Easy Cowboy Caviar (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
This colorful 15-minute cowboy caviar (“Texas Caviar”) is a hearty bean-based salad with a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Bring it to your next game day party, or summer potluck – it’s perfect as an appetizer served with tortilla chips, or a side dish with grilled meats or tacos. Naturally gluten-free and vegan too.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
What Is Cowboy Caviar?
With it’s origins in Texas, cowboy caviar was originally served as “Texas Caviar” in the 1940s by chef Helen Corbitt at the Houston Country Club – a fun and affordable alternative to traditional caviar – with the main ingredient being black-eyed peas served in a vinaigrette.
As time passed, different versions appeared, with many adding black beans, as well as colorful veggies like tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, avocado and cilantro, creating a flavorful dip that pairs so deliciously with tortilla chips. A crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s literally finger-lickin’ good!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe:
- Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients required for this cowboy caviar recipes are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy required)!
- Super Easy to Make: This simple appetizer comes together in just 15 minutes (no cooking required!), and then just let it chill before serving! In fact, it tastes better after sitting for a few hours, which means you can prep it ahead of time for easy entertaining!
- Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan: The best part is that this recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan (no fish involved despite the name!).
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for making this cowboy caviar.
(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
How to Make Cowboy Caviar:
Combine Bean Mixture:Â Add the black beans, black-eyed peas, diced tomato, corn, green pepper, and red onion to a large mixing bowl.
Prepare Dressing:Â In a small jar, combine olive oil, fresh lime juice, garlic, oregano, black pepper, and salt. Seal tightly and shake until well mixed.
Toss Bean Mixture with Dressing and Add Avocado:Â Pour the homemade dressing over the bean mixture and stir to combine. Peel the avocado, remove the pit, dice it, and add to the bowl.
Mix Well & Chill:Â Gently mix to avoid mashing the avocado. Cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and chill for at least 30 minutes, then stir again before serving.
Serve & Enjoy: Serve the chilled cowboy caviar with fresh cilantro, corn chips, and lime wedges.
Dish by Dish Tips:
- Chill Before Serving: This dish is best served cold, and in fact tastes better after chilling for a few hours. So definitely make sure you take the time to chill it before serving!
- Add a Kick of Heat: If you enjoy a bit of heat, feel free to add in 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh jalapeños.
- Optional Seasonings: I used black pepper and salt for seasoning, but go ahead and add in other condiments such as garlic powder or onion powder for even more flavor!
Other Gluten-Free Dips You’ll Enjoy:
Easy Gluten-Free Appetizers:
P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!
Easy Cowboy Caviar (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Description
This colorful 15-minute cowboy caviar (“Texas Caviar”) is a hearty bean-based salad with a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Bring it to your next game day party, or summer potluck – it’s perfect as an appetizer served with tortilla chips, or a side dish with grilled meats or tacos. Naturally gluten-free and vegan too.
Ingredients
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup canned black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup sweet corn kernels
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 avocado
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine Bean Mixture: Add the black beans, black-eyed peas, diced tomato, corn, green pepper, and red onion to a large bowl.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small jar, combine olive oil, lime juice, garlic, oregano, black pepper, and salt. Seal tightly and shake until well mixed.
- Toss Bean Mixture with Dressing: Pour the dressing over the bean mixture and stir to combine.
- Add Avocado: Peel the avocado, remove the pit, dice it, and add to the bowl.
- Mix Well & Chill: Gently mix to avoid mashing the avocado. Cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and chill for at least 30 minutes, then stir again before serving.
- Serve & Enjoy: Serve this Texas caviar with fresh cilantro, corn chips, and fresh lime wedges.
Notes
Beans: I used canned black beans for convenience. Feel free to cook dried beans from scratch if you prefer.
Black-Eyed Peas: I used canned black-eyed peas for convenience. Feel free to cook dried black-eyed peas from scratch if you prefer.
Olive Oil: I like extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor in this cowboy caviar. Since there is no cooking involved, I recommend that you use the best quality olive oil you can afford.
Lime Juice: For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed lime juice.
Chill Before Serving: For best results, chill the cowboy caviar for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Chilling Time: 30 mins
- Category: Appetizer, Dips
- Cuisine: American
