Cowboy Caviar isn’t just a dish; it’s a celebration on a plate. Bold flavors that pop with each bite? Yes, please.
Finding the perfect partners for this colorful feast can be tricky. We’ve been there. Scouring the kitchen, hoping for inspiration to strike.
Our must-share secret?
Simple sides make cowboy caviar shine. Think of crisp textures and fresh flavors. You won’t believe how some of these pairings bring everything together.
This list is our go-to. Tested at many a potluck, we swear by these choices.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Cowboy Caviar?
Cowboy caviar is a simple salad.
Therefore, it’s only logical to serve something on the side.
You can pick a side dish depending on the time of the day and how heavy or light you want the meal.
The salad/dip works great with various food, including chicken, tuna, steak, and even a simple soup.
Check out our list of ten side dishes to find something you want to serve your guests.
You can make them, use them to find more ideas, or customize them to add your unique touch.
What to Serve with Cowboy Caviar? 10 BEST Side Dishes
Since cowboy caviar is basically a salad, you can serve pretty much anything with it.
However, here are our ten recommendations if you’re out of ideas and need something refreshing to cook.
1. Thai Coconut Curry Soup (Khao Soi)
Perfect for the cold weather, Khao Soi or Thai coconut curry soup is a fantastic side dish you can serve with cowboy caviar.
It is a noodle soup dish from Northern Thailand, consisting of egg noodles/hand-cut rice, soup base, and coconut milk.
Khao Soi is rich in proteins and often served with som tam.
It is a great pair for cowboy caviar as you can enjoy the soup when it gets dry between biting into the salad.
Thai coconut curry soup is also a filling dish, so you don’t have to worry about preparing other sides for the meal.
Use chicken, tofu, and veggies to intensify the soup’s flavors.
2. Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Balsamic grilled chicken is incredibly easy to make.
You can serve it with cowboy caviar to make a delicious meal for fall.
Serving cowboy caviar with juicy balsamic grilled chicken is a great way to present some restaurant-style dinner to your guests.
This side dish has only a few basic ingredients that you can get easily- chicken, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, thyme, honey, garlic powder, and pepper.
You can add other seasonings as per your taste.
Remove the chicken from the heat when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
You can make it in the oven, stove, instant pot, or on the grill.
3. Pulled Pork Sandwich
What can be better than serving a Texas-style side dish for cowboy caviar? Make slow-cooked pulled pork sandwich this time with your favorite salad to give it a burst of savory flavors and textures.
You can top the sandwich with barbeque sauce to make it even tastier.
Sandwiches and salads always pair well together.
Therefore, it’s impossible to go wrong with this combination.
Use skinless pork shoulder meat to let the flavors penetrate thoroughly.
Cook it for 2 hours per kg on very low heat (140C) to get perfectly tender meat that you can shred easily.
4. Mushroom Risotto
If you want to ensure that your guests return home happy and satiated, mushroom risotto might be the best choice.
Risotto is an Italian rice dish made in broth until the rice becomes creamy.
You can use fish, meat, or vegetable broth for this dish.
A traditional risotto contains onion, butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and white wine.
But for this side dish, you’ll need to add some button mushrooms.
Mushrooms add a savory, earthy flavor to the dish that compliments cowboy caviar.
Pro Tip: Stir the rice often and add the broth slowly to get the creamiest mushroom risotto.
5. Caprese Pizza
Caprese pizza is a quick and easy dinner item that everyone is guaranteed to enjoy.
Use tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil sauce to make a light and tasty pizza perfect for picnics, lunch, dinner, or any time you get hungry.
You’ll need only 30 minutes to make a Caprese pizza.
It adds the perfect crunch and flavor that goes well with cowboy caviar.
Caprese pizza is the perfect dish if you want to keep your meal light yet filling.
6. Salmon and Cucumber Sushi Rolls
Another refreshing side dish that accompanies cowboy caviar beautifully is salmon and cucumber sushi rolls.
This dish’s cream cheese and cucumber go very well with fish roe and smoked salmon.
You can add some wasabi, too, if you want to give it some spice.
Whether you want to use rice or not is up to you and your guests’ preference.
Add sticky rice to the rolls if you want it to be very filling.
This side dish is highly nutritious and satiating.
But it won’t keep you feeling overly full and lethargic.
7. Beef Birria Tacos
Beef Birria taco is a stunning Mexican side dish that would beautifully pair with cowboy caviar.
Birria tacos consist of a sweet, savory, sour, and spicy beef stew cooked in various Mexican spices.
The meat is wrapped in corn tortillas and topped with cheese, onions, lime, and cilantro.
You can use goat, lamb, chicken, and sheep instead of beef if you like.
Slow-cooking the meat is the best way to make the dish utterly delicious.
This side dish is a great way to add savory flavors to your cowboy caviar.
Since it’s loaded with meat, you wouldn’t need to add more proteins to the meal.
8. Sweetcorn and Tuna Fishcakes
You can keep the freshness of the meal by adding equally light side dishes.
Thankfully, cowboy caviar tastes great with many foods, including Sweetcorn and tuna fishcakes.
This side dish also takes very little time to make, so you can plan to have more time enjoying your company than staying in the kitchen cooking.
To make this dish, you’ll need potatoes, tuna, Sweetcorn, plain flour, olive oil, and seasonings.
9. Steak with Pastrami Sauce and Red Wine
How about a good steak with pastrami sauce and red wine to serve with your cowboy caviar? We bet no one will complain about this outstanding dish.
Steaks and salads are an unbeatable combo.
You can use a simple salt & pepper seasoning or go the extra mile and use thyme, parsley, cloves, and shallots for an even more aromatic side dish.
It is always nice to have a rich protein-filled steak on the side when you’re serving nutritious foods like cowboy caviar.
Take the meat off the heat when it reaches 130-135 degrees internally.
10. Philly Cheesesteak Quesadilla
Another delicious side dish for your cowboy caviar, Philly Cheesesteak quesadillas, contains melted cheese and savory beef wrapped in a soft tortilla.
The best way to eat it is toasting it on a pan until crispy.
Philly Cheesesteak quesadilla is a great option when you want to make something in less than thirty minutes.
You’ll need mushrooms, salsa sauce, onions, ground beef, chicken/ground beef, olives, and cheese for this side.
It is a quick and effortless dish that looks sophisticated and delicious to serve on any occasion.
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