Black Bean Salsa – A Cowboy Caviar Recipe

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Black Bean Salsa is a cowboy caviar made with Italian dressing. It’s easy to make and perfect as a party dip with tortilla chips. If you want to get fancy, serve it over baked or grilled fish.

Black Bean Salsa Recipe

Our Aunt Terri often brings this cowboy caviar as a refreshing appetizer to family gatherings. And it is always a crowd-pleaser!

The blend of beans and vegetables marinated in Italian dressing, chili powder and cilantro creates unforgettable appetizer for any party.

It makes a great dip for tortilla chips. Need a “healthy” game day dish to add to your table filled with chicken wings, cheesy dips and hot dogs? Mix up this cowboy caviar with shoepeg corn the morning of the big game and your guests will thank you!

But it is equally good served over baked fish such as our Easy Baked Tilapia recipe. Or as a topping to your favorite fish tacos!

Our favorite part of this cowboy caviar with shoepeg corn is the corn itself. We love the sweet, tender corn kernels in this addicting dip.

 

Texas Caviar Ingredients:

Black beans

Shoepeg corn

Italian dressing

Fresh cilantro

Minced Garlic

Chili Powder

Tabasco

Diced, seeded tomato

Chopped onion

Diced pepper (red or green)

How to Make Black Bean Salsa (AKA Cowboy Caviar):

For the full Mexican Caviar recipe, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

  1. Mix corn, black beans, garlic, cilantro, Tabasco, Italian dressing, and chili powder and let marinate in the refrigerator.
  2. Right before serving, add onions, peppers, and tomato.

Notes About Black Bean Caviar Recipe:

  • Black Bean Caviar is also known as Cowboy Caviar, Texas Caviar or Mexican Caviar.
  • Barbara used canned Shoepeg corn, but feel free to use your own freezer corn if you have it.
  • This Cowboy Caviar recipe is easily customized to suit your family’s tastes. If you (or your picky kids) don’t like onions, leave them out. Prefer red peppers over green peppers? Then use red ones instead. Don’t be afraid to substitute!
  • However, do NOT skip the marinating step. This recipe tends to get tastier over time as the dip marinates in the dressing. It is worth the wait, we promise!
  • If you are one of those folks who have that gene that makes cilantro taste like soap (this is really a thing!), then leave it out.  This Black Bean Caviar Salsa is just as yummy without it.
  • Try serving over fish like Baked Tilapia, or with your favorite variety of tortilla chips.
  • Add this to your spread of appetizers for game day or cook outs.  Try it as a condiment along side of Crock Pot Taco Soup, Easy Taco Salad or Instant Pot Taco Meat.
  • Want a puréed black bean dip? Try this simple black bean dip.
  • Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry essentials.

What can I add to cowboy caviar?

Cowboy caviar is very versatile. Use Italian dressing as a base, and add any of these ingredients to make your own version.

  • Bell peppers (any color)
  • Red, white or yellow onions
  • Any type of bean (black, red, kidney, etc)
  • Black eyed peas
  • Cilantro or Parsley
  • Chili Powder or Paprika
  • Hot sauce or Siracha
  • Avocados (stir in right before serving)
  • Canned yellow corn or shoepeg corn
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Splash of vinegar
  • Lemon or lime juice
  • Cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes

Easy Dip Recipes for Tortilla Chips

Aunt Peggy’s Cheesy Taco Dip (with ground beef)

There are only 5 simple ingredients between you and this warm, cheesy Taco Dip with Meat and Beans.  Ground beef, re-fried beans, Ortego Taco Sauce, sour cream and shredded cheese are all you need.  This simple appetizer is soon to be your go-to for game day, holidays, family gatherings or Taco Tuesday.

Crock Pot Sausage Queso Dip

With just four ingredients, this small-batch Crock Pot Sausage Queso Dip is perfect for a small gathering of friends or even a fun option for dinner with the family. Grab a bag of your favorite tortilla chips and dig in!

Velveeta Cheese Dip with Beans

Velveeta Cheese Dip with Beans is the perfect game day recipe.  This cheesy Queso dip is taco flavored and full of ground beef and black beans. Serve with tortilla chips for the win!

Cheesy Taco Dip

Black Bean Caviar Salsa

This Black Bean Caviar Salsa is easy to make and perfect as a party dip with tortilla chips. If you want to get fancy, serve it over baked or grilled fish.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Marinating Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 15 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: black bean caviar salsa, cowboy caviar, mexican caviar, salsa with black beans
Servings: 8
Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 16 oz. can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 11 oz. can Shoepeg corn drained
  • 1/2 cup bottled Italian dressing
  • 3 Tablespoons cilantro chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
  • 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 red onion chopped
  • 1 medium tomato seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 green or red pepper chopped

Instructions

  • Mix together garlic, beans, corn, Italian dressing, cilantro, Tabasco and chili powder.
  • Let marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours.
  • Just before serving, add onion, tomato and pepper. Mix.
  • Serve with tortilla chips or as a condiment over baked or grilled fish.

Notes

Notes About Black Bean Caviar Recipe:

  • Black Bean Caviar is also known as Cowboy Caviar or Mexican Caviar.
  • Barbara used canned Shoepeg corn, but feel free to use your own freezer corn if you have it.
  • This Cowboy Caviar recipe is easily customized to suit your family's tastes. If you (or your picky kids) don't like onions, leave them out. Prefer red peppers over green peppers? Then use red ones instead. Don't be afraid to substitute!
  • However, do NOT skip the marinating step. This recipe tends to get tastier over time as the dip marinates in the dressing. It is worth the wait, we promise!
  • If you are one of those folks who have that gene that makes cilantro taste like soap (this is really a thing!), then leave it out.  This Black Bean Caviar Salsa is just as yummy without it.  
  • Try serving over fish like Baked Tilapia, or with your favorite variety of tortilla chips. 
  • Add this to your spread of appetizers for game day or cook outs.  Try it as a condiment along side of Crock Pot Taco Soup, Easy Taco Salad or Instant Pot Taco Meat. 

Linking up to Meal Plan Monday!

This Black Bean Caviar Salsa is easy to make and perfect as a party dip with tortilla chips. If you want to get fancy, serve it over baked or grilled fish.

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3 Comments

  1. We’ve always made something similar and called it Texas caviar. We used canned black-eyed peas instead of black beans. I’ll give this a try and see how we like it!

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