If you are planning a get-together with friends for game day or another casual party, you can make this bean dip the day before. It is also an economical way to serve a crowd.

Mexican Caviar Recipe in a blue bowl with taco chips by it.
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A Go-To Party Dip Favorite: Mexican Caviar Recipe

This Texas Caviar Recipe is always a big hit when we get together for a family dinner. We usually serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips, but I enjoy using the dip as part of a main dish Mexican Salad.

Fill a bowl with chopped lettuce, then add a cup of the Texas caviar, sprinkle in shredded cheese, and some of my seasoned taco meat. Toss and top with ranch dressing. 

I love that Mexican caviar bean salsa is not necessary. It’s an easy recipe that requires only a quick mix of ingredients and is ready to serve. Plus, I appreciate that Mexican caviar is a versatile recipe, allowing me to switch up ingredients easily to use up stuff I have on hand.  I like using different beans or a variety of peppers. 

Do you enjoy making easy dips when hosting a dinner party, making a snack for a casual get-together, or taking to a potluck? I have made it easy for you to find the perfect dip recipe when you visit my Easy Make Ahead Party Dips For A Crowd.

gina cooking in the kitchen

So easy and so good! One of the good for you appetizer dip options I’ve seen. Thank you for sharing.

— Molly B.

Ingredients Needed For Your Grocery List

Mexican caviar is an easy recipe made with simple ingredients. You can find the ingredients easily at your local grocery store and keep them on hand if you plan a get-together with friends.

ingredients for mexican caviar on the table.
  • Black-eyed peas: They make a great addition to the salad because of their unique texture and earthy flavor.
  • Black beans: Black beans are used a lot in Mexican dishes and have a relatively mild flavor, but their color stands out, making the salad more colorful.
  • Cilantro:  Diced up fine so it adds flavor and a little bit of color to the dip.
  • Onion: Use yellow, sweet or red onion to make this cowboy caviar recipe. They all work.
  • Celery:  Gives the salad a little extra crunch to the texture.
  • Garlic: For the best flavor, use fresh garlic.
  • Red wine vinegar is a mild vinegar that works well with lime juice to add acid to this recipe.
  • Fresh lime juice: I highly recommend using fresh lime juice for the best, most vibrant flavor.
  • Cumin:  This spice is commonly used in most Mexican dishes for flavor.
  • Sugar: Just a touch to balance out the acidity of the lime juice and the spiciness of the jalapenos.
  • Diced tomatoes with green chilies:  These canned tomatoes have green chilies added for spice and flavor.
  • Pickled jalapenos: Adds some spice to cowboy caviar salsa but it’s optional so leave it out if you prefer a less spicy version of the dip.

📝 Note: You can find the full recipe with ingredients and measurements in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

Recipe Sucess Tips

  • Be sure to rinse your beans. 
  • Only use fresh minced garlic, not the prediced jar kind, for the freshest flavor.
  • Don’t use bottled lime juice; freshly squeezed juice is best. 
  • Dice the fresh vegetables into small pieces about the size of the beans. This makes scooping onto chips easy.
  • The Mexican caviar recipe is better if it sits a few hours before serving. This allows the seasoning to infuse throughout the dip.

Easy Dip Instructions

number one

Prep Veggies

  • To make it easy, I suggest starting by prepping all your veggies, cilantro, and lime. I like to use a food chopper with small squares, so it’s fast and you get a consistent size.
celery, onions, cilantro lime, garlic and jalapenos
number two

Prep Beans

  • For this recipe, it is very important to rinse and drain your beans. I used black beans and black-eyed peas. However, pinto, navy beans, red beans, or your favorite will work just as well.
black beans and black eyed peas
number three

Combine

  • Combine the beans, chopped veggies, and cilantro. Gently toss them together, being careful not to smash the beans.
adding vegetables to beans
number four

Add Seasonings

  • Next, add the seasonings, fresh lime juice, vinegar, salt, cumin, and sugar. Gently stir them to combine and dissolve the sugar.
adding seasoning to mexican caviar
number 5

Mix-Ins

  • Drain your can of tomatoes and chilis. You don’t need the extra juice in this recipe.
  • Mix in tomatoes and chilis. I also add a can of mild green chilies. If you like it spicy, add some with medium heat.
adding chilis and tomatoes

Variation Ideas

There are so many different ways to combine ingredients for Mexican caviar, which makes it a great recipe to use up ingredients you have on hand in the pantry or refrigerator.

  • Diced tomatoes with green chilies: Swap this type of canned tomato out for regular diced tomatoes and a small can of green chilies. If it isn’t spicy enough, you always add more pickled jalapenos.
  • Pickled jalapeno peppers: Jarred jalapenos are a quick option to add spiciness to this recipe; however, you can swap it out for fresh jalapenos or canned green chilies for a milder option.
  • Red wine vinegar: You can use white vinegar, which is slightly brighter and more intense in flavor, or white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, which has a flavor similar to red wine vinegar.
  • Beans: Use different varieties of beans to make this Cowboy caviar recipe. Try pinto, white beans, light red kidney beans, pigeon peas, or chickpeas. Really, whatever you have on hand will work great!
  • Corn: Add cooked fresh corn, canned sweet corn, or shoepeg corn.
  • Peppers: Mix in chopped sweet green peppers and red, yellow, and orange peppers.
  • Heat: If you like spicy food, add chopped roasted jalapenos or pickled jalapenos.
  • Avocado: Add diced avocados, but note, if you do this, it will need to be eaten right away because they turn brown quickly. It might help to toss the avocado in some lime juice to retain color for a bit longer.

How To Serve

I love eating this Texas caviar recipe as a dip, but it can be served in many ways!

  • Serve with tortilla chips or other corn chips that are great for dipping.
  • Sprinkle on top of tacos.
  • Add on top of a Mexican-themed salad.
  • Add to Mexican rice.
  • Serve it up on its own as a side dish for meals.
  • Mix into a tossed salad.

Leftovers

Leftover Mexican caviar should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can last for 3-4 days. To incorporate it into the next meal, you can use it as a topping for tacos, mix it into Mexican rice, add it to a salad, or serve it as a side dish.

Mexican Caviar Recipe in a blue bowl with taco chips by it

Do you have a question about the recipe? Feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m here to help!

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mexican caviar dip with chips
5 from 1 rating
by Gina Dickson

Easy Mexican Caviar: 10 Minute Party Dip

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 1/2 cup servings
This quick and easy Mexican Caviar Recipe, also called Texas Caviar or Cowboy Salsa, doubles as a delicious salad or dip and is perfect for a party dip or your weeknight Mexican dinner menu.  It is a snap to make, with a variety of beans, tomatoes, chilies, fresh onions, cilantro, and garlic, all tossed in a light cumin and lime dressing.

Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.

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Ingredients
 

  • 1 15 oz black beans, can, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 oz black-eyed peas, can, drained and rinsed
  • 2/3 cup onion, diced small
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced small
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, fresh, minced
  • 2/3 cup cilantro, fresh, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos, optional, or use fresh diced jalapenos or diced canned green chilies
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice, fresh squeezed
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, (I like a bit more)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chilies , can, drained
  • 1 5 oz green chilis, mild or medium heat

Instructions
 

  • Place rinsed and drained beans into a large bowl.
    1 15 oz black beans, 1 15 oz black-eyed peas
  • Add diced onions, celery, cilantro, pickled jalapenos, and minced garlic. Gently stir it all together.
    2/3 cup onion, 1/2 cup celery, 2 teaspoons garlic, 2/3 cup cilantro, 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos
  • Next, add the red wine vinegar, lime juice, salt, cumin and sugar. Gently stir to combine.
    2 teaspoons lime juice, 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cumin, 2 tablespoons sugar
  • Toss in your drained diced tomatoes with green chilies. Stir all the ingredients to combine.
    1 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chilies, 1 5 oz green chilis
  • Chill for a few hours in the refrigerator to bring out the flavors. Allow to come to room temperature when serving.

Notes

Variation Ideas
There are so many different ways to combine ingredients for Mexican caviar, which makes it a great recipe to use up ingredients you have on hand in the pantry or refrigerator.
Diced tomatoes with green chilies: Swap this type of canned tomato out for regular diced tomatoes and a small can of green chilies. If it isn’t spicy enough, you can always add more pickled jalapenos.
Pickled jalapeno peppers: Jarred jalapenos are a quick option to add spiciness to this recipe; however, you can swap it out for fresh jalapenos or canned green chilies for a milder option.
Red wine vinegar: You can use white vinegar, which is slightly brighter and more intense in flavor, or white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, which has a flavor similar to red wine vinegar.
Beans: Use different varieties of beans to make this cowboy caviar recipe. Try pinto, white beans, light red kidney beans, pigeon peas, or chickpeas. Really, whatever you have on hand will work great!
Corn: Add cooked fresh corn, drained canned sweet corn, or shoepeg corn.
Peppers: Mix in chopped sweet green peppers and red, yellow, and orange peppers.
Heat: If you like spicy food, add chopped roasted jalapenos or pickled jalapenos.
Avocado: Add diced avocados but note that, if you do this, it will need to be eaten right away because they turn brown quickly. It might help to toss the avocado in some lime juice to retain color for a bit longer.
How To Serve
  • Serve with tortilla chips or other corn chips that are great for dipping.
  • Sprinkle on top of tacos.
  • Add on top of a Mexican-themed salad.
  • Add to Mexican rice.
  • Serve it up on its own as a side dish for meals.
Serving: 11/2 cup, Calories: 22kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 262mg, Potassium: 44mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 137IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: Mexican
Author: Gina Dickson
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