Ultimate 7 Layer Dip

This layered taco dip is about to be your go-to dish when a potluck is in question. Make it traditionally with ground beef or go vegetarian with refried beans. 7 Layer dip is adaptable!

7 Layer Taco Dip Recipe

Your mouth will be doing the salsa with every bite! Entertain with ease or serve as an easy dinner with a side of taco shells. Taco Tuesday just became Fiesta Friday!

This Mexican Dip is a delicious and easy appetizer to serve at any gathering or as a fun weeknight treat. Whether you keep the classic recipe or make it vegetarian, everyone will love every tasty layer.

This popular layered dip has inspired many a heated debate. What could be so controversial about dip? It’s all about the layers, baby!

Most variations of this recipe don’t include a meat layer. I don’t know about you but if it doesn’t have taco meat, it’s just bean dip.

Oh no! Did I just cause another debate?

Most can agree that beans, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and cheese are included. But that’s only 5 layers. What are the other 2?

These variations include layers of lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onions, etc. To me these are garnishes and would be one layer total. Call me crazy…

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Why this 7 Layer Dip recipe is awesome

• It’s easy to whip up which makes it great for parties, get-togethers or last-minute guests.
• There are so many options. Top with your favorite toppings or even make it vegetarian by leaving out the meat.
• Packed with lots of flavor making it perfect for Cinco de Mayo or Taco Tuesday.
• Seasoned ground beef is my go-to, but also opt for ground turkey or chicken.
• Try it with the black bean dip or my rotel dip!

My layered taco dip recipe, includes all aspects of the taco, including the seasoned meat! You can thank me later.

Ingredients Needed

Refried beans – Use regular or vegetarian brand!

Ground beef – When mixed with taco seasoning and a little bit of water, the ground beef becomes taco meat and also the second layer of dip.

Taco seasoning – As stated above, this is mixed with the ground beef. You can use a store bought packet, or even a homemade blend. We also use some to mix with sour cream for another layer.

Cream cheese – Use full fat, reduced or low fat, or fat free!

Pantry staples – Salsa, spicy guacamole, sour cream, milk.

Toppings – The next layers are optional based on your preference, but I like topping my dip with shredded cheese, black olives, shredded lettuce and onions. All the colors, textures and flavors!

How to make 7 Layer Dip with Meat

First: Brown and season the ground beef. Drain if desired. Mix the beans and milk until creamy. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning until smooth.

Second: Spread the 7 layers in your servings dish in this order: beans, beef, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese.

Third: Garnish with lettuce, tomatoes, and olives. Serve with chips!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Now that we have settled the layer debate, or maybe just started another conversation about it, let’s get to some common questions about it.

Is 7 Layer Dip hot or cold?

Most of them are served cold. Because they don’t have meat in them. But my recipe has meat in it and I still serve it cold.
It all depends on how you prepare it. No one in my family has a problem with eating cold taco meat or beans.
You can heat the bean and beef layers then immediately layer the rest of the dip and serve. Really this is just a cold dip with a warm bottom.
I wouldn’t heat this in the oven with the sour cream, guacamole, and fresh veggies on top, they will become limp and loose their snap.

How long does it last?

If you happen to have leftover dip, it will keep in the fridge, covered, for 3-4 days. It make get a little watery in the bottom of the dish, just drain it off and proceed with eating.

What do I do with leftovers?

There are so many ways to use up the leftovers. Try adding it to taco shells or as walking taco toppings, make nachos with tortilla chips, wrap it up in tortillas and make burritos, or add it to a cheesy quesadilla!

For more insider tips & tricks, and a candid behind the scenes look follow me on social media! Check use out on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (yes, people still use Twitter, LOL!)

Tapas Tips & Tricks

• If you don’t have guacamole, you can use plain mashed avocado.
• Don’t have a can of refried beans? Layer bean dip in the dish.
• If your cream cheese layer is too thick or hard to spread, whip it a little longer to make it fluffy or add more sour cream to thin out. Cut it into smaller bits for it to soften faster, set it in the sun or near a warm stove or oven.
• Feel free to use a taco seasoning mix packet but a homemade taco seasoning one is better, will have less salt and also lets you control the heat.
• Use fresh or even canned diced tomatoes. My favorite fresh variety for this dip is a Roma tomato. it’s firm and has great flavor.
• Onions can be overpowering so I prefer sliced green onions for their light flavor and their bright green color.
• If you are watching your saturated fat intake, feel free to use fat free sour cream and cream cheese. plain Greek yogurt also works great- all the tang and body with less calories and fat.
• This 7 layer dip is hearty so make sure your tortilla chips are too! Scoops are the best and I would stay away from the thin ones unless you like to dip two chips at a time. And if you are going low carb, use carrot and celery sticks.
• If storing in the fridge, be sure to press the plastic wrap close to the top layer of the 7 layer taco dip to keep the air out and the guacamole from turning brown. A spritz of fresh lime juice will also help prevent it from oxidizing.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

Whip up this zesty seven layer dip with meat in just minutes for any occasion. It’s great for game day. With so many layers, there is something for everyone!

Seven Layer Dip

Layered Taco Dip is a delicious and easy appetizer to serve at any gathering or as a fun weeknight treat.

4.50 from 20 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dips and Spreads

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 357kcal

Author: Jennifer Stewart

Equipment

• Angled Decorating Spatula Set of 3 
• 8″ Square Glass Baking Dish

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
• ¼ cup water
• 16 ounces refried beans
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
• 1.5 cups prepared guacamole
• 16 ounces prepared salsa
• 1.5 cups cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• ½ cup chopped tomatoes
• ½ cup sliced black olives

Instructions

• Brown the ground beef in a pan. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the beef, add water, stir to combine and cook for another minute or two until water is absorbed and meat is seasoned. Remove to a bowl, drain if necessary.
• Combine the refried beans with the milk to thin them out. In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning.
• Grab your 9×13 pan or trifle dish. Start layering in this order being sure to spread the layers evenly over the previous one.
• Spread the beans evenly across the bottom.
• Top with seasoned ground beef. Spread evenly.
• Add the sour cream/cream cheese layer. Spread evenly.
• Spread the guacamole over the cream cheese layer. Spread evenly.
• Top with salsa.
• Sprinkle it with cheese.
• Garnish with lettuce, tomatoes, and sliced olives.
• Serve with chips!

Video

Notes

• If you don’t have guacamole, you can use mashed avocado
• don’t have a can of refried beans? layer bean dip in the dish
• if your cream cheese layer is too thick or hard to spread, whip it a little longer to make it fluffy or add more sour cream to thin out
• feel free to use a taco seasoning mix packet but a homemade one is better
• use fresh or even canned diced tomatoes. my favorite fresh variety for this dip is a Roma tomato. it’s firm and has great flavor
• onions can be overpowering so I prefer sliced green onions for their light flavor and their bright green color
• if you are watching your saturated fat intake, feel free to use fat free sour cream and cream cheese. plain Greek yogurt also works great
• this dip is hearty so make sure your tortilla chips are too! scoops are the best and I would stay away from the thin ones unless you like to dip two chips at a time
• if storing in the fridge, be sure to press the plastic wrap close to the top layer of the 7 layer taco dip to keep the air out and the guacamole from turning brown

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 789mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 880IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 181mg | Iron: 2mg

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