Description

Frito Cowboy Cabbage is a zesty, crunchy salad combining coleslaw mix, black beans, corn, fresh vegetables, and a creamy chipotle dressing, all tossed with spicy Chili Cheese Fritos for a satisfying southwestern-inspired dish perfect for gatherings or a quick, flavorful 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, divided (reserve 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 canned chipotles in adobo (just the sauce, no peppers)

Instructions

Prepare the Salad Mix: In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, rinsed and drained black beans, drained corn kernels, diced jalapeño, diced red bell pepper, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro, taco seasoning, and ground cumin. Toss all these ingredients thoroughly until well mixed.
Make the Dressing: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, and chipotle sauce until the dressing is smooth and creamy, yielding about 1 ¼ cups of chipotle dressing.
Combine Dressing and Salad: When ready to serve, pour the chipotle dressing over the salad mixture. Gently stir to ensure every ingredient is coated evenly with the dressing.
Add Fritos to the Salad: Add all but a handful of the Chili Cheese Fritos to the salad and gently fold them in so they mix but retain some crunch.
Top with Reserved Fritos: Just before serving, sprinkle the remaining handful of Chili Cheese Fritos on top for an extra crunchy texture and visual appeal.
Serve Immediately: Serve the salad immediately to preserve the crispness of the Fritos and the freshness of the ingredients.

Notes

For a spicier salad, include some of the diced seeds from the jalapeño or add extra chipotle sauce.
To make this recipe gluten-free, confirm that the Fritos and taco seasoning are certified gluten-free.
This salad is best served immediately as the Fritos will lose their crunch if mixed too far in advance.
Store leftovers without Fritos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; add fresh Fritos when serving again.
You can substitute plain corn chips for Fritos if desired, but Chili Cheese Fritos add distinctive flavor and texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Mexican-American

Keywords: Frito Cowboy Cabbage, chipotle dressing, coleslaw mix salad, southwestern salad, black bean salad, easy no-cook salad, Fritos salad