Cowboy Caviar: Spicy Black Bean, Corn and Fresh Tomato Salsa
If you make ONE dish this summer or for the big game, it absolutely hands-down has to be Cowboy Caviar.
This spicy black bean, corn and fresh tomato salsa recipe is AMAZING with the right combination of sweet and spice.
Last summer, I went to a gathering of friends in Central Colorado and one of the gals brought this dish to the party.
People were actually using spoons to eat it, this stuff is so good.
Be sure to check out the rest of our easy party appetizer recipes, too!
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After much debate, we decided it needed an official name.
And being in cowboy country, we quickly realized that this fresh salsa is nothing short of Cowboy Caviar.
Thank goodness she was willing to share her recipe with me.
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And while this is a “salsa,” I’ll readily admit that this was my lunch this week. Yes, it’s that good!
Can Cowboy Caviar Be Made Ahead of Time
Yes, Cowboy Caviar can absolutely be made ahead of time, and in fact, it often tastes even better when prepared in advance. Making it ahead allows the flavors to meld and intensify. Here are some tips for preparing Cowboy Caviar in advance:
Chilling Time: After making the Cowboy Caviar, cover it and place it in the refrigerator for at least a few hours, or even overnight. This chilling time allows the ingredients to marinate and the flavors to blend.
Stir Before Serving: Before serving, give the Cowboy Caviar a good stir to make sure all the ingredients are well mixed.
Adjust Seasoning: Taste it before serving and adjust the seasonings if needed. Over time, the flavors can become more intense, so a little extra salt or lime juice might be necessary.
Fresh Ingredients: While the dish can be made ahead, if you’re using ingredients that are prone to wilting (like avocados), you might want to add them just before serving to maintain their freshness.
Storage: Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve. If you’re making it a day or two in advance, be sure to cover it well with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
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Cowboy Caviar is a perfect make-ahead dish for picnics, barbecues, or parties.
The convenience of making it in advance not only enhances the flavors but also allows you to save time on the day of your gathering.
Use Fresh Ingredients
The key to this salsa, in addition to the right combination of flavors is to use fresh ingredients.
Personlly, we like to get the kids involved an husk that corn! What better sensory experience and wonderful way to connect your kids to healthy foods.
Be sure to check out all of our family-friendly Mexican recipes!
And speaking of cowboy recipes!
Don’t miss out on my mouth-watering Cowboy Burger Recipe with Grilled Pickles and Crispy Onion Straws. You won’t be the same afterward!
Also, have you ever heard of Cowboy Candy? I hadn’t either until I came across this sweet and spicy recipe.
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Cowboy Cavier Recipe Ingredients
For full ingredient measurements, scroll down to the cowboy cavier recipe card.
- whole kernel corn
- vine-ripened tomatoes
- jalapeño peppers
- red onions
- green bell pepper
- black-eyed peas
- black beans
- Italian-style salad dressing
- garlic salt
- extra-virgin olive oil
How to Make Cowboy Caviar Recipe
Gently combined the fresh corn tomatoes, black-eyed peas, black beans, onion, green bell pepper and jalapeno peppers.
Season with salad dressing and garlic salt.
Add olive oil and mix well.
Serve with tortilla chips.
Tip: For spicy salsa, keep the seeds from the jalapeños in!
More Cowboy Recipes
Saddle up and explore the hearty flavors of the Wild West with these cowboy-inspired recipes sure to satisfy any hungry cowpoke’s appetite.
- Cowboy Burger Recipe with Grilled Pickles and Crispy Onion Straws
- Cowboy Cookies
- Cowboy Caviar Salsa
- Cowboy Mashed Potatoes
- Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
- Smashburger Spicy Cowboy Burger
- Cowboy Pie
Cowboy Caviar: Spicy Black Bean, Corn and Fresh Tomato Salsa
This spicy black bean, corn and fresh tomato salsa recipe is AMAZING with the right combination of sweet and spice.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped vine-ripened tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cup whole kernel corn (or 15oz.)
- 1/4 cup diced jalapeno peppers with the seeds removed
- 1/2 cup small diced red onions
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 15 oz. (1 can) black-eyed peas, drained
- 15 oz. (1 can) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup Italian-style salad dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Gently combined the fresh corn tomatoes, black-eyed peas, black beans, onion, green bell pepper and jalapeno peppers.
- Season with salad dressing and garlic salt.
- Add olive oil and mix well.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Notes
I prefer to use fresh ingredients as much as possible... but I don't make my own black beans and black-eyed peas! Feel free to use canned items for these ingredients. But the fresher the ingredients for everything else, the better the taste!
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Love all these flavors & the changes to your blog 🙂 Hope that you are doing great! 🙂
Cathy
Yum! This is one of my all time favorites for parties, yet I never make it for myself. I’m going to pin this so I remember to make it.
Thanks for linking up with Share the Wealth Sunday!
Thank you for joining our Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday Link Party this looks delicious, cant wait to try it out myself. Have a great day, co-host Evija @Fromevijawithlove
Seriousy, Evija… if you make one recipe this summer, it has to be Cowboy Caviar! No one can resist this stuff 😀
This looks so delicious and refreshing. I kitchen garden, so I will have fresh ingredients to use in my dish. I grow my own jalapenos, so mine will be hot! Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best linkup. Hope you will join again.
I made this recipe again this weekend for a gathering… but this time the jalepenos were nice and fresh. Boy did they have some great kick to them! Happy eating 😀
This looks so good and it’s a great way to get in your veggies!! Thanks for joining us on Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday!
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com
It’s a sneaky way to get in your veggies. I made my Cowboy Caviar recipe again this weekend and people were scooping it up!
Hello beautiful! This looks so amazing. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you on Monday at 7pm because we love to party with you! Happy Memorial Day! Lou Lou Girls
2 weeks ago I had some at a barbecue and they had gotten it from Costco. So happy to see now I can make my own! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty. Hope to see you again Friday.
Costco does a great job… but I’m going to be biased and say mine’s the best 😀
Thanks for sharing your recipe–I want to make it right now! If it tastes half as good as it looks, it’ll be a keeper!
It’s my family’s absolute favorite! Just made a batch this weekend and it was gone within a day 🙂
I adore trying different kinds of salsa and this looks mighty tasty with the black beans and corn. Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays.
This is our absolutely favorite! This summer I’ll probably end up making it at least once a week — it quickly becomes lunch 😀
This looks delicious and perfect for a summer gathering! Thanks so much for linking up your recipe at our Share The Wealth Sunday blog hop! xoxo
You had me at jalapeno!! Looks delish and thanks for sharing on Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Trust me… make this once and it will become an absolute favorite!
We love love this recipe, great for snacks and love it for breakfast, cause I just do!!
This looks delish!!! Love it!!! Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe, Jennifer!!!
Cowboy Caviar is a Texas staple for a party and your recipe looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,447 this week. Hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
I am making this tomorrow! Looks delish! Found you at Fiesta Friday #291
Thank you for sharing this at Fiesta Friday party! It looks absolutely delish!