This 7-layer dip recipe is perfect for your next party. Made with beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese, it’s got tons of yummy Mexican flavor!

7-Layer dip in a square glass dish, with a green napkin.

It’s been a while since I’ve shared something savory!

And with Labor Day right around the corner, I figured we were due for another yummy dip recipe.

Over the last year or so, I’ve posted some of the best appetizers around. Spinach artichoke dip, sweet & sour meatballs, and buffalo chicken dip never fail to make an appearance at every get-together.

And today’s recipe is one of my absolute favorites: 7-Layer Dip!

This 7-layer dip recipe has- you guessed it! 7 delicious layers of goodness. It’s as easy as spreading lots of delicious Mexican flavors into a dish, and digging in.

So grab a bag of tortilla chips and let’s get going!

Taking a scoop of 7-layer bean dip on a tortilla chip, with a text overlay above reading "7-Layer Dip."

WHAT IS IN 7-LAYER DIP?

There’s always room to customize your 7-layer dip recipe, but traditionally, 7-layer dip consists of the following:

  1. refried beans
  2. a mixture of cream cheese & sour cream, seasoned with Mexican spices
  3. guacamole
  4. salsa
  5. cheese
  6. olives & green onions

HOW TO MAKE 7-LAYER DIP

You are going to love how easy it is to make this 7-layer dip recipe.

Start by straining the salsa to get some of the excess liquid out.

Pouring salsa through a fine mesh strainer.

The first layer of this dip is refried beans. A lot of times refried beans can be a little too thick, so stir a little of the salsa liquid into the beans, to loosen them up and help them to be a little more spreadable.

Pouring salsa liquid into refried beans.

Put the beans in the bottom of an 8-inch square dish, spreading them into an even layer.

Next, combine cream cheese, sour cream, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder in a bowl.

Cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasonings in a small glass bowl.

Mix these ingredients together to create a creamy, taco-spiced layer.

Mixing seasoned sour cream with an electric mixer.

Spread this over the beans.

Layering seasoned cream cheese over refried beans.

Next comes guacamole! You can use store-bought guacamole, or make your own. Here is my favorite homemade guacamole recipe: Best Guacamole Recipe.

Spreading guacamole over seasoned cream cheese.

Now spread your strained salsa over the guacamole layer.

Layering salsa over guacamole for 7-layer dip.

Sprinkle cheese all over the top.

My favorite is shredded sharp cheddar, but a Mexican cheese blend would also work really well.

Sprinkling shredded cheese over salsa.

Last step is to sprinkle a few sliced olives and green onions over the top.

Doesn’t it look so good?

Sprinkling olives and green onions over 7-layer Mexican dip.

VARIATIONS ON THIS 7-LAYER DIP RECIPE

This is a really customizable recipe, so if there is any element you don’t like here, you can easily swap it out for something you love!

Here are a few ideas:

  • Use seasoned ground beef in place of the refried beans.
  • Swap the guacamole for finely shredded iceberg lettuce.
  • Add chopped tomatoes, sliced jalapenos, or fresh cilantro on top.

IS 7-LAYER DIP HEALTHY?

This 7-layer dip recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, and relatively low in carbs.

Substitute ground turkey for the refried beans to make it a little lower in fat, calories, and carbs. You can also try using low-fat cream cheese, sour cream, and cheese.

Overhead image of 7-layer dip recipe, with a basket of corn chips and a green kitchen towel.

CAN THIS BE MADE AHEAD?

I often make this 7-layer dip recipe the night before. It will keep well in the fridge overnight, although sometimes you might notice it gets a little watery.

If this happens, just pour the excess liquid off. Problem solved!

HOW LONG WILL 7-LAYER DIP KEEP?

You can leave this dip out at room temperature for a few hours.

If you have any leftovers, just cover them tightly and stash them in the fridge. They should keep for a couple of days.

CAN 7-LAYER DIP BE FROZEN?

I would not recommend freezing this dish- it will give off a lot of liquid as it thaws, and the cream cheese layer can become grainy.

Scooping 7-layer taco dip with a corn chip.

A few more of my favorite Mexican recipes:

  • Classic Margarita
  • Tres Leches Cake
  • Churros with Dulce de Leche

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Close-up image of a tortilla chip taking a scoop out of a dish of 7-layer Mexican dip, with a text overlay above that reads "7-Layer Dip."

Close-up image of a tortilla chip taking a scoop out of a dish of 7-layer Mexican dip, with a text overlay above that reads "7-Layer Dip."

Close-up image of a tortilla chip taking a scoop out of a dish of 7-layer Mexican dip, with a text overlay above that reads "7-Layer Dip."

7-Layer dip in a square glass dish, with a green napkin.
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7-Layer Dip Recipe

Servings: 20
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
This 7-layer dip recipe is perfect for your next party. Made with beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese, it's got tons of yummy Mexican flavor!

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces (453.59 g) salsa, (mild, medium, or hot)
  • 15.4 ounces (436.58 g) refried beans
  • 8 ounces (226.8 g) cream cheese, (1 brick)
  • 3/4 cup (172.5 g) sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 16 ounces (453.59 g) guacamole
  • 1 1/2 cups (168 g) finely shredded cheese, (preferably sharp cheddar or Mexican blend)
  • 1/4 cup (33.75 g) sliced black olives, (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons sliced green onions

Instructions
 

  • Pour the salsa into a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl, to drain away the excess liquid.
  • Place the refried beans in a bowl, and stir in a tablespoon or two of the salsa liquid, to thin them out and make them more spreadable.
  • Spread the bean mixture in an even layer at the bottom of an 8-inch square dish.
  • Place the cream cheese, sour cream, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder in a medium bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth.
  • Layer the cream cheese mixture over the refried beans.
  • Layer the guacamole over the cream cheese mixture.
  • Layer the strained salsa over the guacamole.
  • Sprinkle the cheese on top, and garnish with sliced olives and green onions.

Notes

Serve with tortilla chips.
Calories: 150kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 411mg, Potassium: 215mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 496IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 100mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: Mexican
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Tried this recipe?Mention @bakingamoment on Instagram or tag #bakingamoment.