Seven Layer Tex-Mex Dip (Printable Version)

Vibrant Tex-Mex with seven layers of beans, guacamole, salsa, cheese, and fresh toppings served chilled.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 (15 oz) can refried beans
02 - 1 tablespoon taco seasoning

→ Guacamole Layer

03 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
04 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 cup diced red onion
07 - 1 small tomato, seeded and diced

→ Sour Cream Layer

08 - 1 cup sour cream

→ Salsa Layer

09 - 1 cup chunky salsa, drained of excess liquid

→ Cheese Layer

10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings

12 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
13 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
14 - 1/4 cup chopped green onions

→ For Serving

15 - Tortilla chips

# Directions:

01 - Combine refried beans with taco seasoning in a medium bowl. Spread the mixture evenly in the bottom of a 9x13-inch serving dish.
02 - Mash avocados with lime juice, salt, diced red onion, and tomato until smooth. Spread evenly over the bean layer.
03 - Spread sour cream evenly over the guacamole layer.
04 - Evenly layer drained chunky salsa over the sour cream without mixing layers.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses evenly over the salsa.
06 - Distribute sliced black olives evenly over the cheese layer.
07 - Top with shredded iceberg lettuce and chopped green onions.
08 - Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve chilled with tortilla chips.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's literally impossible to mess up—just spread, layer, and chill, and people think you spent hours in the kitchen.
  • Everyone finds their own favorite layer when they dig in, so suddenly a simple dip becomes a conversation about preferences.
  • You can make it hours ahead, which means one less thing to stress about when guests arrive.
02 -
  • Drain your salsa or your whole creation will turn into a soggy mess—I learned this the hard way at a potluck where my beautiful layers started bleeding together within an hour.
  • Add the lettuce and green onions at the very last moment, not hours ahead, or they'll be limp and sad instead of crisp and alive.
03 -
  • Use a shallow dish so when people scoop, they can get all seven layers in one chip—a deep dish means you're mostly getting bean at the bottom.
  • If your avocados aren't quite ripe on party day, use them anyway and squeeze extra lime juice in; the acid helps it taste fresh even if the texture isn't ideal.
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