This Cowboy Salad comes together in about 30 minutes and requires no cooking, just fresh chopping and mixing! It’s a quick and easy dish that your family will love! Perfect as a light meal on hot summer days or a fresh side for your barbecued meats. Let’s dive in!
Ingredients Breakdown
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of this delicious Cowboy Salad recipe, let’s talk about what you’ll need. The beauty of this salad is that it’s incredibly versatile. You can swap in or out ingredients based on what you have on hand. Here’s the lineup:
½ cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip: You can use whatever you like! I personally love the creaminess that regular mayonnaise brings, but you can go for Miracle Whip for a tangier kick.
¼ cup BBQ sauce: This is where the ranch meets cowboy! Use your favorite variety for added flavor.
1 tablespoon lime juice: Fresh lime juice is ideal for that zesty punch, but bottled works in a pinch.
2 heads romaine lettuce: That’s right, fresh, crisp romaine lettuce is the base of our Cowboy Salad. Chop it into bite-sized pieces.
1 cup corn: Fresh, canned, or frozen corn will all work. I often use sweet corn for that little bite of sweetness.
15.25 oz. black beans: Rinsed and drained, these add a meal-like quality to the salad and loads of protein.
1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved): Just the right bit of sweetness and color, feel free to use any other tomatoes you have!
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese: A classic! You could even switch it for pepper jack for some spiciness.
½ bunch cilantro (chopped): For that fresh, herby flavor! And honestly, I can’t get enough of it.
¼ cup chopped pickled jalapeños: These guys will give your salad a delightful kick!
1 avocado (diced): No salad of mine is complete without creamy avocado. It adds that comforting flavor that brings everything together.
See? Simple ingredients, but packed with tons of flavor!
Let’s Get Cooking!
Alright, friends, let’s get this Cowboy Salad party started! Here’s how to whip it up:
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, BBQ sauce, and lime juice until well combined. Cover and refrigerate.
- Clean and dry the romaine lettuce. Chop into bite-sized pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Prepare the corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese, cilantro, and jalapeños, and add them to the bowl with the lettuce. Gently stir to combine.
- Add the diced avocado to the salad just before serving, along with the dressing. Toss until everything is well coated.
And there you go! Cowboy Salad in no time at all!
I’m a real sucker for salads that double as a meal, and this is one of those recipes that feels filling without being heavy. Plus, you can use whatever you have on hand, so it fits into a busy weeknight cooking rotation perfectly! The ability to truly make it your own, kind of like the wild West, is just the best part.
If you loved this Cowboy Salad, be sure to check out my Divorce Salad or the Jennifer Aniston Salad!
Why This Recipe Works
Quick & Easy
Doesn’t get much simpler than this! This Cowboy Salad comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for those busy weeknights when you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
Customizable
The whole idea of Cowboy Salad is just that, it’s incredibly forgiving. Not a fan of black beans? Swap in some chickpeas! No corn handy? Use diced bell peppers instead. It’s wonderful for using whatever ingredients are calling your name in the fridge.
Crowd-Pleaser
Trust me, this salad is a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re serving it at a casual family dinner or a large gathering, it has something for everyone, crunchy, creamy, spicy, and sweet.
Make-Ahead Friendly
You can easily make this salad in advance! Just keep the dressing and the avocado separate until you’re ready to serve. It keeps well as a leftovers, too, everything mingles nicely overnight, just give it a good toss before serving.
Loaded with Tons of Flavor
The combination of BBQ sauce, creamy dressing, and fresh ingredients makes every bite pop with flavor. You get sweetness from the corn, creaminess from the avocado, and just a hint of spice from the jalapeños. It’s a flavor bomb, one you’ll keep coming back to!
Serving & Storage Tips
How to Serve This Cowboy Salad
Serve your Cowboy Salad as a main dish, or as a fabulous side! It pairs well with grilled meats, tacos, or just about anything else you can throw on the grill! Toss some additional protein in there like grilled chicken or shrimp, and you’ve really leveled up!
Storage
This salad will keep in the fridge for about 1-2 days. However, if you add the avocado ahead of time, it may brown faster. So, for optimal freshness, I recommend adding the avocado right before serving.
Reheating Instructions
While I don’t usually recommend reheating salads (believe me, it loses its charm), if you have leftovers without the dressing and avocado, you can easily sauté them in a pan for a light veggie stir-fry, that way, nothing goes to waste!
Freezer Friendly
Unfortunately, this Cowboy Salad isn’t freezer-friendly due to its fresh ingredients; however, you can prepare the individual components in advance and mix them up when you’re ready to serve.
And there you have it, my warm, vibrant, and utterly delicious Cowboy Salad recipe! I promise it’s going to be a hit for your busy weeknights and friendly gatherings alike. So grab those fresh ingredients, throw on a little bit of country music, and enjoy creating a dish that’s as comforting as it is flavorful!
This salad is all about making things easy and using what you have. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!
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Cowboy Salad
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A vibrant Cowboy Salad that requires no cooking, combines fresh ingredients, and is perfect for light meals or as a side for barbecued meats.
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 heads romaine lettuce
- 1 cup corn
- 15.25 oz. black beans
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ bunch cilantro (chopped)
- ¼ cup chopped pickled jalapeños
- 1 avocado (diced)
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, BBQ sauce, and lime juice until well combined. Cover and refrigerate.
- Clean and dry the romaine lettuce. Chop into bite-sized pieces and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Prepare the corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese, cilantro, and jalapeños, and add them to the bowl with the lettuce. Gently stir to combine.
- Add the diced avocado to the salad just before serving, along with the dressing. Toss until everything is well coated.
Notes
For ideal freshness, add the avocado right before serving. The salad can be made in advance but is best served fresh.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 16mg