Frito Cowboy Cabbage Recipe
Frito Cowboy Cabbage is a vibrant, zesty salad combining crunchy coleslaw mix with black beans, corn, and colorful peppers, all tossed in a creamy chipotle lime dressing and topped with Chili Cheese Fritos for an irresistible crunch. This no-cook, quick-to-assemble dish makes an excellent side or standalone light meal with bold southwestern flavors.
- Author: Grace
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
- Diet: Vegetarian
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)
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the coleslaw mix, rinsed and drained black beans, drained canned corn, finely diced jalapeño, diced red bell pepper, sliced green onions, chopped fresh cilantro, taco seasoning, and ground cumin. Toss everything together thoroughly until evenly combined.
- Make the Dressing: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, and chipotle adobo sauce until the mixture is smooth and well blended, creating a creamy chipotle dressing totaling about 1 ¼ cups.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture. Stir gently to ensure that all ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing.
- Add Fritos: Add all but a handful of the Chili Cheese Fritos into the salad mixture. Gently toss to combine, distributing the Fritos without crushing them too much.
- Top and Serve: Just before serving, sprinkle the reserved handful of Chili Cheese Fritos over the top of the salad for extra crunch and visual appeal. Serve immediately to enjoy the Fritos’ crispness and freshness of ingredients.
Notes
- This salad is best served immediately after adding the Fritos to maintain their crisp texture.
- For a spicier kick, leave some seeds in the jalapeño or add extra chipotle sauce to the dressing.
- Can be customized with optional add-ins like diced avocado, shredded cheese, or cooked grilled chicken for added protein.
- To make it vegan, substitute sour cream and mayonnaise with plant-based alternatives and ensure Fritos are vegan-friendly.
- Store leftover salad without Fritos separately in the fridge for up to 2 days and add fresh Fritos when ready to serve.
Keywords: Frito Salad, Cowboy Cabbage Salad, Southwestern Salad, Chipotle Dressing, No-Cook Salad, Coleslaw Salad with Fritos, Vegan-Friendly Salad Option