Whenever I’m entertaining, I put out a variety of dips such as rotel dip, corn dip and this layered Mexican dip. This recipe has been in my family for years, and it’s always a huge hit with family and friends.
For every single holiday or gathering, my mom makes 7 layer dip. It’s become a tradition! What I love about this dip is that it takes just minutes to put together, is easy to customize to your tastes, and is totally delicious! When I want a Latin feast, I like to pair this dip with savory carne guisada, Chipotle carnitas or ground beef tacos! Imagine all the ways you could enjoy this dip!
How do you make 7 layer dip?
This recipe is as simple as spreading the ingredients into layers in a dish. The dip starts with refried beans, which are topped with sour cream. A layer of guacamole goes on top of that, then a layer of salsa. The finishing touches are a sprinkle of cheese, olives and green onions. I also like to add some chopped tomatoes for color, but that’s an optional step. Serve your dip with a pile of tortilla chips and watch the rave reviews come in!
Tips for the perfect dip
Use an offset spatula to spread the ingredients into even layers. You can use low fat cheese and low fat sour cream to save a few calories. Feel free to use homemade or store bought guacamole, they both work great. I recommend using freshly grated cheddar cheese. The bags of pre-shredded cheese at the grocery store often contain anti-caking agents and preservatives, which can affect the taste and texture of the cheese. Take care to cover the whole layer of guacamole with the salsa. The acid in the tomatoes will prevent the guacamole from turning brown. This dip can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it. Store your dip covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat.
7 layer dip variations
While this recipe is a fairly traditional version of this popular appetizer, you can swap out layers for other ingredients, or even add more layers!
Spicy Dip: Add 1/2 cup chopped pickled jalapenos. Veggie Lover’s Dip: Add a layer or two of vegetables such as sauteed peppers and onions, or roasted corn. Meat Eater’s Dip: Add a layer of cooked, crumbled ground beef or cooked shredded chicken. Cheese Fan’s Dip: Add a second layer of pepper jack cheese between the beans and the sour cream.
Can you heat up 7 layer dip?
You can heat 7 layer dip if you prefer to serve it warm. That being said, I really think this works better as a cold dip, because the flavor and texture of the sour cream and guacamole could change if they’re heated up. If you’re planning to serve this as a warm dip, I’d recommend using a different combination of layers such as ground beef, beans, cheese, olives, salsa, corn and salsa.
How long does 7 layer dip last in the fridge?
This dip has the best flavor and texture if you serve it within 8 hours. The avocado in the guacamole will eventually turn brown, even with the acidic salsa on top. I hope this dip is as big of a hit with your family as it is with mine!
More delicious dip recipes
Philly Cheesesteak Dip Buffalo Chicken Dip Dill Dip White Queso Dip Shrimp Scampi Dip
7 Layer Dip Video
