Why make a boring old Bean Salad when you can make it a COWBOY one?? Fun to say, delicious to eat, this big, juicy black bean salad is fresh, simple and fully loaded, tossed with a lime dressing laced with South Western spices.
Use any beans you want. Serve it as a side, stuff into tacos, pile onto nachos. Lasts for days – think meal prep and work lunches!
Cowboy Bean Salad
“Bean Salad” just sounds so dull. But stick the word “Cowboy” in front of it, and suddenly it sounds so much more exciting. Right? Same dish, different packaging. Age old marketing trick! 😂
Though actually, this is a riff on a salsa dish known as Cowboy Caviar in the US. With one big important difference – it has a fraction of the sugar. Cowboy Caviar is traditionally made with so much sugar, my tooth aches just reading recipes!!
This Cowboy Bean Salad has the same good stuff in it – but 95% less sugar in the Dressing. I guarantee you won’t miss it!
You’ll love how this bean salad lasts for days and days!
What you need for Cowboy Bean Salad
Here’s what you need! Use any beans you want – even lentils or chickpeas. And if you’re one of those coriander/cilantro haters, switch it for chives.
How to make it
Pop open cans, shake up the dressing and sharpen your knife to get chopping!
Bean Salad to serve with anything!
Interesting enough for a meal, great side for any protein! It’s especially ideal for South American food and Southern/South West/Texas, most Western foods and Middle Eastern dishes.
1. Side dish for mains – it’s hearty enough to serve with beef, fresh enough for fish, and everything in between! Because it’s a salsa-type salad, you can also serve it spoon ON the cooked meat.
Main dish suggestions
2. Light meal – it will keep you full thanks to the beans!
3. Dipping salsa – scoop it up with corn chips;
4. All things Mexican – stuff in / pile on tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, fajitas
Mexican dishes
This will keep for 4 days in the fridge – and the avocado won’t go brown (contact with air makes it go brown, the Dressing provides a film to stop this from happening). I like to add a squeeze of lime to freshen it up, then give it a toss and dig into it! (again) – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Cowboy Bean Salad
Ingredients
Cowboy Bean Salad:
- 400g/14 oz can black beans , rinsed & drained (Note 1)
- 400g/14 oz can corn , drained (or frozen thawed 1.5 cups)
- 1 red capsicum/bell pepper , 1cm/1/3" diced
- 1 avocado , diced
- 1 red onion , diced
- 3/4 cup coriander/cilantro , roughly chopped
- 250g/8oz cherry tomatoes , quartered (or 2 large tomatoes, deseeded and diced, Note 2)
Cowboy Lime Dressing:
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp chipotle powder (or American Chili Powder, Note 3)
- 1/4 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 garlic , finely ninced
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Shake Dressing in a jar.
- Place Salad ingredients in a big bowl. Drizzle over Dressing, toss.
- Serve immediately, or keep for up to 4 days! Might need a squeeze of lime to freshen the flavour.
- Serve as a light meal or side (goes with everything - beef, fish, prawns, pork, chicken). Especially great with all things Mexican – stuff in / pile on tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, fajitas - and Southern Foods (pulled pork, barbcue ribs, fried chicken!)
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
This is what it looks like when a 40kg/80lb dog jumps on you in the pool!
Leanne says
Hi Nagi I’m in Perth and new to your site. I made the Cowboy Bean Salad on Wednesday night for dinner. It was delicious and my daughter enjoyed it for lunch yesterday when she dropped over. I used paprika instead of chipotle as you mentioned. I’ll make the numerous times I’m sure.
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Leanne! N x
Marea says
Just one question Nagi – the recipe says 1 can each of black beans and corn but you appear to be adding two of each in the video. Were you doubling the recipe? Thank you so much for your great user friendly recipes.
Marea says
Sorry Nagi, I just read your information prior to the recipe. 🌻
RAELENE WANG says
I have made a dish similar to this many times called “Cowboy Caviar”, but your dressing is better than the red wine vinaigrette I used to make. Thank you for the improvement!
Nagi says
Hi Raelene, yes similar to cowboy caviar! N x
Bronwyn says
Made it last night. Family loved it. Will make often from now on
Nagi says
Wahoo, that’s great news Bronwyn!! N x
Lisa says
I’ve been making a similar salad for years. I also add more lime juice and an extra avocado (because who doesn’t love extra avocado), and we serve it to Tostitos Scoops!
Nagi says
YUM!!! Love this idea!
Simone says
We loved this salad, it was very refreshing to eat although I doubled the lime juice for a little more flavour 😋
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Simone!!
Helen says
Love bean salad so will definitely be making this on the weekend. Is it one or two cans of beans and corn. One can is listed in recipe but two cans appear in how to make it. Fantastic for this hot weather . Thanks Nagi
Nagi says
Hi Helen, I mention this in the comment above the ingredients 🙂
Elena says
I trust ,I know that all your recipes are very good.
Thank you very much for what you do for us!
Nagi says
Thank you so much Elena!! N x
Angie says
I make this all summer long here in the States. Especially with fresh tomatoes out of my garden. My dressing is just olive oil and red wine vinegar. And be sure to add some jalapeños! Very good!
Nagi says
Yum!! Sounds great Angie!! N x
Barbara says
I have the Cowboy Cavier an d liked it but the dressing was different. Anxious to try yours! Yummmm….
Nagi says
Love to know what you think once you’ve tried it Barbara!
Kerry says
Love your cooking, instructions, reviews and ideas for substitute ingredients. I am enjoying cooking again and trying new things. My kids and husband are extending there thinking of food too – that’s a bonus.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Kerry!!
Liz says
We loved this recipe😊😊😊John said you can make this anytime…so fresh and the coriander adds that freshness❤️
Thanks Nagi
Nagi says
Awesome Liz, I’m so glad you loved it!! ❤️
Carolyn Preston says
This dish is popularly known as Cowboy Caviar here in North America 😉
Nagi says
Hi Carolyn, yes I talk about cowboy caviar in the post 😉
Deanna says
We want DOZER!
We want DOZER! 😢
Conni says
I’ve been making this same black bean salad for 18 yrs (minus the sugar). It’s what I’m always asked to bring to BBQs or potlucks. It tastes even better the 2nd day. And fresh jalapeño adds a beautiful brightness and a tiny kick.
Nagi says
Oh it’s awesome on day two Conni (if I can stop myself eating it all on day one 😂)
Eha says
Yippee yay yo – off to the States we go 🙂 ! Had not heard of ‘Cowboy Caviar’ before today, tho’ I make bean salads almost every week ! And, Nagi, they are NOT boring !! But this truly is an interesting variation on the theme – and, have just checked, I have every single ingredient in the kitchen . . . so, perhaps with my grilled lamb cutlets tomorrow, as a wrap on Friday and for breakfast atop black bread and cottage cheese over the weekend . . . busy times call for quick measures . . . thanks !
Nagi says
You’ll love it Eha!!!
Vera G says
No there is no Dozer Photo . Salad is Yum, love IT. We have Bean salad inEurope Mum use to add bunch Of butter beans. Enjoy your poll.
Sherry Kolter says
I love you Nagi and your recipe. You have brought me lots of new menu to my family. This looks really good and I will definitely try to make your Bean salads, the CowGIRL way… yeehaw…😉 Thanks!
Nagi says
Love it Sherry 😂
Laurie says
This is exactly the recipe I use for Cowboy Caviar and people always go CRAZY for it!! I bring a double batch every year to a December/holiday work event (I live in Texas) and it disappears. I serve it with tortilla chips but many people eat it just as is. And it’s pretty much entirely all veg/vegan, so very healthy, and no cooking required, just chopping! You’re right to keep the sugar at 2 tsp- that’s perfect! Thanks for spreading the word about Cowboy Caviar to the world, Nagi!! 😀
Nagi says
It’s so addictive to eat isn’t it Laurie?!!