Just like my 7 layer salad, this dip may look like a showstopper, but it’s surprisingly easy to whip up. My family swears it’s the best taco dip recipe. I often make it for parties, as you can easily make it ahead of time (just like cold crab dip or creamy French onion dip). It never fails to impress! It has meaty layers like my taco casserole, but gets dished up cold as an easy and healthy appetizer.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for taco dip, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Meat Layer:
The base layer for taco dip is simply taco meat, the same kind I use for taco salad:
Ground Meat – I used ground beef, but you could also use pressure cooker shredded chicken, ground pork, ground turkey, or Mexican chorizo for this recipe. Taco Seasoning – I like to make my own homemade taco seasoning. It takes just 5 minutes and is made with simple pantry staples: chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. But a store-bought packet of taco seasoning works as well.
Cream Cheese Layer:
I make this taco dip with cream cheese, sour cream, and a dash of taco seasoning for spice:
Plain Cream Cheese – Be sure your cream cheese is soft, at room temperature. Otherwise, it won’t mix smoothly with the sour cream. Sour Cream – Instead of sour cream, you can also use mayo (with a small splash of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for tang), or plain Greek yogurt. Taco Seasoning
Toppings:
You can customize the toppings to your liking, but here are the most classic options, along with alternatives:
Iceberg Lettuce – You can also try swapping out traditional shredded lettuce for a leafy alternative like shredded kale, cabbage (or even taco slaw!), or spinach. Cheddar Cheese – You could use Monterey Jack cheese, pepper jack, mozzarella, Mexican cheese blend, or any shredded cheese you prefer. Use pre-shredded to save time. Bell Pepper – Use green, red, orange, or even roasted red peppers if you have some on hand. Roma Tomato – You could also dice up cherry or grape tomatoes instead. Onion – I used a red onion, but you could use white onions, yellow onions, or shallots. Black Olives – Try green olives for a bit more tang. Cilantro – If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you can omit it, or try parsley, chives, or green onions.
How To Make Taco Dip
This section shows how to make 7 layer taco dip with meat, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Taco Dip Variations
This 7 layer taco dip is totally customizable, so feel free to add your favorite condiments or toppings! Here are some ideas:
Add condiments – Try my easy homemade salsa, salsa with fresh tomatoes, or creamy guacamole. Make a bean layer – Need a dip with beans? Add one 16-ounce can (drained) of refried beans, black beans, or pinto beans, or mix them in with your ground beef layer. Go meatless – Alternatively, you could make this taco layer dip vegetarian friendly by using a mixture of beans and corn as the base layer and omitting the meat altogether.
Storage Instructions
Store: Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil keep in the fridge for up to a week. Meal prep: Make the taco meat, mix together the cream cheese and sour cream layer, and assemble together. But, wait to add the veggie toppings until you are ready to serve it. Freeze: Freezing taco dip is not recommended, as the consistency of the ingredients will change.
What To Serve With Taco Dip Recipes
I personally love to add some more veggies in when I can, so I love to scoop up this layer dip with bell pepper strips. But really, there’s no wrong way to eat it. Here are some ideas:
Chips – Potato chips or corn chips are the traditional choice for dipping. This dip also works well with air fried zucchini chips or crispy cheese crisps. Crackers – Crackers might be slightly unconventional when it comes to taco dip, but they work! Try flax crackers for a lighter option. Veggies – Serve with celery sticks, carrots, broccoli, bell peppers (shown in pictures), or cucumber slices. Main Dish – This easy appetizer can easily be served up before a hearty and comforting Mexican pozole, pork chile verde or even some cilantro lime chicken with elote.
More Easy Dip Recipes
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