If you’re the person showing up at the potluck with the 7-layer dip, we know you have excellent taste! Everyone loves a 7-layer bean dip. It’s filled with flavor, it’s fun to eat, and it always hits the spot as a party appetizer.
Our recipe starts with a layer of green chiles and refried beans, and it’s topped with bright guacamole, chunky salsa and rich sour cream. We don’t skimp on the garnishes, either. Chopped tomatoes, pungent green onions, salty olives and shredded cheese all make an appearance.
Ingredients for 7-Layer Dip
- Refried beans: Refried beans and a can of green chiles make the base layer of this 7-layer dip recipe.
- Salsa: Choose one of the best salsa brands from the store, or make your own salsa recipe from scratch!
- Guacamole: We love that there are a ton of high-quality premade guacamoles to pick from at the grocery store. However, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as homemade guacamole if you want to go the extra mile.
- Sour cream: Purchase your favorite sour cream brand for this 7-layer dip recipe.
- Tortilla chips: If you’re serving a crowd, buy the best tortilla chips you can find.
Directions
Step 1: Assemble the dip
In a bowl, stir together the refried beans and chiles. Using a mini offset spatula, butter knife, rubber spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the bean mixture onto a 12-inch serving plate. Layer the salsa, guacamole and finally the sour cream over beans, within 1 inch of the edges for each layer.
Step 2: Garnish
Sprinkle the top of the dip with olives, cheese, tomatoes and green onions.
Step 3: Chill and serve
Refrigerate the dip until you’re ready to serve it. Set out the dip alongside tortilla chips.
Recipe Variations
- Add taco seasoning: If you want even more taco flavor in your 7-layer bean dip, adding taco seasoning is the easiest way to do it. Stir a tablespoon or two of the seasoning into the sour cream before you spread it on top of the guacamole. The sour cream won’t be perfectly white anymore, but it will be perfectly flavorful!
- Garnish with extras: Freshen up this seven-layer dip with a sprinkling of minced cilantro along with the green onions. Finish the dip with a sprinkling of Cotija cheese for extra richness. Swap out the tomatoes for a vibrant pico de gallo.
- Kick up the spice: Opt for a hot salsa for the salsa layer, or splash a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce into the sour cream layer.
How long does 7-layer bean dip last?
Leftover 7-layer bean dip can last in the fridge for up to three days. As time goes by, the layers may start to bleed together and get a bit watery (just drain any excess water). Even though it won’t look as beautiful as when you first layered it, this 7-layer taco dip will still taste completely delicious.
7-Layer Dip Tips
What’s in 7-layer dip?
The order of the layers can vary, but 7-layer bean dip typically begins with refried beans on the bottom. Then you spread guacamole, salsa and sour cream. Shredded cheese, tomatoes, black olives and green onions go on top. Feel free to shift the order of the sour cream, salsa and guacamole, but make sure to keep the beans on the bottom since they’re the densest layer.
Can you make 7- layer dip a day ahead of time?
Yes, a 7-layer bean dip is the perfect appetizer to make ahead of time. Just hold off on adding the tomatoes and green onions until right before serving. That way, the tomato juice won’t seep into the other layers of the dip, and the green onions will be vibrant and crunchy.
