Cowboy Caviar (Texas Caviar Recipe)
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Updated Jun 07, 2025, Published Jun 09, 2021
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This budget-minded dish is chock-full of colorful veggies and black beans that have been dressed with a tangy and spicy homemade dressing. Whether you call it Texas Caviar, Cowboy Caviar, or Mexican Caviar, it’s the perfect appetizer, side dish, or meal-prep salad.
Are you looking for a tasty side dish to contribute to a picnic, potluck, or party? This Texas Caviar recipe hits all those notes and also makes a refreshing, protein-packed lunch option.
What is Cowboy Caviar?
Cowboy Caviar—also known as Texas Caviar or Mexican Caviar—is a vibrant bean salad tossed in a zesty vinaigrette. While most versions today use black beans, the original recipe traditionally featured black-eyed peas, which are still a great option if you’d like to add a Southern twist or a bit of New Year’s luck. Created in Texas in the 1940s, it’s now a beloved dish across the U.S., especially during summer. The combo of beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, and fresh herbs makes it a crowd-pleasing favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Inexpensive: This bean salad is super budget-friendly, making it perfect for feeding a crowd.
- Make-ahead: Great for prepping in advance for parties or packed lunches.
- Meal-prep friendly: The longer it sits, the better it tastes (just hold off on adding avocado until serving).
- Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free: A dish that just about everyone can enjoy.
- No cooking required: Minimal effort, maximum flavor.
- Easy & healthy: This colorful salad comes together in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients & Substitutions
The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Beans: I use canned black beans, but you can use homemade Instant Pot black beans or sub in frijoles de la olla or mix in black-eyed peas for luck.
- Corn: Grilled corn on the cob adds smoky flavor, but canned or frozen corn also works great.
- Veggies: Diced red onion, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes.
- Avocados: Optional, but they add creamy contrast.
- Jalapeños: Add a spicy kick or omit for a milder version.
- Dressing: Olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lime juice (or substitute with apple cider or rice vinegar).
- Cilantro: Swap with parsley if you’re not a fan.
- Spices: Hot sauce like Valentina, salt, and pepper to taste.
How to Make Texas Cowboy Caviar
Check out this video for a detailed guide on creating Texas cowboy caviar, step by step!
Step 1: Shuck corn on the cob. Discard leaves and silk.
Step 2: Roast the corn. I prefer to roast corn indoors directly over the flame of my gas stovetop for added flavor and ease. Simply place the ear of corn over the open flame, rotating with tongs until the kernels are lightly charred to your liking. No gas stove? You can achieve similar results using a gas or charcoal grill outdoors. Once charred, allow the corn to cool slightly, then use a sharp chef’s knife to strip the kernels off the cob.
Step 3: Chop veggies. Cut everything to about the size of a black bean for even bites.
Step 4: Make the vinaigrette. Whisk olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, cilantro, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
Step 5: Drain the beans. Rinse and drain your canned beans.
Step 6: Toss everything. Combine beans, corn, veggies, and dressing. Let marinate for at least an hour if possible.
Serving & Topping Suggestions
- As a salad: Enjoy straight from the bowl—perfect for lunch or snacks.
- As a condiment: Spoon onto grilled meats or use as a salsa-style topping. It goes great with grilled skirt steak, steak fajita skewers, or baked chicken breast.
- As an appetizer: Serve with corn tortilla chips.
Texas Caviar Expert Tips & Tricks
- Short on time? Use canned or frozen corn.
- Roast frozen corn: Spread on a foil-lined pan at 400°F for 20-30 minutes.
- Corn on the cob trick: Use a bundt pan to catch kernels as you cut them off.
Storage Instructions
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- TIP: Wait to add avocado until just before serving to avoid browning.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the 1940s, a Texas cook served a bean salad at the Houston Country Club for New Year’s. They jokingly called it “Texas Caviar” as a play on luxury caviar. Over time, the name Cowboy Caviar caught on.
Yes! They’re two names for the same dish. Some say “Texas Caviar” is the original name, while “Cowboy Caviar” gained popularity thanks to social media.
Absolutely! It’s packed with fiber, plant-based protein, and tons of veggies. Just go easy on the chips if you’re watching sodium or carbs.
A simple vinaigrette made with olive oil, vinegar (red wine or apple cider), lime juice, and hot sauce. No heavy creamy dressing required!
Yes! It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge overnight. Just wait to add avocado until serving.
More Recipes
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Cowboy Caviar (Texas Caviar Recipe)
Ingredients
- 2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 ear corn, roasted and kernels removed or 1 (11-ounce) can of corn
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 red or orange bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 2 avocados, chopped
- 1 to 2 jalapeños, seeded (to taste), minced
- tortilla chips, for serving
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup lime juice,
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- Handful cilantro leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Valentina
- 1 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, cilantro, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Toss with dressing until well combined.
Video
Notes
- You can use red wine vinegar, or substitute with apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or white vinegar.
- Use grilled corn on the cob, canned sweet corn (not creamed), or thawed frozen corn.
- This dish can be made ahead of time—just wait to add the avocados until ready to serve.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Nutrition facts do not include tortilla chips or cups.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography: Jenna Sparks
It’s delicious and healthy! It was a big hit at family gathering.
Hi Yvette,
Thank you for all your great recipes. For the dressing do you think it would change the taste if I used cilantro paste instead of cilantro leaves?
Blessings from California!
Hi! Yes, cilantro paste works just fine—just start with a small amount and taste as you go, since it’s more concentrated than fresh. Enjoy, and blessings right back from Colorado!