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This classic recipe for Cowboy Caviar is full of fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors! It only takes 5 minutes to prepare, so you can have a fun appetizer ready in no time. Whether you’re looking for a new topping to liven up Taco Tuesdays or an easy-to-make snack for casual entertaining, this is the recipe for you!
Having been raised here in the South, I grew up enjoying this recipe! It’s a perfect dip to serve any time of year, but especially during the spring and summer when you can find homegrown veggies and herbs.
Cowboy Caviar can be eaten as an appetizer, snack, lunch, or even a side dish for supper since it’s so packed full of protein! The flavors of this recipe are bright and vibrant, with a fantastic spicy kick from the jalapeños.
This is also one of the most budget-friendly recipes you can find! Many of the ingredients are canned, so they’re inexpensive, and they’ll keep in the pantry for a while. Cowboy Caviar is ideal for feeding a crowd since it’s an easy recipe to double or triple.
Make This Recipe For…
- Family Dinners
- Block Parties and Cookouts and Barbecues
- Super Bowl Parties
- Game Day and Tailgating
- Potlucks and Covered Dish Suppers
- Casual Entertaining
- Birthday Celebrations
- Graduation Parties
Ingredients Needed To Make Cowboy Caviar
- Black-Eyed Peas – drained and rinsed
- Whole Kernel Corn – drained
- Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilies – do not drain
- Fresh Jalapeño Peppers – minced
- Onion – minced
- Fresh Cilantro – can substitute parsley
- Italian Dressing
- Lemon Juice
- Salt
PRO TIP: Using canned Black Eyed Peas and Corn is definitely the easiest way to make this recipe, and the one you’ll use most often. But, if you’re willing to put in the time, cooking your own black eyed peas is also a great option!
How To Make Cowboy Caviar
This recipe is just about as straightforward as it gets! All you’ll need is 9 simple pantry ingredients, about 5 minutes of preparation, and an hour to let it chill before you can serve this dip and enjoy it!
- Begin by adding black-eyed peas, corn kernels, and Rotel tomatoes and chilies to a large mixing bowl. Stir all those tasty ingredients together until well combined.
- To the black-eyed pea mixture, add your minced jalapeño peppers, onion, cilantro, Italian dressing, lemon juice, and salt.
- Mix the cowboy caviar until all the ingredients are equally distributed, then place the bowl into the fridge for an hour to allow all the flavors to marry.
Additions and Substitutions For Cowboy Caviar
One of the best parts of this recipe is that you can really make it your own. Here are a couple of my favorites to add.
Additions
- Bell Pepper – diced or minced
- Avocado – diced or cut into chunks
- Lime Juice – about 1/2 a lime
- Black Beans – one can drained
- Red Onion – diced or minced
Substitutions
- Red Wine Vinaigrette or Vinegar – in place of the Italian Dressing
- Fresh Tomatoes – as a substitute for the Rotel Tomatoes and Chilies
- Thawed Frozen Corn – in place of canned corn
How To Serve Cowboy Caviar
This recipe can be served a million different ways, so don’t stop at enjoying it as a dip.
Serving Cowboy Caviar As A Dip
- For Your Family – This dip makes a terrific appetizer for when dinner isn’t ready yet but people are getting hungry. For a pre-dinner snack, I portion out a couple of servings into smaller bowls and place them on the counter with a bowl of chips.
- Casually Entertaining – I have a large round Chip and Dip Serving Platter that I like to use for this recipe. Place the Cowboy Caviar in the bowl in the center and then surround it with corn chips or lime-flavored chips
- Outdoor Parties – Cowboy Caviar is terrific to serve with grilled food, and at any backyard party. Since this Dip is best served chilled, I like to use my Serving Platter On Ice so that it stays nice and cold while people are eating.
Serving Cowboy Caviar As A Topping
If you want to take your Taco Tuesday game to the next level, add a spoonful of Cowboy Caviar! Here are a couple of my favorite recipes to add as a topping:
How To Store Cowboy Caviar
As long as you don’t eat it all in one sitting, which can definitely happen, it will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Make sure you keep it sealed up in an airtight container.
More Recipes You’ll Love…
- Hot Reuben Dip Recipe
- Ultimate Crock Pot Party Meatballs
- Homemade Ranch Dip
- Easy Beef and Cheddar Sliders
- Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Cowboy Caviar
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cans Black-eyed peas – drained and rinsed
- 1 can Whole kernel corn – drained or 1 ½ cups of thawed frozen corn
- 1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies – do not drain
- 1/2 cup Fresh jalapeño peppers – minced
- 1/2 cup Onion – minced
- 1/4 cup Chopped cilantro – can substitute Parsley
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- Juice of one Lemon
- Pinch of Salt
Instructions
- Begin by adding black eyed peas, corn kernels and rotel tomatoes and chilies to a large mixing bowl. Stir all those tasty ingredients together until well combined.
- To the black eyed pea mixture, add your minced jalapeño peppers, onion, cilantro, italian dressing, lemon juice, and salt.
- Mix the cowboy caviar until all of the ingredients are equally distributed, then place the bowl into the fridge for an hour to allow all the flavors to marry.
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