Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (2024)

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (1)

Cowboy Caviar? Texas Caviar? Carolina Caviar?

No matter what it’s called, Cowboy Caviar is a fabulous, fresh, and healthy party food! Unlike heavier appetizers, this dip will help avoid those guilt feelings while nibbling on some party food.

This recipe for Cowboy Caviar is loaded with black beans, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, colorful red, yellow, green and orange bell peppers, corn, avocado, and more. Lots of action going on in this dish with a variety of flavors, textures, and vivid colors! Every bite includes multiple layers of incredible flavor, Plus it is SO EASY to put together. You can easily prepare this in advance so that it sits for a while to allow all of the flavors to marry.

Our guests always love this finger food. This makes a large batch but it disappears quickly. Served traditionally with tortilla chips, it can also be scooped up by mini bell peppers cut in half. Or it’s great alongside some tacos or burgers. Heck, you can even eat this as a meal in itself! You can even roll some of this inside a tortilla for a burrito! Mmmm!

I’ve even seen Cowboy Caviar presented as a 7 layer salad. Besides tortilla chips or mini pepper scoops, this pairs well with queso dip!

I first tasted Cowboy Caviar 20 years ago at a get-together for co-workers and then at my daughter’s lake home. We’ve been making it ever since and it’s always just a little bit surprisingly different depending on what we throw in the mix. I recommend that you do that too, add your favorite fresh ingredients that you enjoy!

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (2)

A HUGE Variety of Ingredients!

I always measure and lay out all of the recipe ingredients. Make sure that you chop up the veggies in small pieces. You want to be able to just scoop this Cowboy Caviar onto a chip or even a spoon (for those who want to limit carbs).

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (3)

Make sure that all of the beans are rinsed and drained well!

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (4)

Add one or two tubs of fresh Pico de Gallo (whether purchased or homemade). I recommend “medium” heat, but you use what you like the most.

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (5)

Cowboy Caviar Ingredients

There’s a LOT of ingredients! Grab your biggest serving bowl because this makes a big batch of yumminess!

  • Black beans
  • Black-eyed peas
  • Pinto beans
  • Green, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers
  • Fresh Pico de Gallo
  • Corn (freshly cooked, canned, or frozen)
  • Avocado (optional)
  • Red Onion
  • Green onions
  • Black olives
  • Cherry/grape or Roma tomatoes
  • Lime juice
  • Garlic
  • Jalapeno pepper (optional)
  • Rotel Tomatoes with Green Chili/Jalapenos (we prefer the hot variety)
  • Cilantro (if you don’t like cilantro, just leave it out)
  • Tortilla chips or mini bell peppers, cut in half for serving

NOTES: For the selection of beans, you can choose whatever beans that you prefer.

Scroll down for the full recipe with instructions!

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (6)

This Cowboy Caviar Salsa is SO COLORFUL!

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (7)

Putting It All Together

  • Chop the ingredients
  • Mix the ingredients
  • Refrigerate
  • Serve and ENJOY!

That’s all there is to it!To help you in the kitchen chopping up all of the ingredients, here’s an awesome, highly rated food chopper that’s super affordable! (Amazon affiliate link).

The complete recipe with printable recipe card is included below.

Tips for the Best Cowboy Caviar

  • Experiment and mix and match the types of beans you use in this Cowboy caviar recipe.
  • Mix everything except the avocados and refrigerate for 2 – 4 hours up until 24 hours in advance so that the flavors mingle, marinate and marry well to get the boldest flavors. Just remember that the longer you marinate the salsa dip, the more mushy and soft the ingredients will be and duller in color as well.
  • Wait to add the avocado until you are ready to serve the dip so that it doesn’t get mushy and brown.
  • Leave out whatever ingredient that you don’t like. Some people don’t like cilantro and others don’t like jalapenos.
  • Fresh tomatoes in-season will take this Cowboy Caviar salsa to a whole new level. If you can your summer bounty, use some of it in this recipe to enjoy some summer freshness!

More Appetizer Recipes to Enjoy

Mango Pineapple Salsa

Perfect Peach Salsa

Cheesy Asiago, Artichoke, and Spinach Dip

The Best Creamy Vegetable and Chip Dip

Cheesy Fiesta Corn Dip

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (8)

I hope that you enjoy this Cowboy Caviar Salsa and that it becomes a new favorite appetizer for you!

It’s such a healthy, flavorful, andeasy dip recipe. You can’t go wrong serving this as an appetizer for game day at your home with family or friends, for a big football game tailgating event, or as a side dish

By the Way! Do You Call it Cowboy Caviar, Texas Caviar, Carolina Caviar . . . or something else?

Print

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (9)

Cowboy Caviar OR Carolina Caviar OR Texas Caviar

★5 Stars☆★4 Stars☆★3 Stars☆★2 Stars☆★1 Star☆No reviews

  • Author: Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 1015 people 1x
  • Category: Appetizers
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: LowFatDiet
Print Recipe

Description

This popular dip is perfect for any party or get-together. Guests LOVE it and dig in until nothing is left over. Some people call it "Cowboy Caviar", others say "Carolina Caviar" and yet others still have dubbed it "Texas Caviar". No matter what the name, this appetizer is absolutely delicious! It is also wonderful served simply as a 'salad' alongside a Mexican or Southwestern entree, as well as anything barbecued!

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 2 (15 oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed thoroughly
  • 1 15 oz. can Black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed thoroughly
  • 1 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed thoroughly
  • 12 semi-firm, but ripe Haas avocados, peeled, cored, sliced and diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
  • 1 orange bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
  • 1 bunch green onions, sliced
  • 1 (8 oz) can sliced black olives
  • 1/2 of a medium red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, seeds removed and diced
  • 16 oz. Roma tomatoes, diced small (about 3 cups)
  • 1 small package frozen corn, thawed (about 11/2 cups) OR 1 can corn, drained, OR kernels from 4 ears of cooked corn
  • 12 cans Rotel tomatoes and chiles (be careful, this might be too hot for you)
  • 1 tub (about 15 oz.) fresh Pico de Gallo salsa, medium to hot (in the refrigerated produce section of grocery stores)
  • 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, stems removed, leaves finely chopped (about 1/31/2 cup)
  • 3 Tbsp. minced garlic or 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Tortilla chips for dipping
  • OR mini-bell peppers cut in half for scooping
  • Optional: Sour Cream on the side to garnish

Instructions

    Add all ingredients together in a large bowl EXCEPT THE AVOCADOS; tasting and adjusting as you go!

    Chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour to overnight.

    Adjust seasoning to preference levels after the salsa sets overnight and the flavors blend/marry.

    Add avocados just before serving so they don’t brown.

    Stir well before serving.

    Serve with tortilla chips mini bell peppers cut in halves.

    May also be served as a taco topping or side dish.

Notes

Any leftovers can be used to roll into burritos, mixed up with some Mexican cheeses, and topped with either a cheese or tomato sauce, with a dollop of sour cream.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 240
  • Sugar: 5
  • Sodium: 680
  • Fat: 7
  • Carbohydrates: 32
  • Fiber: 10
  • Protein: 10

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Loaded Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does cowboy caviar keep in the refrigerator? ›

How long can you keep Cowboy Caviar in the fridge? If stored in an airtight container this dip can be kept in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind, the longer your dip sits in the fridge the more excess liquid that will accumulate. Just drain off excess juices and enjoy!

What is cowboy caviar made of? ›

Cowboy Caviar (or Cowboy Salsa) is a popular chip dip that originated out of Texas. It's also sometimes called Texas Caviar and it's made with simple, healthy ingredients including: beans, corn, bell pepper, avocado, and tomato. It is the perfect appetizer for parties, potlucks, or game day!

Why is cowboy caviar so good? ›

It's packed with dietary fiber and plant-based protein, too. This healthy cowboy caviar recipe is essentially a fresh salsa packed with amazing-for-you simple ingredients like tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, beans, and corn and then tossed in an easy delicious lime dressing.

What is Cowboy Caviar's real name? ›

Texas caviar, also called cowboy caviar, is a bean salad consisting of black-eyed peas lightly pickled in a vinaigrette-style dressing, often eaten as a dip accompaniment to tortilla chips.

How can you tell if caviar has gone bad? ›

A strong, fishy odor indicates spoilage. Color and Appearance: Any significant changes in color or appearance can be a sign of deterioration. Texture: The eggs should be firm yet delicate. If they become mushy or overly hard, the caviar is likely spoiled.

Does caviar go bad if not refrigerated? ›

Remember that air fosters the perfect environment for harmful bacteria to grow. Try to limit your caviar's air exposure as much as possible. When left unrefrigerated, caviar can start to spoil after about two hours. If the serving area is 90 degrees or above, it can start to go bad after one hour.

What is the controversy with cowboy caviar? ›

After Bria's recipe got popular on TikTok, several people called her out for cultural appropriation, claiming that cowboy caviar was a white-washed version of the popular Mexican salsa, pico de gallo, which is traditionally made with chopped tomato, onion, serrano peppers, and cilantro.

What is a substitute for Black Eyed Peas? ›

If necessary, you can substitute another type of bean for black-eyed peas—Pinkeye Purple Hull peas, also known as Southern Pink Lady peas, are another, lesser-known Southern staple and variety of cowpea would be an excellent choice.

How to eat cowboy caviar? ›

You can eat this in a variety of ways. When you want it for more of a snack, you can eat it as a dip with some chips or rice cakes. If you're wanting it as more of a meal, you can serve it over a bed of greens with some added protein.

What is Cowboy Caviar from Trader Joe's? ›

Instead of black- eyed peas, however, our “caviar” of choice is black beans that are mixed together with corn, onions and red bell peppers. Pickled in a blend of chipotle peppers, adobo sauce and lime juice, this crunchy, savory salsation carries southwestern character and enough heat to take note.

What is the most delicious caviar in the world? ›

Beluga caviar is the most famous and well-known type of caviar in the world. Its extreme rarity and value are a reflection of its rich and bold flavors. It takes up to 25 years for a beluga to produce eggs, and since they are endangered, this caviar is illegal in many countries.

Why is caviar for rich people? ›

The eggs from these fish are carefully extracted and cured with salt to develop their signature texture and complex flavor. Caviar is considered a luxury due to its scarcity, labor-intensive production, and exorbitant pricing.

Does cowboy caviar need to be refrigerated? ›

Yield: This recipe makes about 12 cups of Cowboy Caviar (more or less depending on the size of your bell peppers). Storage: This recipe keeps about 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Make ahead: You can make the dressing up to 3 days in advance.

What fish does caviar come from? ›

Traditionally, the term caviar refers only to roe from wild sturgeon in the Caspian Sea and Black Sea (beluga, ossetra and sevruga caviars). The term caviar can also describe the roe of other species of sturgeon or other fish such as paddlefish, salmon, steelhead, trout, lumpfish, whitefish, or carp.

What is Cody Harris real name? ›

Cody Harris (politician)
Cody Harris
BornCody Joe Harris August 16, 1983 Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTaylor
Children4
12 more rows

Does Cowboy Caviar expire? ›

How long does Cowboy's Caviar keep unopened? If the package is unopened it has a one year shelf life from date of production. The best before date will be stamped on the package.

How long does caviar dip last in the fridge? ›

You can make this ahead of time refrigerate it until you are ready to serve. You can also keep leftovers for about a week in the refrigerator. While this is a dip, we like to serve this as a black-eyed pea salad.

How long does caviar butter last in fridge? ›

Caviar butter is the perfect way to add a bit of luxury to your next dish. Keep refrigerated between 0 and 4°C. Shelf life: 4 weeks refrigerated, 6 months frozen.

How long does black caviar last in the fridge? ›

How Long Is Caviar Good For?
Opened CaviarSealed Caviar
Refrigerator24 to 48 hours4 to 6 weeks
FreezerN/A*1+ year
Room temp.24 hours24-36 hours
Jun 26, 2023

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