This Southern redneck caviar recipe brings together fresh ingredients—beans, corn, peppers—and tosses them in zesty Italian dressing. Ready in about 10 minutes, this healthy, addictive dip is perfect with Tostitos Scoops or Frito Scoops for snacking or entertaining.
This popular dish goes by many names depending on region and preference: bean salad, cowboy caviar, Southern caviar dip, Carolina caviar, hillbilly caviar, and more. Despite the various labels, the concept is the same—a bright, bean-forward salad-dip that’s fresh, flavorful, and easy to customize.
What Is Redneck Caviar?
Redneck caviar is a lively salad-like dip built on black-eyed peas and other beans combined with fresh vegetables and a tangy dressing. It’s typically served as a chip dip, a side salad, or a topping for tacos and bowls. The flavors deepen if you make it ahead—refrigerating for a few hours or overnight allows the vegetables and beans to absorb the dressing for the best texture and taste.
The Ingredients
This cowboy salsa features crisp, fresh veggies and tender beans. One of the recipe’s strengths is how adaptable it is—swap or add ingredients to match what you have on hand or your preferred flavors.
Common ingredients in redneck caviar include:
- Red or sweet onion
- Black-eyed peas
- Green or red bell pepper
- Fresh or canned tomatoes (or Rotel)
- Cilantro and/or green onions
- Corn (shoepeg, frozen, or fresh)
This version uses two types of beans—black-eyed peas and black beans—for varied texture and flavor. Canned beans work great; just rinse and drain them well. If you prefer, swap in pinto beans or another favorite bean.
Corn adds a sweet note. Shoepeg corn is traditional; frozen sweet corn thawed works well as an easy alternative. Fresh corn is excellent in season. For tomatoes, Rotel is recommended for its flavor and mild green chiles, but drained diced tomatoes plus additional green chiles will also work.
For heat and acidity, add diced pickled jalapeños or fresh jalapeño peppers depending on your spice tolerance. Leave them out if you prefer a milder dip.
Italian dressing is the classic binder for this salad—choose your favorite brand. If you want a fresher vinaigrette, try a mix of lime juice, chopped cilantro, olive oil, and a splash of balsamic or red wine vinegar. It’s not the traditional version, but it’s delicious and bright.
Serving The Salad
Serve redneck caviar in a large bowl. For best results refrigerate after adding the dressing so the flavors meld. Stir occasionally while it chills to prevent dressing from pooling at the bottom. Serve as a side dish, a dip, or a light meal. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week; flavors will continue to meld over time.
Making The Dip
This Southern redneck caviar is simple to prepare—about 10 minutes of active time. Chop the vegetables, drain and rinse the beans, combine everything in a mixing bowl, stir in cilantro and Italian dressing, then refrigerate. Stir again before serving to redistribute the dressing and check seasoning.
More Like This
If you enjoy bold, smoky salsas and dips, try other recipes that pair well with chips and fresh vegetables.
10 Minute Redneck Caviar
Kate
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
- 1 can shoepeg corn or thawed frozen corn
- 1 can Rotel, drained
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 1-2 tablespoons pickled jalapeños (optional)
- 8 oz Italian dressing
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
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Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir in cilantro and Italian dressing until evenly coated. Refrigerate for at least a few hours or overnight to allow flavors to meld. Stir well before serving to redistribute the dressing.