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!
Made this for lunch and it was absolutely delicious!! I had everything on had which made it even better. I love all of your recipes and always look forward to seeing Dozer everyday.
Thanks so much Rosalie! N x
Hi Nagi! Great recipe for a vegetarian meal. I’m serving it in scooped-out potatoes with sour cream. 🥰
YUM! I must do this!!!
Can this be made without the sugar? Would it change the taste significantly?
I read your comment as I was eating my first serving of this.”Sugar?” I looked back at the recipe and realised I had missed it. So, I would say it is perfectly nice without sugar.
Looks fantastic. The only problem I have is a very strong dislike of coriander. Do you have any other suggestions or should I simply just omit it?
Use chives instead! N x
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.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Leanne! N x
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.
Sorry Nagi, I just read your information prior to the recipe. 🌻
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!
Hi Raelene, yes similar to cowboy caviar! N x
Made it last night. Family loved it. Will make often from now on
Wahoo, that’s great news Bronwyn!! N x
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!
YUM!!! Love this idea!
We loved this salad, it was very refreshing to eat although I doubled the lime juice for a little more flavour 😋
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Simone!!
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
Hi Helen, I mention this in the comment above the ingredients 🙂
I trust ,I know that all your recipes are very good.
Thank you very much for what you do for us!
Thank you so much Elena!! N x
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!
Yum!! Sounds great Angie!! N x
I have the Cowboy Cavier an d liked it but the dressing was different. Anxious to try yours! Yummmm….
Love to know what you think once you’ve tried it Barbara!
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.
Thanks so much Kerry!!
We loved this recipe😊😊😊John said you can make this anytime…so fresh and the coriander adds that freshness❤️
Thanks Nagi
Awesome Liz, I’m so glad you loved it!! ❤️
This dish is popularly known as Cowboy Caviar here in North America 😉
Hi Carolyn, yes I talk about cowboy caviar in the post 😉
We want DOZER!
We want DOZER! 😢
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.
Oh it’s awesome on day two Conni (if I can stop myself eating it all on day one 😂)
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 !
You’ll love it Eha!!!
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.