Ultimate Cowboy Caviar Recipe

This Cowboy Caviar recipe is a great vegetarian, high-protein lunch idea. It's got veggies, beans, and the best tangy dressing!

You may think of Cowboy Caviar as a side dish you take to a potluck but really, I LOVE making this as a no-cook lunch recipe. It's so perfect for summer!

Why you'll love this recipe

• Delicious dressing: The homemade tangy dressing is super flavourful and made with pantry staples.
• Packed with protein: It's full of plant-based protein thanks to the black beans and black-eyed peas.
• Budget meal: The ingredient for this recipe are cheap, making it a frugal meal prep or potluck recipe.

Ingredients and substitutions

Dressing

• Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like avocado oil or canola oil.
• Lime juice – freshly squeezed is best but bottled will work.
• Red wine vinegar – white wine vinegar would be the best substitute here.
• Dijon mustard – you can try using stone-ground mustard, although the flavour will be slightly different.
• Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best. Jarred minced garlic will work in a pinch.
• Chili powder – use a combination of paprika, cumin and cayenne instead, or use taco seasoning in place of the cumin and chili powder.
• Cumin – coriander is the best substitute for cumin.
• Fresh cilantro – leave this out altogether or use parsley if you’re not a fan of cilantro.

Salad

• Black beans – pinto beans or kidney beans could also be used.
• Black-eyed peas – try Southern Pink Lady beans, pinto beans or lima beans instead.
• Hothouse tomato – use any other kind of tomato you might have on hand.
• Frozen corn – canned corn or fresh corn would also work here.
• Jalapeño – use poblano peppers for spice or bell peppers for a milder option.
• Green onions – try using chives or leave these out altogether.
• Bell pepper – use any colour bell pepper of your choosing.
• Red onion – white onion or yellow onion would also work but will have a milder flavour.
• Avocado – you could also try using some guacamole instead.
• Tortilla chips – your favourite store-bought brand or homemade would both be good!

How to make cowboy caviar

Step 1: Prep your ingredients.

It's easier to make the recipe if you have everything chopped and ready.

Step 2: Make the dressing.

Mix the dressing ingredients together.

Step 3: Toss with the salad ingredients.

Toss all ingredients gently to combine.

Step 4: Let it sit for 2 hours.

Let the mixture sit for at least 2 hours so the flavours can develop, then serve.

Frequently asked questions

Why is this dish called cowboy caviar?

Cowboy caviar was created in the 1940s. It was given the name cowboy caviar as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the famous expensive appetizer of fish eggs. While the black-eyed peas might slightly resemble caviar, there actually isn’t any caviar (or seafood) in this recipe.

Can I use another kind of dressing?

This black bean salad is made using a flavourful homemade vinaigrette, but you can try out different salad dressings of your choice like Italian dressing. You could also try adding some hot sauce or avocado crema to the dressing for even more flavour.

How can I add more protein?

This cowboy caviar dressing actually contains quite a bit of plant-based protein thanks to the black beans or black-eyed peas, but if you want to add some more protein, feel free to add in some edamame, cooked bacon or turkey bacon, chicken breast or steak.

What to serve with cowboy caviar

• Serve your cowboy caviar as a side salad or appetizer.
• This also goes great with with tortilla chips, or as a topping for your tacos!
• You can serve this caviar in these taco lettuce wraps too!

How to store

Make ahead: You can make this up to 2 days in advance. Wait to add avocado until just before serving so it doesn’t brown.

Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Stir well before serving.

Meal prep tools

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this cowboy caviar into leftovers.
• I like this salad dressing shaker to make homemade dressings and marinades easier.