We love a good dip with a side of chips or crunchy veggies as a snack or an appetizer. Some of my other favorite dips include Buffalo Chicken Dip, Grilled Mexican Street Corn Dip, and our Jalapeño Popper Dip with Bacon. Growing up, this dip was at every holiday gathering and summer party. It’s still one of my all-time favorites. The distinct layers of color and flavors always make it a crowd-pleaser, and it’s a cinch to throw together, especially if you take some shortcuts like using premade guacamole from the store. I love it so much that I have even done a Greek twist on this 7 Layer dip, although this classic Tex Mex version is the one you see most often. This is such a perfect recipe for any type of game day party, summer potluck, or even a backyard BBQ, especially if you are having a Mexican food theme going. But if not, this Tex Mex Dip still makes for a perfect appetizer that everyone will love. One thing we do differently than most 7 Layer Dip recipes is that I like to bake it and serve it melty and hot! It’s not as easy to transport that way for potlucks, but if the party is at your house and you can serve this dip warm, oh man it’s good! The trick is to bake the first four layers – beans, guac, sour cream, and cheese – until the cheese is melted before topping with the remaining layers. Obviously it’s delicious cold and we enjoy it that way too, but give it a try warm one of these days and you just might never look at 7 layer dip the same way again. We serve this dip with tortillas chips, but it is also great with crunchy veggies for a healthier alternative. It is also gluten-free (just check the labels on those beans) and vegetarian so it’s a great option for guests with dietary needs.
Recipe Ingredients
Refried Beans: You can make these yourself (It’s really simple in the instant pot) or just grab a couple cans at the store. Either way works great! Taco Seasoning: You can make your own homemade taco seasoning (highly recommend!) or grab the packets at the store. Guacamole: You can certainly go the store bought route – some grocery stores actually make pretty decent guac in house – but my homemade guacamole is best. You’ll need garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt, and most importantly, ripe avocados. Sour Cream: Some 7 layer dips have you mix taco seasoning into the sour cream, but I prefer adding the seasoning to the beans and keeping the sour cream layer a beautiful, pure white. Plus, I like the flavor better this way anyway. Cheese: Freshly shredded cheese always melts and tastes best, but you could use pre-shredded if you aren’t planning to heat up your 7 layer dip since melting won’t be a factor. I like to use a mix of sharp cheddar and monterey or pepper jack. Tomatoes: Roma tomatoes are my go-to choice for this recipe but really any kind of tomato will work. Onions: I like to use green onions for this recipe. Black Olives: A couple cans of the sliced olives works great.
How to Make 7 Layer Bean Dip
Recipe Tips
If you don’t like one of the layers, just leave it off! Honestly, olives aren’t my favorite and I usually pick them off or only top half of the dip with them, lol. My kids love them though! Other layer options would be to do a layer of shredded lettuce, add some fresh or pickled sliced jalapeños for more heat, throw on some grilled corn kernels, or even bulk it up with a layer of taco meat under the cheese! Be sure to spread your layers as evenly as possible so they go all the way to the edges. This not only gives the best presentation, but it exposes less guacamole to the air, which is what causes it to go brown faster. You can make this in clear plastic cups for individual servings. It’s such a cute presentation instead of the family style approach you see here, but be warned that it is definitely extra work! Make this for Halloween by using a round platter and saving the sour cream for one of the last layers. Instead of spreading it, transfer the sour cream to a piping bag with a round tip and squeeze it on to make a spider’s web design on top, then make a couple of “spiders” using whole or halved olives for bodies and sliced olive pieces for legs!
Even More Dip Recipes
Philly Cheesesteak Dip Trader Joe’s Lentil Bruschetta Feta Dip Maryland Hot Crab Dip Easy Refried Bean Dip Healthier Spinach Artichoke Dip Tomato Basil Bruchetta Bacon Blue Cheese Dip
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