Tex Mex Dip (a.k.a 7-Layer Dip)
This Tex Mex dip recipe is a party appetizer made for your next game day. It’s a 7-layer dip featuring beans, creamy mayonnaise, guacamole, green onion, tomatoes, olives, and shredded cheese.
Grandmama used to make this Tex Mex dip recipe for us every year around Christmas time. It’s great for football season, of course, but we often had it on Christmas Eve because that is when my family eats Tex-Mex. By then we are turkey’d out and ready for something different so a full spread of our finest Tex-Mex dishes hit the spot!
The first time I remember having this was when I was in elementary school. Grandmama made it for Christmas at her house and the adults had to coax me into trying it because, through the eyes of my childhood self, “it looked weird.” I tentatively dipped a corn chip in, took a bite, and declared it delicious with great relief to myself and to them!
This easy Tex Mex dip is also known as a 7-layer dip. Because, you guessed it, it includes 7 layers. We start with bean dip or refried beans. The next layer is a combination of sour cream, mayonnaise, and taco seasoning (a.k.a it’s creamy AND flavorful). Then we add a guacamole/avocado layer. Finally, we add our toppings. I’m opting for green onions, chopped tomatoes, chopped black olives, and shredded cheddar cheese.
I’ve included other topping ideas below as well as serving suggestions. But you can’t look past serving the 7-layer taco dip with some tortilla or corn chips for that quintessential Mexican flavor. Just you wait until you scoop your tortilla chip into the dip and come away with multiple layers of creamy, flavorful, fresh, cheesy goodness.
Now, let’s fix us a lil’ something to eat now…
Recipe Ingredients
- Avocados
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- Sour cream
- Mayo
- Taco seasoning
- Bean dip
- Green onions
- Tomatoes (Roma tomatoes are the best, but whatever you’ve got on hand will work).
- Black olives
- Sharp cheddar cheese
How to Make Tex Mex 7-Layer Dip
Peel, pit, and mash the avocados in a medium bowl.
Add the lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine.
Note: This is the only use in my life for avocados. Outside of this dip, I can’t stand the things but in this dip, they are magical.
Combine sour cream, mayo, and taco seasoning and mix well to make your sour cream mixture.
We’ll use that in just a minute.
First, spread bean dip on a large, shallow platter.
Top with the avocado mixture then the sour cream mixture.
Sprinkle with chopped green onions, then the tomatoes and olives.
Cover with shredded cheese.
Refrigerate until ready to serve (for at least an hour).
Serve with tortilla or corn chips.
I’m getting excited for you because THIS IS SO GOOD!
Best if enjoyed surrounded by some of your favorite people.
Storage
This Tex Mex dip is best served on the day, as the avocado turns brown pretty quickly. However, if you want to store leftovers, they’ll keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Recipe Notes
Here are some variations to make this 7-layer dip recipe work for you:
- Instead of bean dip, you can use refried beans (a can of similar size). You can even use canned refried beans with jalapenos or chilies.
- You can also use any type of cheese, like regular cheddar cheese, a Mexican cheese blend, or something like Pepperjack cheese.
- Mix a handful (1/4 cup) of chopped fresh cilantro into the guacamole or use it as a garnish.
- Swap the mayonnaise for cream cheese.
- Swap the lemon juice for lime juice.
- Mix 1/4 cup of salsa into the guacamole.
- Alternatively, use a jar of salsa as an extra layer. Chunky salsa is best, but ensure you drain any extra liquid before spreading it on top of the avocado or sour cream layer.
Recipe FAQs
What is in a 7 layer dip?
The traditional layers in a 7-layer dip include:
- Refried beans.
- Sour cream (mixed with cream cheese and taco seasoning).
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Cheese
- Green onions
- Olives or tomatoes
So feel free to swap and change a couple of the ingredients if you want to follow this traditional 7-layer dip.
Why is it called a 7-layer dip?
Because of those 7 Tex Mex-inspired layers.
Is 7-layer dip supposed to heat up?
No, this 7-layer dip is meant to be served cold. If you heat it up, you’ll affect the texture of the avocado and sour cream layers.
Does guacamole turn brown in a 7-layer dip?
The guacamole can turn brown quickly, but combining it with lemon juice helps, as does covering it entirely with the sour cream layer. But this is why you can’t prep the dip too far in advance. It’s best to make it in the morning and then let it chill before serving that afternoon/evening.
How do you serve a 7-layer dip?
The most common way to serve Tex Mex dip is with tortilla chips. But it works with any type of cracker or chip.
You may also like these Tex Mex recipes:
Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Tex-Mex Style
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized ripe avocados
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 package taco seasoning
- 1 16-ounce can bean dip
- 1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 3 ounces chopped black olives
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Peel, pit, and mash the avocados in a medium bowl. Add the lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.2 medium-sized ripe avocados, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, and taco seasoning, and mix well.1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 package taco seasoning
- Spread bean dip on a large, shallow platter. Top with the avocado mixture then the sour cream mixture. Sprinkle with chopped green onions, then the tomatoes and olives. Cover with shredded cheese.1 16-ounce can bean dip, 1/2 bunch green onions, chopped, 2 medium tomatoes, chopped, 3 ounces chopped black olives, 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips.
Nutrition
Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.
~H. Jackson Brown, JR
This dip makes a light/cool meal on a hot summer day. I love the Cowboy Pizza too.
Thank you Barbara!!
I love layered Mexican dip! But what I’m really here to talk about is how much your smile is like your Grandmama’s! You could be identical twins, haha!
🙂 Thank you Becky, that is about the best compliment I could ever hope for. She was such a kindhearted and wonderful soul!
I can’t find a recipe that was great. Similiar to this, but it said they used Desert black bean dip. Did you have this?
I’m SO glad to read that there’s at least ONE other person out there who isn’t keen on avocados. Yuk!
Sunshine, in the post where the photos are of the sour cream mixing you forgot to add the written instructions..you know..where you “stirry, stirry” 😉 love you baby girl.
Love you, too! Thanks for the save, I just fixed it 🙂
My mom has made this for years for potlucks. No one will let her bring anything else anymore. She does hers in a 9×13 pan (double the recipe you have there) and it is devoured in minutes every single time. Thanks for sharing your memories that go with this dish, I to had to be coaxed into the first bite. Now it’s just hoping I get to get a scoop or so before it’s gone!
🙂 yep, all it takes is one bite!!
Oh, one day I bought similar in the grocers. Loved it so home I went to try to copy. Yes cream cheese made it in mine and for beans just smashed some chili beans . Used winter onions chopping the green parts.
Sure like your Grandmas version. It’s a winner. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Patsy, we thinks so too!!!