This tangy Cowboy Caviar is perfect for parties and backyard barbecues. It’s great served as a side dish or a dip.

Cowboy caviar in a small black bowl with chips in the background.

If you have not had the opportunity to try a cowboy caviar recipe, you are in for quite the treat! I am seriously so excited for you to make this. If you have tried it before, you are still in for a treat. This cowboy caviar recipe is so simple and is one of my favorite party dips and snacks.

I love all of the fresh veggies throughout the dip. Also, can I just point out the beautiful colors within this cowboy caviar recipe? I could stare at it all day except for the fact that I cannot resist eating it for longer than just a few minutes! I just do not have that kind of will power, folks, and neither will you after you make this!

A hand dipping into the dip with a chip.

Recipe Questions Answered:

What is cowboy caviar?

Cowboy caviar is a mix between a dip and a salad that is loaded with veggies and beans, and flavored with a light red vinaigrette. You can serve it as an appetizer or dip or as a side dish. This dish pairs well with any barbecue main dish. 

All of the ingredients needed to make the caviar.

How long will cowboy caviar last?

This dip will say fresh in the fridge for 4-5 days. The vegetables may release some water but if you give the salad a good stir before serving you will not have a problem.

Due to all of the veggies and fresh herbs in this cowboy caviar recipe it will not freeze very well. The vegetables will become wilted, limp, and just sad. They will loose their crispness as they thaw. Consequently, you will want to only store the cowboy caviar dip in the fridge and enjoy it within that 4-5 day timeframe.

 

Dip made with black eyed peas, bell peppers, green onions, celery, and fresh herbs.

What else can be added to cowboy caviar?

The great thing about this recipe is the plethora of options that you can add into it.

You can add:

  • Chopped red onion
  • crumbled goat cheese or feta
  • Can of rinsed and drained chickpeas (my favorite add-in)
  • Can of rinsed and drained black beans
  • Diced raw tomatoes
  • Frozen and thawed corn
  • Chopped black olives
  • lize zest from 1 lime 

A chip being dipped into the cowboy caviar recipe.

How do you eat cowboy caviar? 

There are so many ways to eat cowboy caviar. You can take a standard salad or pasta salad and turn it into something amazing by using the cowboy caviar as the dressing on top.

This recipe makes a large batch, so it is a great party dip for a crowd. You can serve it over chips as loaded nachos, on top of a burrito bowl, inside tacos, burritos, or even quesadillas.

You can also add it onto a turkey sandwich to kick it up a notch. Oooh, mixed with scrambled eggs would be delicious, too! The options are literally endless!

Dip in a black bowl.

Cook’s Note – Cowboy Caviar Dip:

  • This dip will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days.
  • I personally like the flavor of this dip best after 2 days in the refrigerator. The flavors really pop as the vegetables, aromatics, and fresh herbs marinate all together.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. 

Cook’s Tools:

  • mixing bowl
  • wooden spoon

ONE YEAR AGO: Healthier General Tso Chicken

TWO YEARS AGO: Picadillo Tacos

THREE YEARS AGO: Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork

Overhead picture of cowboy caviar dip and a chip being dipped into the dip.

Dip made with black eyed peas, bell peppers, green onions, celery, and fresh herbs.
5 from 7 votes

Cowboy Caviar Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
12 people
This tangy Cowboy Caviar is perfect for parties and backyard barbecues. It’s great served as a side dish or a dip.

Ingredients
 
 

  • cup red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ Tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 large garlic cloves pressed through a garlic press
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 15.5-ounce cans black-eyed peas rinsed and drained
  • 1 large green bell pepper chopped
  • 1 large red bell pepper chopped
  • 2 medium jalapeño chiles stemmed, seeded, and chopped small
  • 1 large celery rib chopped small
  • 5 green onions green and white parts sliced thin
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 large avocados diced

FOR SERVING:

  • tortilla chips

Instructions

  • First, in a large bowl whisk together the vinegar, oil, sugars, garlic, salt, and pepper.
    Whisk together the vinegar, oil, salt and pepper.
  • Then, dump in the peas, bell peppers, jalapenos, celery, green onions, cilantro, and parsley and stir to combine. Next, cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
    Add in the remaining ingredients, except for the avocado, and mix until combined.
  • Finally, right before serving add the diced avocado and toss until the avocado is combined. Serve with tortilla chips.
    Right before serving, stir in the diced avocado.

Notes

This will serve 12 people as a dip and 6 people as a side dish. 

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 449mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 715IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2.2mg

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Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  1. Looks so delicious and perfect for dinner parties! Can’t wait to try this recipe!

  2. YUM!! This is my type of dip. Any dish actually that has avocado in it. The tortilla chips sound like the perfect way to eat this. I would even skip lunch for a big bowl of this! Cheers

  3. Alexandra says:

    Loving this dip! It is such a great appetiser, and perfect to take to a potluck. Delicious 🙂

  4. This looks perfect for summer! Will definitely be trying this for bbq season.

  5. Who needs the chips? I can just eat this stuff with a spoon!

  6. This is one of our favorite summer sides. Thanks for a delicious recipe.

  7. Tayler Ross says:

    This is the best Cowboy Caviar recipe I’ve found! I have made it several times, and it’s always great!

  8. I will definitely be making this! Someone brought it to a cookout and I fell in love!