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This single serving Cowboy Caviar is a fresh mix of black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, and vegetables tossed in a tangy lime dressing. It’s quick to make, full of flavor, and perfect as a dip, side dish, or light meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made with Simple Ingredients: This single serving Cowboy Caviar, also known as Texas Caviar or Black Bean and Corn Salad, comes together with everyday pantry staples you likely already have.
- Healthy and Satisfying: Packed with beans, corn, and fresh vegetables, this protein- and fiber-rich recipe makes a wholesome snack, side dish, or light meal.
- Quick to Prepare: With minimal chopping and no cooking required, this easy Cowboy Caviar recipe is ready in under 10 minutes.
- Completely Customizable: Adjust the spice level, swap ingredients, or mix in your favorites, this dish works beautifully with whatever you have on hand.
I’ve always loved how Cowboy Caviar turns simple ingredients into something fresh and full of flavor. This colorful mix of beans, corn, tomatoes, and vegetables tossed in a zesty lime vinaigrette has truly stood the test of time.
Created in the 1940s by New York chef Helen Corbitt while she was living in Texas, it quickly became a Southern favorite.
Whether I’m enjoying it with baked tortilla chips, spooned over baked chicken or a hamburger, or served alongside a small batch of corn muffins, it’s one of those easy, satisfying recipes that never disappoints.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this cowboy dip recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Black Beans and Black-Eyed Peas: These beans give the salad its hearty texture and plenty of protein. I use canned beans for convenience, just rinse and drain them to remove extra sodium and improve the flavor. Any leftovers can be added to southwestern black bean soup or black-eyed peas with bacon.
- Corn: You can use canned, frozen, or fresh corn. If using canned, rinse it first. One small ear of corn will give you about ½ to ¾ cup once cooked. Leftover corn can be used in small batch corn muffins, Mexican street corn salad, or chicken fried rice for one.
- Bell Pepper: I like using red bell pepper for color, but yellow, orange, or green work just as well. Save any extra pieces for single serving lo mein, chicken tacos for one, or pepper steak for one.
- Tomato: One small ripe Roma or plum tomato is perfect. You can also use a few cherry tomatoes cut in half.
- Avocado: Half an avocado adds a creamy texture. Use the other half for avocado toast or add it to pico de gallo.
- Jalapeño Pepper: This adds a little heat. Use fresh or jarred jalapeños and adjust to your spice preference. Leftovers can go in a small batch of salsa, taco soup for one or single serving guacamole.
- Red Onions: A small amount of red onion gives a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Use extra onion to make a small batch of pickled onions for salads or sandwiches.
- Cilantro: Adds a fresh, bright flavor at the end. Skip it if you’re not a fan.
- Dressing: Made with olive oil (extra virgin preferred, but light olive oil works too), lime juice and a pinch of zest, garlic, salt and black pepper.
Pro Tip: Some cowboy caviar recipes include sugar in the dressing, but this version doesn’t need it. The fresh vegetables and beans provide plenty of natural flavor. I use the same dressing base as in my guacamole salad recipe, which keeps it light, zesty, and fresh.
Recipe Variations
Cowboy Caviar is easy to customize with ingredients you already have on hand. Try one of these popular variations to make it your own.
- Spicy Version: Add extra jalapeño or a few dashes of hot sauce for more heat.
- Protein Boost: Stir in diced cooked chicken, shrimp, tofu, or extra beans to make it heartier.
- Mediterranean Style: Swap cilantro for basil and add chopped olives and feta cheese for a fresh twist.
- Fruity Mix: Stir in diced mango or pineapple for a sweet contrast to the tangy dressing.
- Seasonal Swap: Use roasted zucchini or corn cut from the cob for a fresh summer flavor.
How To Make Cowboy Caviar For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a small batch of cowboy caviar. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Combine the Ingredients: In a medium bowl, mix the black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, bell pepper, tomato, avocado, jalapeño, and cilantro.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Serve: Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with tortilla chips.
Expert Tips
- Read Before You Start: Take a moment to read through the full recipe and Ingredient Notes before beginning. The step-by-step photos and details will guide you through the process and help your Cowboy Caviar turn out perfectly.
- Rinse Canned Ingredients: Always drain and rinse canned beans and corn under cool water. This removes excess salt and improves the overall flavor.
- Adjust the Spice Level: Add more jalapeño or a splash of hot sauce if you like extra heat. For a milder dip, use less or skip it entirely.
- Cilantro Is Optional: If you’re not a fan of cilantro, simply leave it out. The salad will still be flavorful and fresh.
- Make It a Meal: Stir in a few spoonfuls of cooked quinoa for added texture and protein. It turns this dip into a hearty, nutritious dish.
- New Year’s Tradition: Cowboy Caviar is often enjoyed as a symbol of good luck on New Year’s Day. Pair it with unstuffed cabbage rolls and a small batch of cornbread for a classic Southern-inspired meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
The name was coined as a playful way to describe this inexpensive bean salad as a “Texas version” of caviar when it was first created in the 1940s by chef Helen Corbitt.
Yes, it can be made several hours in advance. Just add the avocado right before serving to keep it fresh.
Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will keep for up to 3 days.
Yes. It’s filled with beans, corn, and vegetables, providing protein, fiber, and essential vitamins. It’s naturally vegan and gluten-free.
More Single Serving Dip Recipes
If you enjoy this Cowboy Caviar, try a few more of my favorite single serving dip recipes. Each one is quick to make and full of flavor.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serving cowboy caviar or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Cowboy Caviar For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ⅛ teaspoon lime zest
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
For the Dip (Salad)
- ¼ cup canned black beans -rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup canned black-eyed peas -rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup canned corn -rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper
- 1 small tomato -chopped (I use 1 Roma or Plum tomato)
- ½ small avocado -diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onions
- 2 tablespoons chopped jalapeño pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- Optional: tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
Make the Dip (Salad)
- In a medium bowl, mix the black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, bell pepper, tomato, avocado, jalapeño, and cilantro.
- Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with tortilla chips or as a salad.
Notes
- Read Before You Start: Take a moment to read through the full recipe and Ingredient Notes before beginning. The step-by-step photos and details will guide you through the process and help your Cowboy Caviar turn out perfectly.
- Rinse Canned Ingredients: Always drain and rinse canned beans and corn under cool water. This removes excess salt and improves the overall flavor.
- Adjust the Spice Level: Add more jalapeño or a splash of hot sauce if you like extra heat. For a milder dip, use less or skip it entirely.
- Cilantro Is Optional: If you’re not a fan of cilantro, simply leave it out. The salad will still be flavorful and fresh.
- Make It a Meal: Stir in a few spoonfuls of cooked quinoa for added texture and protein. It turns this dip into a hearty, nutritious dish.
- New Year’s Tradition: Cowboy Caviar is often enjoyed as a symbol of good luck on New Year’s Day. Pair it with unstuffed cabbage rolls and a small batch of cornbread for a classic Southern-inspired meal.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
So what so I do with all the rest of the canned beans that are not needed ?
We include ideas for using leftover beans in several places on the recipe page — in the ingredient notes, throughout the post, and in the “Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients” section at the bottom. You’ll also find our Leftover Ingredient Recipe Finder linked at the top of every page, which makes it easy to see other ways to use what you have left. We do this with all of our recipes to help make the most of every ingredient. I hope these resources are helpful.
Love this recipe but what can you do with the leftovers that are not used in the cans?
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the cowboy caviar recipe! At the bottom of each recipe post, you’ll find a section dedicated to ways you can use up any leftovers. Also, if you’re looking for more inspiration, don’t miss out on our Recipe Finder feature. You can input your leftover ingredients, and it will show you a list of recipes where you can use them. The Recipe Finder can be found at the top of every recipe page.
I didn’t see the recommendations for using the canned leftovers with this recipe. Missing?
We provide ways to use up leftover ingredients in several places within our recipe posts. You can see some of our suggestions in the Ingredients section and you can find other suggestions at the bottom of the page which says, Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients. We also have a Leftover Ingredient Recipe Finder located at the top of each recipe page and on the front page of our website. To use this recipe finder feature, simply type in the ingredient you are using and the feature will generate recipes made with the particular ingredient. This information is on every recipe post.
Love this recipe — have made it single-batch and doubled several times. It’s great how the lime juice in the dressing keeps the avocado from browning. And I can verify that it’s still good the next day or the day after! One question though — I see red onion in the pics, and in the discussion but I don’t see it included in the ingredient list. How much is recommended to use?
Thank you, Hope! Use 2 tablespoons of chopped red onions.
Great recipe.
Raspberry vinaigrette is also a good choice. Take this recipe & make it your own!
When I take this salad to my brother’s home, I add 1 pureed chile
serrano. This will give it a nice warmth since children will also eat it. When using chopped chiles, you might bite into a really hot surprise.
I have used red wine vinegar, olive oil & apple cider vinegar, zesty Italian, lime & cilantro dressing. Really, whatever I have one hand. My family loves it. Never any left overs. We mostly prpare it as a side dish for our hot Texas BBQ’s. ❤️
Can you use something else besides lime?
Yes. You can use lemon juice or white wine vinegar instead.