7-Layer Dip Recipe
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!
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!
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:
- refried beans
- a mixture of cream cheese & sour cream, seasoned with Mexican spices
- guacamole
- salsa
- cheese
- 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.
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.
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.
Mix these ingredients together to create a creamy, taco-spiced layer.
Spread this over the beans.
Next comes guacamole! You can use store-bought guacamole, or make your own. Here is my favorite homemade guacamole recipe: Best Guacamole Recipe.
Now spread your strained salsa over the guacamole layer.
Sprinkle cheese all over the top.
My favorite is shredded sharp cheddar, but a Mexican cheese blend would also work really well.
Last step is to sprinkle a few sliced olives and green onions over the top.
Doesn’t it look so good?
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!
- 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.
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.
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7-Layer Dip Recipe
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.