This small batch of Cowboy Caviar is a wonderfully fresh, healthy, and flavorful dip that combines beans, fresh vegetables, and a tangy lime dressing. It can be ready in minutes!

Cowboy caviar is considered to be the perfect potluck party food and is a dish that I've brought to many high school and college tailgating parties when we lived in Texas.
I've taken my easy cowboy caviar recipe that I've used for years and scaled down the ingredients so that it serves one or two people. This small batch bean-filled dip is seriously addicting and I know you'll love it as much as so many others do.
What Is Cowboy Caviar?
Cowboy caviar is also called Texas Caviar, Dixie Caviar, and Cowboy Salsa. This dish takes a typical black bean salsa to an entirely new level. It's filled with two different types of beans, tomatoes, and vegetables that are tossed in a tangy lime vinaigrette.
In the 1940s, Helen Corbitt, a chef from New York who at the time was living in Texas was asked to create a dish using only Texas-grown products. The result was Cowboy Caviar which was served for the first time on New Year's Eve at the Houston Country Club.
Why This Recipe Works
- Fresh and filled with flavor: This is a healthy Texas caviar recipe. It's filled with protein and packed with iron, Vitamins C and E, and fiber.
- Cowboy caviar is both a salad and a dip: Enjoy as a dip to eat with tortilla chips or eat it out of the bowl with a spoon. Both ways are absolutely delicious!
- Healthy and delicious: This single serving bean dip is gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and low in calories and sodium.
- Doubles well: If you'd like to make a larger batch, just double the ingredients to make more.
- Customizable: This single serving cowboy caviar is absolutely customizable. Leave out ingredients you don't like and feel free to use different beans like garbanzo or pinto beans.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes
What you need to make a small batch of cowboy caviar:
For the salad
- Black beans and black-eyed peas: These ingredients serve as the base of this hearty dip. For convenience, I use canned beans that have been rinsed and drained. I recommend rinsing canned vegetables to remove the excess salt and starch which also improves their flavor.
- Corn: I use canned corn because it's convenient. You can also make Texas caviar with frozen corn too. Again, if using canned corn, be sure to rinse the corn before using it. This washes away the excess salt from the liquid in the can. If you'd like to grill corn on the cob, 1 small ear of corn will typically yield approximately ½ - ¾ cup of corn. To grill the corn, shuck the cob, brush the corn with olive oil and then place it over very hot coals or over high heat. Cook the corn for about 2-3 minutes on each side until all sides are lightly charred, about 8-10 minutes.
- Red pepper: Truly, any color bell pepper will work in this recipe. Use red, yellow, orange, or green bell peppers.
- Tomato: Use 1 small ripe tomato in this salsa recipe. I typically use a Roma or a Plum tomato because they're a perfect size. You can use a handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half instead.
- Avocado: Use ½ of an avocado. Be sure to see below for ways to use up leftover ingredients, including the other half of the avocado.
- Jalapeño pepper: Use 2 tablespoons of chopped jalapeños in this dip recipe. I love using fresh but jarred will do well too. If you are sensitive to spice you can certainly leave it out or simply use less.
- Red onions: Red onions provide a sweet and peppery flavor to the cowboy caviar.
- Cilantro: Cilantro adds a final burst of freshness. Feel free to leave it out if you prefer.
For the Texas caviar dressing
- Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this cowboy caviar recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains a more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It's my favorite type of olive oil, but you may use light olive oil instead.
- Lime juice and lime zest: Fresh lime juice is recommended but use bottled if that is what you have on hand.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is not only good for you but adds a wonderful flavor to the dressing.
- Salt and black pepper: I use ⅛ of a teaspoon of each but feel free to use less or use more if preferred.
Pro Tip: Many cowboy caviar recipes call for using plenty of sugar in the dressing. I think sugar is completely unnecessary in this recipe. Instead, I use the dressing found in our fabulous Guacamole Salad recipe which allows the vegetables and beans to really shine. This is a sugar-free cowboy caviar recipe and you absolutely won't miss the sugar.
See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

How To Make A Small Batch Of Cowboy Caviar
See below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Set the dressing aside to use later.

- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together beans, black-eyed peas, corn, chopped red bell pepper, chopped tomato, diced avocado, chopped jalapenos, and cilantro.

- Pour the dressing over the vegetables and gently stir to make sure the dressing coats everything.

- Pour into a bowl and enjoy with tortilla chips.

Expert Tips
- This dip is a great one to use to bring "good luck" on New Year's Day. Consider enjoying it along with Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls and Cornbread for the perfect New Year's meal.
- If using canned beans and corn, be sure to drain the liquid from the can and rinse the beans and corn with cool running water.
- Feel free to leave out the cilantro if you are not a fan.
- If you like a lot of spice, add more chopped jalapeños. If you don't want the heat, omit or use less of the jalapeños.
- Consider mixing cowboy caviar with cooked quinoa for a hearty meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is! This easy recipe offers protein, fiber, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C.
If you can't find black-eyed peas at your local grocery store, substitute with pinto beans, white navy beans, or garbanzo beans (chickpeas).
Absolutely! This is the best cowboy caviar recipe and you can make the dip ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Don't add the avocados until you are ready to eat the dip to avoid browning.
Store covered and in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Yes! Cowboy caviar is also vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and sugar-free.
Although some people consider corn low in carbs, it is not keto-friendly. You can make a keto cowboy caviar by leaving out the corn. Consider replacing it with chopped yellow or orange peppers or add additional beans instead.
Yes, it can. Although this is a single serving recipe, the ingredients can be doubled or tripled if you'd like to make more.
Serving Suggestions
- As a salad: To be honest, I love eating Texas caviar by the spoonful right out of the bowl. It's great cold or at room temperature.
- As a dip: If you want to enjoy it as a dip, I love using tortilla chips for scooping.
- As a topping for meats: You can use this bean and corn dip as a salsa to top chicken, steak, or salmon. It's also great used in wraps, in omelettes, or over lettuce as a topping for a salad.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch cowboy caviar recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of our single serving and small batch recipes:
- Tomatoes: Crustless Quiche With Tomatoes And Pesto, Tomato Salad, Bruschetta, Cobb Salad, Chicken Caprese
- Avocado: Shrimp Tacos With Avocado Sauce, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Avocado Toast, Avocado Salad With Berries
- Red onions: Pickled Onions, Mediterranean Chicken, Cucumber Salsa, Spinach and Orzo Salad, Steak Fajitas
- Black beans: Black Bean Soup, Vegetarian Enchiladas, Black Bean Hummus, Guacamole, Taco Soup
- Black-eyed peas: Black-eyed Peas With Bacon, Black-Eyed Peas Hummus
- Corn: Mexican Corn Dip, Corn Muffins, Fried Rice, Vegetable Soup, Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Red pepper: Ratatouille, Italian Pasta Salad, Spinach Turkey Wrap, Sausage and Peppers Sheet Pan Meal, Vegetable Casserole
- Jalapeños: Saag Paneer, Carne Asada, Guacamole Salad, Cucumber Salsa, Mexican Corn Dip
- Cilantro: Curried Carrot Soup, Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Chicken Tagine, Taco Salad, Vegetarian Chili
- Olive oil: Mini Eggplant Parmesan, Shepherd's Pie, Chicken Stew, Tortellini Soup, Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Lime juice: Ranch Water, Key Lime Pie, Fish Tacos, Broiled Chicken, Skinny Margarita
- Garlic: Hot Spinach Dip, Shrimp Fettuccine, Risotto, Pork Stir Fry, Stuffed Bell Peppers
More Single Serving Dip Recipes
- Mexican Corn Dip (Esquites)
- Hot Spinach Dip
- Baba Ganoush (Roasted Eggplant Dip)
- Guacamole
- Queso
- Hummus
- Black Bean Hummus
If you’ve tried this single serving recipe for 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.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!

Cowboy Caviar For One
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
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 jalapeño pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- Optional: tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
Make the dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Set the dressing aside to use later.
Make the dip (salad)
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir together beans, black-eyed peas, corn, chopped red bell pepper, chopped tomato, diced avocado, chopped jalapenos, and cilantro.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetables and gently stir to make sure the dressing coats everything.
- Pour into a bowl and enjoy as a dip with tortilla chips or as a salad.
Notes
- This dip is a great one to use to bring "good luck" on New Year's Day. Consider enjoying it along with Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls and Cornbread for the perfect New Year's meal.
- If using canned beans and corn, be sure to drain the liquid from the can and rinse the beans and corn with cool running water.
- Feel free to leave out the cilantro if you are not a fan.
- If you like a lot of spice, add more chopped jalapeños. If you don't want the heat, omit or use less of the jalapeños.
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.
J. Hegyi says
Great recipe.
Patricia says
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.
Patricia says
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. ❤️
Sue says
Can you use something else besides lime?
Joanie Zisk says
Yes. You can use lemon juice or white wine vinegar instead.