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Best Cowboy Caviar Recipe

This Cowboy Caviar recipe (Texas Caviar) will have everyone swarming over the bowl OR serve it as a protein topper to make EVERYTHING better!  It can be thrown together in 20 minutes, is endlessly adaptable, and make-ahead friendly (tastes even better the next day), for a stress-free potluck, party, and/or picnic win.  This Texas Caviar recipe is elevated by homemade tangy, zesty dressing infused with a bevy of seasonings that will have everyone declaring it the “best Texas Caviar they ever tasted!”

Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish , Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

CAVIAR
  • 1 oz. pkg. cherry tomatoes, halved, quartered if large
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 oz. can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
  • 1 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1½ cups fresh corn kernels from 2 to 3 cobs or 1 15 oz. can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
  • 1 orange bell pepper, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded, deveined, finely diced
  • 1/3 cup packed cilantro, minced (measure before chopping)
ADD LAST
  • 2 ripe avocados, diced
DRESSING
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon Honey or sugar
  • 1 tsp EACH chili powder, salt
  • 1/2 tsp EACH ground cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • pinch-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
FOR SERVING
  • tortilla chips

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large bowl, stir together all of the “Caviar” ingredients (don’t add avocados).
  2. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together.
  3. Pour the dressing over the Caviar and stir to combine.
  4. Time permitting, refrigerate for 1 hour or until ready to serve.
  5. Fold in the avocado.
  6. Season to taste with salt, cayenne pepper and/or lime juice. Serve as a side salad, or protein topper, or incredible with tortilla chips!

Notes

  • Store the recipe for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.  It will last for up to 5 days, but the avocados will start to turn brown and the vegetables soften a bit. 
  •    Fully assembled: Make the complete recipe (with or without avocados) and store in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours. Drain off excess liquid before serving.2.   Without avocados:  Make the Cowboy Caviar through tossing with the dressing, but hold the avocados.  Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.  Stir, then drain off excess liquid before adding the avocados and serving.3.   Prep ingredients:  The dressing and ingredients can be prepped, and stored in the refrigerator until ready to assemble for up to 2 days by layering in this order:
  • Black beans
  • Black eyed peas
  • Corn
  • Bell peppers
  • Jalapeno
  • Red onion
  • Tomatoes
  • Cilantro
  • Add avocados when ready to serve