Description

Frito Cowboy Cabbage is a bold and flavorful twist on traditional coleslaw, combining crunchy coleslaw mix, black beans, corn, fresh peppers, and green onions, all tossed in a creamy chipotle dressing. Finished with a generous amount of Chili Cheese Fritos for a delightful crunch, this salad is perfect as a side dish for BBQs, potlucks, or taco nights. Inspired by a viral TikTok recipe from Kristen, it offers a vibrant, slightly spicy, and satisfying flavor profile that will please any crowd.

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

Mix salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, rinsed black beans, drained corn, finely diced jalapeño, red bell pepper, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, taco seasoning, and ground cumin. Toss everything together until evenly combined to distribute the flavors.
Make the chipotle dressing: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, and chipotle sauce until smooth and creamy. This will yield about 1 ¼ cups of flavorful chipotle dressing.
Add dressing to salad: Pour the prepared chipotle dressing over the salad mixture in the large bowl once you are ready to serve. This helps keep the salad fresh and crunchy until mealtime.
Incorporate Fritos: Add all but a handful of the Chili Cheese Fritos to the bowl with the salad and dressing. Gently stir to coat all ingredients with the dressing while mixing in the Fritos to add texture and flavor.
Garnish and serve: Just before serving, sprinkle the reserved handful of Chili Cheese Fritos on top of the salad for an extra crunchy garnish. Serve immediately to enjoy the best combination of textures and flavors.

Notes

This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the Fritos and vegetables.
If you prefer less spice, reduce the amount of chipotle sauce or omit the jalapeño pepper.
For a dairy-free version, substitute sour cream and mayonnaise with vegan alternatives.
The salad can be refrigerated for up to 1 day, but the Fritos should be added just before serving to prevent sogginess.
Feel free to add additional veggies or swap black beans for pinto beans for variation.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Frito Cowboy Cabbage, coleslaw, chipotle dressing, black beans, corn, BBQ side dish, crunchy salad, spicy coleslaw