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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    by Traci · 01/23/2023

    7 Layer Dip (Mexican Layer Dip)

    5 from 13 votes
    Total 15 minutes minutes
    Jump To Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    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!

    seven layer dip in square white dish with scattered tortilla chips
    Table of Contents hide
    1) Why you'll love layered Mexican dip
    2) Ingredient notes
    3) How to make 7 layer dip
    4) Recipe tips
    5) Can you make 7 layer dip the night before?
    6) Serving tips
    7) Party foods we love
    8) 📖 Recipe
    9) 7 Layer Dip (Mexican Layer Dip)

    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!

    This seven-layer 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.
    seven layer dip ingredients in separate bowls labeled

    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: Mix together beans, taco seasoning, and liquid in a bowl until well combined. This adds taco flavor to the beans and makes them easier to spread.

    refried beans, taco seasoning, and liquid in glass bowl
    refried beans are stirred in glass container

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

    salsa drains in mesh strainer
    layer of refried beans in white 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.

    guacamole layer is added to seven layer dip
    salsa layer is added to seven layer dip
    sour cream layer is added to seven layer dip

    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.

    black olives and shredded cheese layer is added to seven layer dip
    seven layer dip in white dish garnished with fresh salsa on top

    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.
    seven layer dip in square white dish with serving spoon and scattered tortilla chips

    Party foods we love

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

    📖 Recipe

    seven layer dip in square white dish with serving spoon and scattered tortilla chips

    7 Layer Dip (Mexican Layer Dip)

    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!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep TimePrep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Total timeTotal Time: 15 minutes mins
    Yield 16 servings
    Author Traci Antonovich
    5 from 13 votes
    Print Pin

    Ingredients 

    • 1 ½ cups Refried Beans or 15-ounce can
    • 2 tablespoons Mild Taco Seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon Water or other liquid
    • 2 cups Pico de Gallo or picante sauce
    • 1 ½ cups Guacamole or 12-ounce package
    • 1 cup Sour cream
    • 1 cup Mexican Cheese Blend
    • 1 (6-ounce can) Black Olives sliced
    • 1 Green Onion sliced

    Equipment

    • chef's knife
    • cutting board
    • small mixing bowl
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • 12 x 12 pan or 9 x 13 pan
    • offset spatula or spoon to spread ingredients
    • serving spoon

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, stir together BEANS, TACO SEASONING, and WATER until well-combined.
      Note: The beans should be spreadable, so add more water as needed.
    • Drain excess liquid from PICO DE GALLO as needed.
    • Spread the beans evenly as the first layer in the bottom of the serving dish.
    • Spread GUACAMOLE over the beans as the second layer, followed by a layer of PICO DE GALLO, SOUR CREAM, MEXICAN CHEESE, and BLACK OLIVES.
    • Spread remaining PICO as a garnish and scatter GREEN ONIONS as the final layer.
    • Serve with tortilla chips or other corn chips.
      Note: Enjoy 7 layer dip within two hours of non-refrigeration for food safety best practices.
    • To store, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day in advance.

    Final step

    Click stars to vote. Please visit 'Comments' below for reviews.

    5 from 13 votes

    Video

    Recipe Notes

    • This recipe makes a generous volume and can be made in two smaller pans.
    • Before serving, rest assembled dip at room temperature about 15 minutes for easier scooping.
    • Serve seven layer dip with a large serving spoon to discourage the dreaded broken chips from scoop attempts.
    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!Follow @thekitchengirl on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag #thekitchengirl. This always makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4ounces | Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 316mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 287IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Mexican, TexMex
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian
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    Comments

    1. Imsen says

      February 04, 2023 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      This dip looks super amazing! Can't wait to try it out! Perfect for a weekend night!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:50 pm

        Thanks! Glad you can enjoy this one. Cheers!

    2. Biana says

      February 04, 2023 at 12:14 pm

      5 stars
      This dip looks delicious! Perfect to serve for game day, with a few other appetizers.

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:49 pm

        Yes! Essential for the big game. Thanks for sharing your experience!

    3. Liz says

      February 04, 2023 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      This 7 layer dip was so good!! I made it for a party and it disappeared so fast! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Ned says

      February 04, 2023 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      Perfect for the big game! Can't wait to make it again. 🙂

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:49 pm

        Yay! So glad you went for it! Cheers!

    5. Tayler says

      January 12, 2023 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      I made this for a get together last night and everyone raves about it! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:48 pm

        You're so welcome and thanks for sharing your experience! Enjoy!

    6. Kathleen says

      January 12, 2023 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      This 7-layer dip tastes fantastic, comes together so easily and is always the first to go on game day.

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:48 pm

        That has been my experience too LOL. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Enjoy!

    7. Wanda says

      January 12, 2023 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      This is a dip was delicious and a hit in our house! We made it for our weekly board game night and can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:48 pm

        I love that idea!! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!

    8. Beth says

      January 12, 2023 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      We love this Mexican layer dip! So tasty and perfect with tortilla chips

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:47 pm

        Yay! So glad you love it as much as we do 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experience!

    9. JB says

      January 10, 2023 at 10:35 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! I can't believe how much of this I ate because I couldn't stop. It's just so good. It's like a meal, only it's party food. Loved it. Highly recommend!

      Reply
      • Traci says

        June 13, 2023 at 3:47 pm

        I have the same problem lol. Thanks for sharing your experience! Enjoy!

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