the size container I used. Will definitely make again!
I’ve made this many times and it never gets old! So yummy.
This is soooo addictive!!! Love it.
This is the BEST tasting one!I added English cucumber too
MAKE THIS! It’s the best cowboy caviar recipe on the internet. Hands down!
Look no further. Amazing recipe!
WOW! Thank you Mrs. C 🙂
I wondered how many this recipe typically serves when served as an appetizer wth chips?
This is perfect just like it is. No tweaking needed. A family favorite!! ❤️
Thanks Holly!
I’ve now made this recipe twice & it is delicious!
I see in your notes you have the nutritional info but I am curious about serving size?