Cowboy Caviar Salsa Recipe (VIDEO)
This Cowboy Caviar salsa is wonderfully fresh, healthy, simple and loaded! We make this salsa all summer long. It makes a big batch so it is an ideal summer party dip. A surprising ingredient infuses every bite with incredible flavor. This cowboy caviar (a.k.a. Texas Caviar) always disappears fast!
Annie, my classmate from nursing school, shared this cowboy caviar recipe with me 8 years ago and it has been in the regular rotation at our house ever since. It is a keeper! Watch the video tutorial and you’ll be running to the grocery store for ingredients!
Cowboy Caviar Salsa Ingredients:
This cowboy caviar salsa is so colorful. I’ve been known to sneak in an extra avocado. Don’t be intimidated by the jalapeños – the Italian dressing mellows it out and even the kids love it!
Fresh tomatoes elevate this salsa when they are in season, but the beauty of this salsa is it can be made all-year long! During the winter months, we use canned or frozen corn and in the summer months we add freshly cooked corn on the cob.
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If you want to venture out and make your own black beans, check out our tutorial on how to cook beans. We love making the full batch of beans and freezing portions in ziploc bags for various recipes.
What is Cowboy Caviar (a.k.a. Texas Caviar)?
- Texas caviar is a salsa dip which usually has beans such as black beans or black eyed peas. We often interchange these two beans based on what we have on hand and either one works great.
- This dip/salsa is unique because it has a vinaigrette-style dressing (we use Italian dressing to keep it super simple).
- We always serve this with tortilla chips as an appetizer but it can be served as a topping for tacos, burritos, or served as a salad.
How to Make Cowboy Caviar:
Step 1: Chop the ingredients
Step 2: Mix the ingredients.
It really is that easy! To make this salsa even faster, use a food chopper like this one (Amazon affiliate link). You can make it several hours ahead and leftovers are still great the next day.
Salsa Recipe Ideas to Explore:
- Shrimp Avocado Salsa – we are obsessed!
- Mango Salsa with Avocado – perfect on everything
- Fresh Peach salsa – perfect as an appetizer or topping
- Roasted Tomato Salsa – we stockpile this in the freezer
Watch How to Make Cowboy Caviar:
See Natasha make this Cowboy Caviar Recipe. I hope it becomes a new favorite appetizer for you! If you enjoy our videos, please subscribe to our cooking channel on Youtube and click the bell icon so you will be the first to know when we post a new video!
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Print-Friendly Salsa Recipe:
Cowboy Caviar Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 Roma tomatoes diced
- 1 bell bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 2 jalapeño peppers seeded and finely diced
- 1 large avocado peeled, pitted and diced
- 15 oz can corn drained (or from 1 cooked cob of corn)
- 15 oz can black beans well rinsed and drained (or make your own)
- 1/2 bunch of cilantro About 1/2 cup chopped
- 3-4 Tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 cup light Italian Dressing *
- 4 medium garlic cloves pressed
- 1 tsp sea salt or to taste
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine diced tomatoes, chopped onion and bell pepper, seeded and diced jalapeño, sliced avocado, drained corn, rinsed and drained black beans and chopped cilantro.
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Stir in 3-4 Tbsp of lime juice, 1/2 cup of Italian dressing, 4 pressed garlic cloves and 1 tsp of salt or season to taste. Mix everything together and serve with tortilla chips.
Recipe Notes
We use either Newmans Own or Olive Garden brand light Italian dressing.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Have you discovered Cowboy Caviar (such a fun name for a salsa – right)? What is YOUR all-time favorite summer salsa?
natashaskitchen
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Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I made this today, and instead of an italian dressing I used one called “Sweet Cilantro Lime” (Sams choice brand aka Walmart). It really added a wonderful flavor. Everyone loved it. Thanks for the perfect recipe.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Can I substitute the cilantro with parsley? Will it change the flavor immensely?
Hi Irene, several of our readers have done the same and loved it!
Appreciate your quick reply! I plan to make it tomorrow and can’t wait to try it!
I made this for a cookout and it is really good. I served it with tostitos scoops. It’s make a large amount of salsa so it is perfect for a party. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
The video includes 6 cloves of garlic; however, the garlic is not included in the recipe. Was is it an omission or was this not to be included?
Hi Kathy! We have garlic incuded in the recipe list. See the printable option towards the bottom of the post.
This is excellent.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that Kathy!
Great healthy appetizer that never goes to waste!
We never have leftovers! Definitely a favorite around here!
How long will this last in the frisge..i made it tonight for 4th of july wkend…it looks really good
Hi Cindy, It will keep well for a few days in the refrigerator. Happy 4th of July! This is a great choice for the 4th of July weekend!
Lovely light lunch to take to work, and can be prepped ahead making it a great time saver. Very tasty and versatile as you can add extras to it liked cooked chicken.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that Leanne. Thank you for sharing that with us!
This is awesome! In fact, it’s really a meal in a bowl if you want it to be! Doesn’t need chips. You can add a scoop of rice to the bottom of your bowl if desired or grilled chicken to the mixture but I don’t when using this as a meal.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I’ve made this and it’s the best cowboy caviar recipe ever – dressing is secret ingredient for sure! I wonder if you could add large shrimp to tge recipe and have as a luncheon meal – what do you think?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I haven’t tried that but I think that should work!
I just need to understand the black bean ingredient when it said. In the same sentence “black beans,( or make your own)” and I don’t understand,is there something I am missing or is that sentence misplaced?
Hi Michelle, we posted more about that within in the recipe including a link to make your own beans. You can follow that link here 🙂
Hi I’m doing a Daniel fast with my church and this would look perfect with the exception of Italian dressing since it has sugar in it and I think Parmesan cheese that I can’t have. Is there a substitute I can use? Or is it best I just wait to make it after the fast with original ingredients?
This dressing compliments the salad very well. To get the full experience you can wait or simply use a dressing that is okay to use with the fast. I’d love to know how you like that.
What can be substituted for the avocado? I am allergic to those,
Hi Sharon, its near impossible to replace certain tastes and textures, we recommend testing out what suits you best or omitting that.
Do you have a receipe for Sea Salt Caramels?
I am loving all your wonderful receipes and your videos….following you daily…..thank you so much…..God Bless…..
Hi Geri! I’m so happy you are enjoying our recipes! I do not have a recipe for caramels however this caramel sauce recipe is quite popular
So delicious! The flavor. I am all about flavor. Big thumbs up.
That’s so great! Thank you for the wonderful review!!
I made this yesterday for my daughter’s birthday. It was such a hit! People loved it. Was all gone! Thank you for the recipe Natasha!
That’s so great! Thank you for the wonderful review! 🙂
I love all of your recipes, but I should never watch you cook when I am hungry….I wish you lived next door!!!
love this! Thank you Lynne! 🙂
This is listed under “Paleo” recipes, but black beans are not allowed on the paleo diet. Just wanted to point that out so there is no confusion for people who are trying to adhere to that type of diet.
Hi Sharon. Thank you for sharing That with us! Our readers will find that helpful.
how do you come up with 38g of sugar??
Hi Tina, oh my goodness you are right! The recipe calculator I used somehow read that as 15 oz of candy corn. Goodness gracious that is definitely wrong! I updated the recipe card. Now I’m setting off to check all of my corn recipes. WOW!! Thanks for asking 🙂
If I didn’t want to use ready made Italian dressing, could you recommend a vinegar based dressing recipe like you mentioned in the introduction to this recipe?
Thanks
Hi Peggy, we don’t have an Italian dressing recipe posted yet, but most Italian homemade dressing would work. The clear ones are better as opposed to the creamy ones for this recipe. You could also use a lemon dressing similar to what is in this salad and that will work here and adjust the seasoning to taste.
Just wanted to leave a recipe suggestion, I tried this pirog and it was delicious. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hC9wazAFSEY
Btw, my kiddos love watching your videos/bloopers can go all day watching them, often copy you when I serve them their meals saying, “time for the taste test.” 😄
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me :). I’m all smiles!
I made this last night. Very delicious… So happy……
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
I love how this looks. I despise Kraft Italian salad dressing it tastes like chemicals to me. What Italian dressing do you use? I usually like your recipes but not sure what to do about the Italian dressing part I think it might ruin it for me anyway
Hi Janine, you can absolutely use your favorite and we don’t usually use Kraft in this recipe, but I did recommend 2 brands that we prefer in the recipe above. You can use whichever brand you prefer or normally would purchase 🙂
Ah thanks didn’t see what you recommended I will give it a try
You’re welcome!
Natasha! Making this for the third day in a row and I can not tell you HOW MUCH MY DAD LOVES THIS. He won’t stop raving about how fresh and healthy and all the right ingredients this is “otse same ludshe, vobshe the best” haha! Already memorized the ingredients, super easy and simple to make, I just add a little less Italian dressing and use fresh tomatoes from the garden. You’re awesome for sharing this!
That’s so awesome Jenna! I love the mix of Russian & English in the same sentence! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review with me!
Oh this looks yum, I’m very tempted to make it even though it’s winter here ☺️
p.s it says 1 bell bell pepper in the print friendly recipe 😉
Oh oops thanks for catching that – should be 1 Red bell pepper 🙂
It’s been three weeks and the oops has not been corrected. My first time on the website and I noticed it right away.
I have a recipe for Cowboy Caviar that I just love. Very similar to this one. I make it a gallon at a time and I live alone. My favorite vegetable dish. The recipe for the dressing is as follows:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
Love it!
That sounds wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!! 🙂
Very appealing but will try later. I am still in the chicken recepies that I adore.
I’m so happy to hear you are loving our recipes 🙂 I hope you enjoy this cowboy caviar just as much!
Just made a half portion to try before serving to a group. Definitely making this to share! Spice level was suitable for a mixed crowd. We tend to favor a bit more of a kick and will double the jalapeño in a batch for half the group. Either way, this was fresh, crisp and worthy of repeating in the future!
Thank you, Natasha for a new go-to recipe!
You’re welcome Kelli! I’m glad you enjoy the recipe enough to share it. Thanks for sharing your fantastic review with other readers!
Thank you for the recipe! How long does it keep in the fridge and is it freezable?
Hi Anastasia, I haven’t tried freezing so I can’t say for sure – you might test with a small batch to see how it thaws. We have always enjoyed it fresh.
Can I make this ahead of time and keep it in the fridge?
Hi Amanda, yes it does keep for a day or two in the fridge. 🙂
I have a tradition with my husband, and that is making a few appetizers while we watch Sunday’s game. I have already tried one dip from this website and this will be my next recipe! I love how simple and yet delicious these recipes are. I am also making the ceviche tomorrow! Can’t wait!
Make sure to get some tobasco or hot sauce to drizzle over the top 🙂 I’m so glad you like the recipes!!
Tanks for the recommendation! I will!
If I add chick peas to this salad will the taste b the same?
Chickpeas might a little firm for this salad. It might throw the texture off a little. I’d stick with the beans.
Looks wonderful, nothing like fresh salsa in the summer!
I know what you mean about nursing! I finished nursing school a few years ago, and I actually went to BYU-Idaho’s program in Rexburg and loved it! I love looking at your site–good luck with school!
Natasha,
I made this for our 4th of July party it was awesome, everyone loved it. I’ve made couple of things from your site and everything is always delicious:)
Thank you,
Elina
Don’t apologize, Natalia. Life happens. If it didn’t you would have nothing about which to blog. And congratulations on getting this far in the nursing program.
May I respectfully suggest that you change 1/2 of a cilantro bushel
to read 1/2 of a cilantro BUNCH? A half bushel would be 4 gallons of cilantro. Other than that it sounds great, almost a cross between a traditional fresh salsa and “southern caviar.”
Bet it would be great rolled up in a flour tortilla.
good eye Joe, I got it fixed.
Thanks for posting all of these recipes. I recently found your website and am really excited about it. Thanks for your hard work!!!
thank you Natasha for sharing your recipes with others, I like your site a lot and I just don’t know how you have time for all these – nursing school and family is a lot, but you also find time for cooking I think you just very gifted girl. God bless you