This impressive 7 Layer Dip is the ultimate appetizer for any family gathering, party, or game day. Layer bean dip with classic Mexican-inspired toppings for a crowd-pleasing recipe that will be gone in no time.
Just try to think of a gathering with seven layer dip that went wrong. You probably can't because they all rocked! It's a proven fact, parties are just better with a 7 layer dip and chips. Wink wink.
I'll never forget the first time I saw this improved version of a classic party appetizer. My Great Aunt Ruth brought it to a family party, and I was so impressed. The bullseye design was simply gorgeous.
There are numerous versions of this classic bean dip recipe. Most are layered lovingly in a 9-by-13-inch glass Pyrex dish and get spooned out – tasting great, but looking not-so great.
Looking for more appetizers? Try these Mozzarella Bites (Air Fried Mozzarella Balls) and Instant Pot Chipotle Pomegranate Taco Bites.
In this article you'll learn:
- How to make a unique 7 Layer Dip recipe with classic Mexican-inspired ingredients and a festive bullseye presentation.
- The layering technique I use in my test kitchen for even flavor and stunning presentation.
- Why adding taco-seasoned sour cream, homemade guacamole, and fresh herbs takes this party dip to the next level.
- Easy step-by-step assembly tips for a round platter, plus how to prep it ahead for parties or game day.
- Expert make-ahead and serving tips for game day, holidays, and potlucks.
- How to store leftovers and repurpose them into burritos, breakfast toast, or lunch bowls.
- Customization ideas, vegetarian/vegan swaps, and FAQs to make this recipe your own.
Generated with AI and experts from the Tara Teaspoon team.
Why you'll love this dip recipe
Today I'll share the secrets for taking your 7 layer dip to the next level. Here's a few more reasons to love this recipe:
- Quick and easy: With just 30 minutes of prep and a little time in the fridge to set, you'll have a gorgeous appetizer or side dish.
- Great for parties: This recipe makes a lot so it's perfect for entertaining. You'll feel like an amazing host when you hear all the oohs and aahs as your guests see this.
- Customizable: Anyone can make this dip with ease (even kids can help!). I'll provide you with options to customize the recipe to your individual preferences.
If you get too much praise, admiration and attention from fellow party goers when you set this beauty on the table--feel free to blame me. I'll take it!
Jump to:
I love the new twist on this tried and true party dip! The presentation is not only beautiful but festive too! The added taco seasoning to the sour cream is genius. I can't remember if I shared this with anyone or ate it all myself!
- Marie
Ingredients
The freshest ingredients make the best recipes. Here's what you'll need to make this showstopper. See recipe card for quantities.
- Bean dip - Prepared store-bought bean dip is mixed with the refried beans to add flavor. You can use mild or spicy bean dip.
- Refried beans - A can of refried beans acts as the base of this classic dip.
- Guacamole - Use homemade guacamole or prepared store-bought. Either way you'll want a simple guac here, so the flavors of the other layers can stand out.
- Sour cream - Use regular or low-fat, but mix it with the taco seasoning and mayonnaise to get the ultimate creamy layer.
- Mayonnaise - Adding just a little to the sour cream gives it a silky texture.
- Taco seasoning - Use your favorite brand or homemade.
- Tomatoes - To prevent soggy dip, remove the juice and seeds from the tomatoes and dice them into small pieces.
- Scallions, Cilantro & Jalapeño - This mix is a step up from the usual green herb addition you see in many dip recipes. Use my Cilantro Salsa here if you'd like.
- Black olives - The key here is to finely chop them so they create the tiny circle in the middle.
- Cheddar cheese - I like the taste of cheddar, but you could use Pepper Jack cheese as well.
- Chips - Make sure to have plenty of corn or tortilla chips ready for guests.
How to make this 7 layer dip recipe
Use this helpful step-by-step tutorial to get familiar with the process for making this dip; it's got all the classic flavors you know and love! See recipe card for comprehensive directions.
Make the toppings
Along with dicing tomatoes and removing the seeds, chopping olives, and making or purchasing guacamole, you'll want to prepare these layers before you begin assembling the dip.
- Step 1: Combine refried beans and bean dip for the base layer.
- Step 2: Mix together mayonnaise, sour cream and taco seasoning for the creamy layer.
- Step 3: Make my signature green mixture of scallions, jalapeños, and cilantro.
- Step 4: Grate cheddar cheese on the fine holes of a box grater.
Assemble the dip on a round platter
You can assemble the dip hours in advance, just make sure you have room in the refrigerator for the platter to store it before serving.
- Step 1: Mix spicy bean dip with refried beans. Spread this mixture to the edge of your platter.
- Step 2: Gently smooth store-bought or homemade guacamole on top of the beans, leaving about a half inch of beans showing.
- Step 3: Smooth the sour cream mixture over the guacamole leaving half an inch showing.
- Step 4: Arrange nice little pieces of tomatoes in a wreath pattern on top of the sour cream.
- Step 5: Add the green herb mixture inside the ring of tomatoes.
- Step 6: Fill the center with the cheese. It's easier to do the center before the olives.
- Step 6: Finely chopped black olives come next. They go between the cheese and herbs.
- Step 8: Wrap to store in the fridge or serve immediately.
Tara's top tips
Adjust the seasoning: Keep in mind that the spice will intensify in the creamy layer as the sour cream and taco seasoning mixture sits. Adjust the taste just below the spice level you like so that it will be perfect when you start to eat.
Remove the tomato seeds and juice: When adding fresh tomatoes to seven layer dip, remove the seeds and juice before dicing them. This will help prevent the dip from getting soggy.
Customize the green ring: I love the mix of scallions, cilantro, and jalapeños! If you don't like cilantro, just leave it out. And, if you don't want extra spice, replace the chilis with more scallions. You can also use my Cilantro Salsa for this ring.
Layering tips: As you add the first three layers, make sure to leave about half an inch of the layer below showing. Then make circular rings of the remaining four toppings like a bullseye. This lets everyone know what they are getting when they dig in!
Serving suggestions: I always recommend serving this dip with corn chips. You can use standard corn chips or go for something gourmet like blue corn chips. If you want to keep things lighter, you could also dip sliced veggies like carrots, celery, and peppers.
Scoop from the outside: Invite guests to get a portion of the dip by using a spoon and starting from the outside and moving inward to get all seven layers in one scoop.
Equipment
To make gorgeous and impressive layers, you'll want to make the layered dip on a round platter (12 to-14 inches diameter). The larger the platter, the easier it is to create beautiful layers. A dinner plate just won't do; you'll be squeezing everything on. If you don't have a platter, get creative with other items you do have available such as a large cake stand.
I like to grate my cheese on those seldom-used, small holes of a box grater. It's the perfect texture for the look I want on this Mexican layer dip.
Make-ahead, storage, and leftovers
Make-ahead: You can prepare the dip up to 5 hours in advance (any time before that the flavors may melt together too much). Simply cover the dip with plastic wrap and store in the fridge before serving.
If covered tightly, 7-layer dip will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The fresher the ingredients (especially guacamole and sour cream), the better it holds up. After day 2, the layers may start to weep or separate a bit, but it’s still perfectly safe to eat.
Leftovers are surprisingly versatile! Scoop it into a tortilla with chicken or beef for a quick burrito or quesadilla, spread it on toast and top with a fried egg for a Tex-Mex breakfast, or stir it into cooked rice or quinoa for a quick lunch bowl.
FAQ
The dip is usually the same 7 ingredients, but you can choose other favorite taco ingredients to use. Just be sure that the layers are sturdy enough to hold everything.
Yes, it can be prepared several hours in advance. Any time before that the flavors may melt together too much. Simply cover dip with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 5 hours before serving.
Yes! Be sure to substitute the different ingredients for vegan versions, like sour cream or cheese. With the refried beans, just check the ingredients label on the can to ensure the ingredients are vegan.
Many recipes recommend heating the beans before spreading them. Heating them can make them easier to spread, but I don't heat the beans for this recipe because I don't want to heat the sour cream and fresh vegetable layers.
More easy appetizer recipes
If you love this easy bean dip appetizer, try these other blog faves:
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📖 Full Recipe
7 Layer Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup bean dip (mild or spicy)
- 1 (16-ounce) can refried beans
- 1½ cups (12 ounces) guacamole (homemade or store-bought)
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2½ teaspoons taco seasoning mix
- 1½ cups diced tomatoes (seeded and drained prior to dicing)
- 3 scallions (chop white and green parts)
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 jalapeño (seeded and finely chopped, optional)
- 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced black olives (chopped)
- 1 cup finely shredded cheddar
- Corn chips (for dipping)
Instructions
- Mix together the bean dip and refried beans until smooth and spread in a thin layer on a large round platter, 12 to 14 inches in diameter.
- Carefully spread the guacamole over the top, leaving a small rim of beans around the edge.
- Mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, and taco seasoning and gently spread on top of the guacamole, leaving a border around the edge.
- Arrange a ring of chopped tomatoes about ¼ inch in from the edge of the sour cream layer. Mix together the scallions, cilantro and jalapeño and arrange in a ring inside the tomatoes.
- Finish with a ring of chopped olives, then put the shredded cheese in the center. Serve with corn chips.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!
kahht says
Good looking and appetizing, that does make for a great party. You have some serious presentation skills on this plate.
tarateaspoon says
Thanks! Kahht
Liz Stanley says
Gorgeous site, Tara! Nice work!
tarateaspoon says
Liz! Thanks lady!!
Alana Okiishi says
I'm making this tomorrow!!
Tara says
Ohhh everyone will be so happy!!!
Mary Bench says
Gorgeous! AND so very delicious! 5 stars ++++++++
Joe Hanson says
Beats the heck outa my recipe. Mary we'll have to have a neighborhood party and try this!
Tara says
Haha! Great excuse for a neighborhood party! Love it!
Tessa says
This IS IMPRESSIVE! This will blow my family's mind at our next summer gathering! Thanks for the gorgeous presentation of 7-layer-dip!
Tara says
It is truly mind blowing!! 🙂
Moriah says
Making this one for Super Bowl Sunday 🙌 but I may have to double it because it always disappears fast.
Marie says
I love the new twist on this tried and true party dip! The presentation is not only beautiful but festive too! The added taco seasoning to the sour cream is genius. I can't remember if I shared this with anyone or ate it all myself!
Sabrina Giblin says
Not necessary to blame you for this presentation. My mother has been making 7 layer dip this way for 30 years-LOL This particular presentation with the dip was passed around back in the early 80s. Still and will always be a truly amazing grazing kind of food!
Tara Teaspoon says
That seems about right!! If you read the post I attribute the technique to my Aunt Ruth, who was actually my great Aunt!
You don't see the style too often, so I'm glad your family does it too! Keep up the beautiful food styling and pass it down. It's much more pretty than other versions isn't it!?
Best,
Tara