More than the Traditional 7 Layer Mexican Dip Appetizer
What extra layers should be added?
I’ve been making the traditional 7 layer Mexican Dip for many years now. Like many, I at first went with the seven layers that were recommended to me. However, over the years, through adapting the recipe to my own tastes, I usually end up with about nine layers, and I think the whole thing has turned out even better. See what you think. This dish serves a lot of people and is perfect for any type of party. Just add your favorite tortilla chips!
Many Layer Mexican Dip!
Ingredients for "7 Layer Dip"
1 15 oz. can refried beans
1 8 oz. (or more or less) container guacamole (or homemade, as I prefer)
1 8 oz. container sour cream
1 12 oz. jar salsa
1 8 oz. block cheddar cheese, grated
2-3 tomatoes, chopped (enough to cover)
1 8 oz. can sliced black olives
Tortilla chips (not counted as a layer--served separately)
Optional Ingredients:
1 small onion, chopped (or try about 4 green onions, if you want something milder)
Fresh cilantro, torn and strewn on top
½ lb. ground beef, fully cooked, layered somewhere under cheese
Shredded lettuce, put on top right before serving (or on the side) for freshness
Easy Homemade Guacamole
3 ripe (soft to touch) avocados
1-2 cloves garlic
Cracked pepper to taste
Salt
A few dashes of lemon juice
I like simple guacamole, with the avocado being the main ingredient. I don’t add sour cream or tomatoes as many recipes call for. I simply smash the avocados (a little chunky is even okay), add crushed garlic, pepper, and salt to taste, plus a few dashes of lemon juice. Taste it! If you like it, it’s ready.
Please rate what you think about this recipe!
Instructions for Layered Dip
Spread refried beans on bottom of 9 by 13 inch casserole dish. Make your guacamole (see homemade recipe), and spread over beans. Then spread sour cream, followed by jar of salsa. Feel free to use less of sour cream and salsa, as per your own taste, if you think it’s too much. You can buy pre-grated cheese, but I prefer to grate my own, as it’s cheaper and seems fresher. Spread the cheese on top of the salsa. Chop up tomatoes to sprinkle on top of cheese. Put sliced black olives on top of tomatoes. Again, in an effort to save money, I buy a can of whole olives, and slice up (or tear up) enough to spread out plenty on top.
As far as the optional ingredients, I do add the onions, sprinkling them on the salsa layer. Some folks feel that the salsa already offers enough onions and thus omit adding extra onions. In the particular version in the picture, I used green onions, putting them on top with the cilantro, as they are more decorative than white or yellow onions.
I’m a big cilantro fan. I’ll use it torn up in a simple lettuce and tomato salad. It’s delectable on this layered dip. If you like cilantro, tear up a bunch of fresh cilantro and spread it out on top.
I have tried the ground beef before, and it is a good addition, but it is better if the dip is served right away, as it isn’t as tasty once the dish gets cold. And this dish does have to be refrigerated, considering the ingredients involved. I have also used the lettuce before, but it needs to be served fresh. When I transport the dip outside my home, I don't attempt to use the lettuce or ground beef. For a bunch of hearty eaters at a Super Bowl party, you could add all the extras to make the dip go further. Just heat up the ground beef if needed.
Serve with your favorite tortilla chips! This tasty dish disappears pretty quickly.
Check out my Christmas Party Appetizers Menu:
- Easy Christmas Party Appetizer Recipes Menu
Plan a Christmas party with these 8 easy appetizers. These easy dishes have been a staple at my Christmas parties for over ten years.
Mexican Appetizers Cookbooks
|
Mexican Cinco de Mayo Fiesta flag Cake, appetizer picks
Current Bid: $2.25
|
|
DRUNKEN SHRIMP RECIPE tequila lime appetizer great for mexican meals
Current Bid: $.99
|
|
TUESDAY'S CHICKEN QUESADILLA RECIPE mexican appetizer or dinner
Current Bid: $.99
|
Another Crowd-Pleasing Recipe
- Simple Taco Soup Recipe that Feeds a Crowd
This easy taco soup recipe is simple to make and will feed a large group of people. A great winter recipe!
Comments
Victoria - I haven't had this seven layer dip in ages. I too like cilantro and it sounds like it would be a really good, fresh addition. ~voted up~
Thanks, missolive! I've been working on recipe hubs and have the munchies myself! thanks for the vote!
I love it, ktrapp! Thanks for voting up!
This looks fantastic! I love Mexican food and I will try your guacamole recipe too - I only like the basics as well. I slice it and lay it over the top of sandwiches too. Thanks!
RealHousewife--thanks for the feedback! I, too, like to slice avodados and use them on sandwiches, or burgers, or salads--and today on a tortilla with refried beans, sour cream, salsa, and cheese. Avocados can really make a recipe, as they do this layered dip! :-)
This is weird, so far women and a threadmill aside are commenting in here. I'm the first male stopping by. Seven layers seems a more exciting experience..wait a minute is a recipe, not a poem...disregard!
Love the guacamole one...avocados..hmm! But we would add habaneros and jalapenos! we usually see red after a while... don't know why?I love cilantro too. Chose it for that genuine flavoring. Lots of garlic for the heart. Well done Victoria...hey puppy! why are you looking at me like that? You want a piece of me?
LORD
One of my all-time favorite appetizers! Love layered Mexican Dip and am really looking forward to trying out your recipe suggestions.
Lord--glad to have a gentleman stopping by! You can add the hot stuff if you want to the guacamole. :-) Hey, puppy? You're too funny! Now go get those avocados!
Mine too, Steph! I love this layered Mexican dip. Hey, by the way, I listened to your interview a while back. Wasn't it on a radio station in Seattle? Very cool! Congrats on your success!
I love layered dip! Thanks for the great recipe!
I love it too, randomcreative! You're welcome!
Simple and tasty! I'm with you on the cilantro- I love that stuff, especially the fresh smell of it. Yummy. I like your simple guac recipe. We also like to make our own salsa, which is so simple but yummy. What I especially like about this is the nutritional value that it has. With the avocados, tomatoes, olives, it makes it pretty healthy. And to make it even healthier, you can do low-fat sour cream.
Thanks for the recipe.
Yeah, jbrock--cilantro smells great! I love homemade salsa, too.
I actually do usually use the "light" sour cream to save some calories. Thanks for the comments!
Do revisions in a bookmarked hub show up automatically? I hope so, because as I made this dip today, I realized that the sour cream and salsa amounts were too much (although it would still be good, I'm sure). I also added lettuce to additional options. Finally, I took a picture of the final version (with green onions this time) to replace the unoriginal picture. I would think the changes would automatically save in the bookmarked recipe, huh?
I would go with the green onions spread on top as opposed to a white onion (a little too strong).
I would definitely leave out the ground beef. I love beef, but as you said, if the entire dish is not consumed right away, you're either going to have leftover dip with cold ground beef in it or you'll have to heat the whole dish up (either one is not very good IMO).
You could serve a ground beef with cheddar cheese dip alongside the 7 layer salad, and heat that up if there are leftovers.
I definitely make my own guacamole: it is so easy and so much better than prepared. One preference I have developed is to use garlic powder instead of crushed garlic. Normally, I use fresh garlic cloves in nearly everything, but in guacamole and dips, I find the fresh garlic is a little too powerful, and garlic powder gives the flavor in just the right intensity.
Great hub. From the picture, my mouth is watering and I want to run out to the store and get the ingredients to make the salad.
Voted up.
DanielNeff-yeah, green onions might be a good choice, especially since salsa has onions in it, as well. Serving the ground beef on the side is an idea so it could be heated. Garlic powder? Yes, for some folks. I'm just such a garlic freak. All in all, these are great ideas for alterations. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I love this dip!
Bubba Jasper--I love this dip, too. So flavorful! Thanks!
Ok, stop creating recipes that make me drool...lol! This looks so awesome!!! I just ate dinner, but I am craving this!!!
Totally voted up!!!
Hi Victoria Lynn, this looks fantastic. My husband loves Mexican food so I'll make this for him! Take care, Kelley
Oh now this just looks scrumptious! I have experimented with veggie crumbles because they still taste good cold, but often, I just go with refried beans or even refried black beans. I've added Spanish rice a time or two, as well. So many variations, but you've got me thinking I have to make this for dinner tonight. ;)
Thanks, Audra! I never get tired of this one!
It's awesome, Kelley. I'm sure your hubby will love it!
Hey, CC. I think refried beans are great with it. Spanish rice sounds fun! Yes, there are variations, and they're always good. That's the beauty of this dish! :-)
missolive 5 months ago
EXCELLENT! This sounds like a perfect variation of the traditional recipe! This sounds and looks ssoooooo good right now. I've got the late night munchies! YUM!
Voted up!