7 Layer Dip (Mexican Layer Dip)

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Crowd-favorite 7 layer dip is a quick and easy Mexican layer dip made with beans, guacamole, sour cream, fresh salsa, cheese, olives, and green onions. Grab the chips!

Why you'll love layered Mexican dip

1. Crowd-pleaser - This favorite dip disappears at any gathering.
2. Make ahead or last minute - Minimal planning is needed.
3. Fuss-free serving - Set it out and watch it disappear!

The best-ever layered Mexican dip is an essential Super Bowl food that belongs at every gathering. Classic Tex-Mex ingredients like guacamole, beans, salsa, cheese, sour cream, black olives, and green onions are layered in a pan and served with tortilla chips. It's simple, creamy, savory, cool, mildly spicy, and loved by everyone!

This 7-layer dip recipe is easy for any skill level and can be made ahead or at the last minute. When making ahead, you can make the beans, fresh salsa, or guacamole from scratch up to a few days in advance. Or, buy the retail-packed ingredients for ultra convenience.

Since layered bean dip is served chilled, there’s no need to heat this delicious appetizer, which is convenient for you. Just serve it with tortilla chips, and your guests know exactly what to do. Heads up, it disappears fast!

Ingredient notes

• Refried beans - Use pinto or refried black beans for optimal flavor and texture. Packaged beans are undoubtedly convenient, but you'll love the quality the homemade version adds to the layer dip.
• Taco seasoning - Season the beans with a delicious flavor using homemade taco seasoning or a store-bought packet.
• Water - Add this no-calorie ingredient in small amounts to adjust the consistency of the beans to make them more spreadable. You can use sour cream, salsa, or bean juice similarly.
• Salsa - Fresh salsa such as this simple pico de gallo or restaurant-style Mexican salsa brings authentic Mexican flavors to this 7-layer dip recipe. Substitute this with jarred salsa picante or plain tomatoes.
• Guacamole - Nothing beats homemade guacamole, but some excellent packaged versions are out there too!
• Sour cream - Plain sour cream creates a nice contrast between layers. But you can also mix the taco seasoning with sour cream instead of the beans, which creates a festive and creamy orange layer. Both ways are delicious!
• Mexican cheese blend - It's so convenient to buy shredded cheese but feel free to shred your own.
• Canned black olives - Use sliced black olives or slice whole olives as needed.
• Green onions - Or fresh chives. Either will add flavor and color to any seven-layer dip.

How to make 7 layer dip

These step-by-step photo instructions show you how to layer seven-layer dip. You'll find details in the printable recipe card below.

Step 1: Combine beans, taco seasoning, and liquid until well combined. This adds taco flavor to the beans and makes them easier to spread.

Step 2: Drain salsa in a mesh strainer to remove excess liquid. Spread beans as the first layer in the serving dish.

Step 3: Spread guacamole over beans, then a layer of salsa, then sour cream. I like to dollop each layer of ingredients over the surface, then gently spread to preserve the tidiness of the layers. I recommend spreading each layer to the edges for visual appeal when using a glass dish.

Step 4: Add the final layers, which include cheddar cheese, black olives, green onions, and a little more pico de gallo for a pop of color.

Serve seven seven-layer dip chilled with tortilla chips. Cover and refrigerate for up to one day for optimal freshness.

Recipe tips

This Mexican dip recipe couldn't be more straightforward; these tips will ensure a beautiful presentation.

• If using warm beans or seasoned taco meat, cool down the cooked ingredients enough to prevent warming the other ingredients because it helps keep the layered dip layers intact.
• Don't skip the step to drain excess liquid from the salsa using a fine mesh strainer because this helps keep the layers intact.
• Refrigerated ingredients like guacamole and sour cream need to be well-chilled. The structure keeps the layers of the dip well-defined.
• During assembly, it also helps to add wet ingredients in dollops and gently smooth them out using an offset spatula or large spoon.
• Since guacamole is prone to browning, you'll notice that I layer it under the sour cream. This prevents air flow and discoloring, which keeps the guacamole bright green and beautiful in this layered dip.

Can you make 7 layer dip the night before?

Yes! You can make Mexican layer dip the day before your event. Simply assemble the dip, cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. You will love the convenience of this method.

Serving tips

• This recipe makes a generous amount and can be made in two smaller pans. This way, a second, fresh round can stay fresh under refrigeration while the first one gets devoured.
• Let layered dip rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving for easier scooping and serving.
• Enjoy this 7-layer dip within two hours of non-refrigeration to maintain safe temperature standards.
• Serve seven-layer dip with a large serving spoon to encourage scooping the dip from pan to plate and prevent the dreaded broken chips from scoop attempts.

Party foods we love

• Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Hands-Free Oven Baked Chicken Wings
• Cheesy Pull Apart Bread
• Jalapeno Popper Dip
• Easy Mexican Street Corn
• Crab Dip Recipe
• Totchos
• Honey Hot Wings

📖 Recipe