Description
This Frito Cowboy Cabbage Salad is a bold, crunchy, and flavor-packed twist on classic coleslaw! It combines crisp cabbage, corn, beans, cheese, and tangy dressing — all tossed with crunchy Fritos just before serving. It’s the perfect side dish for BBQs, cookouts, and casual family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Slaw Base
- 1 medium head green cabbage, finely shredded (or 2 bags coleslaw mix)
- 1 cup sweet corn kernels (canned and drained, or thawed frozen)
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (leave some seeds for extra heat)
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
For the Creamy Chipotle-Lime Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream (or thick plain dairy-free alt if swapping)
- 2–3 tbsp fresh lime juice (plus zest of 1 lime)
- 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo, minced, plus 1 tsp adobo sauce
- 1 tbsp taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½–1 tsp honey (optional, for balance)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
For the Crunch
- 2–3 cups Fritos (Original or Chili Cheese—add right before serving)
Instructions
- Whisk the dressing.
In a medium bowl, whisk mayo, sour cream, lime juice/zest, minced chipotle + adobo, taco seasoning, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust—add more lime for brightness, a touch of honey for balance, or extra chipotle for heat. - Prep the slaw.
In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded cabbage, corn, black beans, diced bell peppers, jalapeño, scallions, and cilantro. Pat the beans and corn dry first so they don’t water down your dressing. - Dress and toss.
Pour about ¾ of the dressing over the slaw and toss thoroughly until everything is glossy. Add more dressing as needed to coat without pooling at the bottom. - Chill (optional).
If you have time, chill the dressed slaw for 5–30 minutes. This lets flavors settle and the cabbage slightly relax—without losing its snap. - Fritos last!
Right before serving, fold in Fritos or scatter them generously over the top. Keep extra on the side so everyone can refresh their crunch. - Finish and serve.
Taste once more for salt, pepper, and lime. Garnish with a few cilantro leaves and a final handful of Fritos.
- Prep Time: PT15M
- Category: Salads
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 290kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 20mg