Print

Frito Cowboy Cabbage Recipe

4.9 from 70 reviews

Frito Cowboy Cabbage is a vibrant and crunchy southwestern-style salad featuring a mix of coleslaw, black beans, corn, fresh vegetables, and a zesty chipotle dressing. Topped with Chili Cheese Fritos for added texture and flavor, this dish combines smoky, spicy, and tangy elements for a perfect no-cook, refreshing side or light meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 bag (16 ounces) coleslaw mix
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 ½ cups (247.5 g) canned corn kernels, drained
  • 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • 3 green onions, finely sliced
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 bag (9.75 ounces) Chili Cheese Fritos, reserving a handful for topping

Dressing Ingredients

  • ½ cup (115 g) sour cream
  • ½ cup (116 g) mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo (just the sauce, not the peppers)

Instructions

  1. Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the coleslaw mix, black beans, corn, jalapeño, red bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, taco seasoning, and ground cumin. Toss gently until all ingredients are well combined and evenly distributed.
  2. Prepare the dressing: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, and chipotle sauce until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This creates approximately 1 ¼ cups of flavorful chipotle dressing.
  3. Add dressing to salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the combined salad ingredients in the large bowl. Gently stir to coat all components evenly with the chipotle dressing.
  4. Mix in Fritos: Add all but a handful of the Chili Cheese Fritos to the salad. Carefully fold them in, ensuring they are distributed throughout without breaking them up too much, maintaining some crunch.
  5. Top with reserved Fritos: Just before serving, sprinkle the reserved handful of Chili Cheese Fritos on top of the salad for extra texture and a delightful crunch.
  6. Serve immediately: The salad is best enjoyed fresh to appreciate the combination of crisp vegetables and crunchy Fritos. Serve right away for optimal texture and flavor.

Notes

  • For added heat, leave some seeds in the jalapeño or add finely diced chipotle peppers.
  • This salad pairs well with grilled meats or as a standalone light lunch.
  • To make it vegetarian, ensure the taco seasoning does not contain animal products.
  • Best eaten fresh as the Fritos can become soggy if left to sit for too long.
  • Chipotle sauce amount can be adjusted to taste for milder or spicier dressing.

Keywords: Frito Cowboy Cabbage, southwestern salad, chipotle dressing, coleslaw salad, black bean salad, crunchy salad