This 7 Layer Dip is a tasty combination of refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, diced tomatoes, and sliced black olives! Your taco dip can be served warm or cold, and either way, it’s always a hit at parties, game day get-togethers, or just as an amazing family dinner!

This super easy to make 7 Layer Dip is always a hit at parties and is a super side for taco night as well!
7 Layer Dip Recipe
This is the ultimate super-easy party appetizer that is always the hit of a party! It never fails, whenever this dip arrives, to be one of the guaranteed food items that will have people gathered around until all of the 7 layer dip has disappeared!
7 layer dip is a great potluck appetizer, party food, and makes a great addition to game day snacks too! Plus it’s a tasty dip to make for family meals, whether you serve it as a main with the addition of some taco meat, or as a side to taco night dinner!
How To Make Mexican 7 Layer Dip
Is there a right way to make a 7 Layer Dip?
Sure, if you want to be specific the classic 7 layer dip should be layered in the following order: refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese, olives, and a topping (green onion, diced tomatoes or pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, sliced jalapenos, diced green chiles, etc).
Assemble the Party Appetizer Dip
- Mix your refried bean base. My refried black beans are ready to go, but if you are using a can of refried beans I would suggest some quick stir-ins: add the juice from one lime, 1 – 2 tablespoons of my taco seasoning mix ( or about half of a taco seasoning packet ), plus a handful ( at least 1 generous tablespoon ) of chopped, fresh cilantro. You can also stir in cream cheese to the layer of refried beans.
- Add the layers of guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and shredded cheddar cheese. *Be sure to strain off excess liquid from your salsa to prevent a soggy or runny dip!
- Top your party dip off with chopped or diced tomatoes. *I prefer to use Roma tomatoes, as they have less tomato juice than most tomatoes. This is another way to avoid your dip from becoming runny before serving!
- Finally, add the sliced olives and chopped green onions or cilantro. Other additions include sliced sweet peppers or jalapenos, or crumbled queso fresco.
Serve the Mexican 7 layer dip completely chilled. When served from chilled, the dip can be left at room temperature for about 1 hour before you would need to return it to the refrigerator.
My simple layered party dip is presented in the standard or traditional way, although we mix it up frequently with additional layers and flavor combinations!
Add ground beef taco meat, flavor your sour cream with our taco seasoning mix, or mix your sour cream with cream cheese, top with some more cilantro…whatever you like! Make it your own and enjoy!
Make Your 7 Layer Dip Ahead of Time
If you would like to make your dip in advance or the night before, there are a couple of options. The first is to simply layer the first two layers only, the refried beans and sour cream. Slice and prep the remaining layers before serving.
The second option is to assemble the dip completely. To make this option work best, make sure that your guacamole layer is sealed completely between the sour cream and salsa layer. This will help to keep oxygen from reaching the guacamole, which will brown when exposed to air.
Store your partially or fully prepared Mexican dip for up to 2 days prior to serving.
Storing the 7 Layer Dip
Keep the prepared dip stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Remember that if you made the dip in advance, you need to count the day or two of storing before serving in the total refrigerated time.
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7 Layer Dip
Ingredients
- 16 oz refried beans (1 16-ounce can or use our refried black beans)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup guacamole
- 1 cup salsa (I like to use salsa roja best)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (or a mix of cheddar and jack cheese, or Mexican blend)
- 1 cup tomatoes (chopped, or use pico de gallo)
- 4 oz black olives (sliced)
- 1/4 cup green onion (chopped, optional garnish)
- 2 Tbsp cilantro (chopped, optional garnish)
Instructions
- In a 9x13 baking pan or a large wide-rimmed bowl, layer the ingredients starting with refried beans. If using store-bought refried beans, add the juice from a lime, 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning, and a handful of chopped cilantro. Stir until spreadable, then spread evenly to make the first or bottom layer in the dish.
- Top the party dip off with either diced tomatoes or pico de gallo, chopped green onions, and sliced olives. Additional toppings include sliced sweet peppers or jalapeno, diced green chiles, shredded lettuce, and/or crumbled queso fresco. *Another way to prevent soggy or runny 7 layer dip is to use Roma tomatoes, they have more 'meat' and less tomato juice to seep into your dip.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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