This hearty and bright appetizer / party dish features a variety of vegetables marinated in a vinaigrette dressing. It is important to make Cowboy Caviar a day in advance of when you plan to serve it to allow the vegetables to absorb the flavor of the marinade.
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Recipes from Gran Nan’s Kitchen
Oblong Bowl — set of 4 (similar) | Linen Napkin
What Ingredients Are Used To Make Cowboy Caviar?
This recipe includes canned and fresh vegetables and other ingredients. The star is black-eyed peas! The ingredients include:
- Black-eyed peas
- Corn
- Tomatoes
- Bell pepper
- Yellow onion
- Green onions
- Jalapeno peppers
- Garlic
- Italian dressing
- Cilantro
- Tortilla chips (for dipping)
What Kitchen Tools Are Needed To Make Cowboy Caviar?
Since no cooking is required, only a few kitchen tools are needed to make Cowboy Caviar.
When Is The Best Time To Serve This Dish?
While this hearty vegetable dip can be served any time of the year, I especially like to make and serve it during the warm weather months. It’s best served cold and having access to flavorful tomatoes makes a big difference to the taste. You typically won’t have to worry about food safety, since no mayo, meat or eggs are used in its preparation. Of course, this is also a great dish to make for New Year’s Day, since the black-eyed peas are a prevalent component (for those who believe eating peas brings good fortune in the new year.) Other occasions that call for this dish include:
- Barbecues
- Picnics
- Pool parties
- Pot lucks
- Game days
- Family gatherings
Oblong Bowl — set of 4 (similar) | Linen Napkin
Cowboy Caviar Serving Suggestions
I like to serve Cowboy Caviar in a pretty serving bowl with a basket of tortilla chips on the side. For a more involved presentation, small bowls of additional toppings can be served alongside the dish, especially if this is one of the main components of a meal or you need to tailor the recipe for someone who doesn’t like the spiciness of the jalapenos (or is looking for more heat) or another component…yes, cilantro, we’re looking at you.
- Sour cream or non-fat yogurt
- Black olives
- Pickled jalapenos
- Chopped fresh jalapenos
- Additional sliced green onions
- Additional chopped tomatoes
Oblong Bowl — set of 4 (similar) | Linen Napkin
What Are The Best Dippers To Use With Cowboy Caviar?
Since this is a heftier dip, I like to use a more substantial chip for the dipper. And the taste of corn in tortilla chips or corn chips makes for a flavorful combo. KN loves it with the Siete tortilla chips, and my favorites include:
- Fritos Scoops/Corn Chips
- Tostitos Scoops
- Round tortilla chips
- Trader Joe’s Corn Dippers
Can Other Canned Beans Be Used To Make Cowboy Caviar?
I like to use canned black-eyed peas to make Cowboy Caviar, due to their mild flavor and tender texture. But you can certainly substitute or even add additional canned beans to the recipe, such as black beans, pinto beans, white beans or garbanzo beans. If you are adding additional beans, you may also need to add additional jalapenos, tomatoes, seasoning and/or dressing, depending on the spice or tanginess level you want to achieve.
Oblong Bowl — set of 4 (similar) | Linen Napkin
Cowboy Caviar Leftover Ideas
If you have leftovers and don’t want to keep dipping, Cowboy Caviar is an excellent topping for chicken or fish tacos, nachos or as a side with other vegetables. You can even mix it into a rice bowl, or, punch up the protein and mix it with quinoa — which is exactly how I’ve eaten it the past two days and grabbed this quick snapshot!
How to Make Cowboy Caviar
Print, pin, or save the recipe below!
Cowboy Caviar
This hearty, flavorful dip is made of fresh and canned vegetables and marinated in a vinaigrette dressing.
Ingredients
- 2 cans black-eyed peas
- 2 cans corn
- 2 tomatoes (medium, finely chopped)
- 1 bell pepper (finely chopped)
- 1 yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 4 green onions (sliced)
- 1-2 jalapeno peppers (seeded & minced)
- 1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 1/3 cup cilantro (chopped)
- garlic salt
- onion salt
Instructions
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Open cans of black-eyed peas and corn and dump into the colander (or drain with the can strainers) and rinse. Add to the mixing bowl.
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Finely chop the tomatoes, bell pepper and onion. Add to the mixing bowl.
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Slice the green onions. Mince the jalapeno peppers and garlic. Add to the mixing bowl.
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Measure out one cup of Italian dressing and add to the mixing bowl.
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Add a couple of shakes of garlic salt and/or onion salt and stir.
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Stir the mixture well, cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
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When you are ready to serve, drain the mixture, add the cilantro and mix to incorporate.
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Spoon the mixture into a serving bowl. Serve with tortilla or corn chips for dipping.
Oblong Bowl — set of 4 (similar) | Linen Napkin
More Summer & Potluck Recipes to Check Out
- Black Bean, Rice, & Feta Salad
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Four Bean Salad Recipe — A Refreshing Side Dish Served Cold
- Cornbread Salad — The Perfect Spring Or Summer Side & Potluck Favorite
- The Perfect Summer Side Dish: 3 Ingredient Potato Salad
- Homemade (and Easy to Make!) Salsa — Put It On Your Summer List!
- Friend Favorite, Most Requested Simple Guacamole Recipe
- Hot and Spicy Chicken Dip — Add it to the Menu for the Big Game!
- Your Next Easy Party App! Broccoli Dip (AKA Frog Dip)
- Yummy Chicken Ball Appetizer — the Nostalgic Cheese Ball Alternative to Try Now
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