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Home » Appetizers » 7 Layer Dip Recipe

January 15, 2020 By Sara 14 Comments

7 Layer Dip Recipe

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This Mexican 7 layer dip is a combination of beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and toppings, all layered together and served with tortilla chips. The ultimate make-ahead party snack!

Whenever I’m entertaining, I put out a variety of dips such as rotel dip, corn dip and this layered Mexican dip. This recipe has been in my family for years, and it’s always a huge hit with family and friends.

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A bowl of 7 layer dip surrounded with tortilla chips.

For every single holiday or gathering, my mom makes 7 layer dip. It’s become a tradition! What I love about this dip is that it takes just minutes to put together, is easy to customize to your tastes, and is totally delicious!

How do you make 7 layer dip?

This recipe is as simple as spreading the ingredients into layers in a dish. The dip starts with refried beans, which are topped with sour cream. A layer of guacamole goes on top of that, then a layer of salsa. The finishing touches are a sprinkle of cheese, olives and green onions. I also like to add some chopped tomatoes for color, but that’s an optional step. Serve your dip with a pile of tortilla chips and watch the rave reviews come in!

Refried beans spread in a serving bowl.

Tips for the perfect dip

  • Use an offset spatula to spread the ingredients into even layers.
  • You can use low fat cheese and low fat sour cream to save a few calories.
  • Feel free to use homemade or store bought guacamole, they both work great.
  • I recommend using freshly grated cheddar cheese. The bags of pre-shredded cheese at the grocery store often contain anti-caking agents and preservatives, which can affect the taste and texture of the cheese.
  • Take care to cover the whole layer of guacamole with the salsa. The acid in the tomatoes will prevent the guacamole from turning brown.
  • This dip can be made up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it. Store your dip covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat.

Beans, sour cream and guacamole layered in a bowl.

7 layer dip variations

While this recipe is a fairly traditional version of this popular appetizer, you can swap out layers for other ingredients, or even add more layers!

  • Spicy Dip: Add 1/2 cup chopped pickled jalapenos.
  • Veggie Lover’s Dip: Add a layer or two of vegetables such as sauteed peppers and onions, or roasted corn.
  • Meat Eater’s Dip: Add a layer of cooked, crumbled ground beef or cooked shredded chicken.
  • Cheese Fan’s Dip: Add a second layer of pepper jack cheese between the beans and the sour cream.

Layers of beans, sour cream, guacamole and salsa in a glass bowl.

Can you heat up 7 layer dip?

You can heat 7 layer dip if you prefer to serve it warm. That being said, I really think this works better as a cold dip, because the flavor and texture of the sour cream and guacamole could change if they’re heated up. If you’re planning to serve this as a warm dip, I’d recommend using a different combination of layers such as ground beef, beans, cheese, olives, salsa, corn and salsa.

A hand scooping out a serving of 7 layer dip.

How long does 7 layer dip last in the fridge?

This dip has the best flavor and texture if you serve it within 8 hours. The avocado in the guacamole will eventually turn brown, even with the acidic salsa on top.

I hope this dip is as big of a hit with your family as it is with mine!

More delicious dip recipes

  • Philly Cheesesteak Dip
  • Buffalo Chicken Dip
  • Dill Dip
  • White Queso Dip
  • Shrimp Scampi Dip

7 Layer Dip Video

A bowl of 7 layer dip surrounded with tortilla chips.
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5 from 13 votes

7 Layer Dip

This Mexican 7 layer dip is a combination of beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and toppings, all layered together and served with tortilla chips. The ultimate make-ahead party snack!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword 7 layer dip, seven layer dip
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 187kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 16 ounce can refried beans
  • 8 ounce container sour cream
  • 1 1/2 cups guacamole
  • 12 ounce tub fresh chunky salsa drained, can also use pico de gallo
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup sliced olives
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • optional garnish: 1/2 cup diced tomatoes

Instructions

  • Spread the refried beans in an even layer in a 9 or 10 inch bowl or serving dish.
  • Spread the sour cream on top, then spread the guacamole over the sour cream.
  • Spread the salsa over the guacamole. Top with shredded cheese, olives and green onions. Sprinkle diced tomatoes over the top (optional).
  • Serve immediately with tortilla chips, or cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 14.55g | Saturated Fat: 6.81g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 383IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 172mg | Iron: 2mg

Filed Under: Appetizers Tagged With: Beans, Dips, Mexican Food

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Comments

  1. Shiela says

    December 27, 2020 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    My favorite go to appetizer. My family wants this on all events ! Easy to travel in a covered container too.

    Reply
  2. Rachael Yerkes says

    January 30, 2020 at 8:27 am

    5 stars
    this dip is the best ever!

    Reply
  3. Aimee Shugarman says

    January 30, 2020 at 7:58 am

    5 stars
    Making this again for game day weekend. Delicious!

    Reply
  4. Laura Reese says

    January 30, 2020 at 7:01 am

    5 stars
    This dip is amazing and so easy to whip up! I appreciated the tips about the shredded cheese. I’ve bought the bags a lot and have been baffled when sometimes it won’t melt!

    Reply
  5. Lisalia says

    January 30, 2020 at 6:45 am

    5 stars
    Always up for a good seven layer dip! I eat it off the spoon!

    Reply
  6. Beatrice says

    January 29, 2020 at 5:17 pm

    5 stars
    My favorite dip always! I make one for the party and one for me!

    Reply
  7. Sandra says

    January 28, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    This dip looks really amazing! A sure hit at any party!

    Reply
  8. Cate says

    January 28, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    YUM! This looks so delicious and I love the photos!

    Reply
  9. Emily says

    January 28, 2020 at 12:13 pm

    5 stars
    LOVE 7 layer dip and it is perfect for game day coming up!

    Reply
  10. Mirlene says

    January 28, 2020 at 11:50 am

    5 stars
    This sounds like the perfect dip to make. Looks incredibly delicious.

    Reply
  11. Jacque Hastert says

    January 28, 2020 at 11:47 am

    5 stars
    This is a staple on our game day table. I will have to give this recipe a try on Sunday.

    Reply
  12. Deanne says

    January 28, 2020 at 11:45 am

    5 stars
    This is our favorite seven layer dip – perfect for our parties and get togethers!

    Reply
  13. Allyson Zea says

    January 27, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    5 stars
    This dip is always a HIT!

    Reply
  14. Erin says

    January 25, 2020 at 6:40 am

    5 stars
    This is seriously making me hungry!

    Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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