Taco Dip Recipe

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If you have 10 minutes, you have plenty of time to this Taco Dip Recipe, the best ever layered Mexican dip that’s loaded with your favorite toppings and perfect for parties. Break open a bag of corn chips and get your next fiesta started!

A platter of taco dip with tortilla chips in the background.


 

This easy Taco Dip recipe is a Midwestern party and potluck staple. The dip base is a dairy-forward mixture of cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning (you can use store bought or make your own). Then top with shredded cheese and all your favorite fresh veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, olives – anything you’d love on a taco! Chill until serving time and dip in with chips, sort of like nachos.

You can easily tweak this standard version by using salsa instead of tomatoes (a chunky store-bought pico de gallo can save on chopping time). I chose cheddar cheese, but a Mexican cheese such as crumbly Cotjia works too. And for a lighter dip base, try plain Greek yogurt instead of the sour cream.

Recipe ingredients

Labeled ingredients for taco dip.

At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.

Ingredient notes

  • Taco seasoning: I make my own taco seasoning blend with cayenne pepper, chili powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, salt, and cornstarch, but a store-bought packet is fine too.
  • Lettuce: Some cooks prefer a Taco Dip without lettuce because the lettuce has a propensity to get soggy. Feel free to leave it out and skip straight to the other toppings.
  • Olives: I love the flavor of canned black olives on this dip, but they are the easiest thing in the world to omit if you don’t like them.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning.
Taco seasoning, cream cheese and sour cream in a clear bowl before being mixed.
  1. Using a spatula or hand mixer, mix well until combined. Spread cream cheese mixture in the bottom of a shallow pie plate or 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish
Taco dip base spread out on a white platter.
  1. Top with iceberg lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes.
Someone putting tomatoes on top of layers of taco dip.
  1. Finish with your other favorite toppings such as peppers, olives, and scallions. Serve with tortilla chips.
A platter of taco dip surrounded by tortilla chips and small bowls of toppings.

Recipe tips and variations

  • Yield: This recipe makes about 3 cups of the base dip plus whatever toppings you add on top (about 7 cups of toppings as written in the recipe card). It’s enough for 12 servings, ¼ cup dip each plus toppings.
  • Storage: For best results, store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. After that, it starts to get watery but is still safe to eat for up to 4 days.
  • Make ahead: Blend the cream cheese mixture up to 3 days in advance and store it separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This is a great option if you are toting the dip to a party. Transport all the ingredients
  • More toppings: Substitute red, orange, or yellow bell peppers for the green. If your crowd loves the heat, served minced serranos or habañeros on the side. Substitute finely minced white onions for the scallions, or leave the onion products off entirely. Diced avocados make an excellent topping, too, especially with a squeeze of lime juice.
  • Beans: Add a layer of refried beans to the bottom of your platter or sprinkle cooked black beans over the top of the dip for extra protein. Or, try my 7 Layer Dip shown below.
  • Meaty: To beef up your appetizer offerings even more, cook some ground beef or ground chicken in a large skillet until browned. Drain well and sprinkle over the top of your dip. If you love the sound of that, you might want to check out my Dorito Taco Salad.
  • Dippers: I love tortilla chips with taco salad, but crackers, pita chips, pretzels, potato chips, and even sliced veggies like carrots and cucumbers work too.
Seven layer dip on a blue platee.
For another Mexican-inspired dip idea, try 7 Layer Taco Dip made with refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, tomatoes, olives, and green onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is taco dip made of?

The creamy base of taco dip is made with cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning. The topping can be any shredded cheese and fresh veggies that you want such as lettuce, tomatoes, olives, peppers, jalapenos, and scallions.

How do you make a vegan taco dip?

Use a plant-based cream cheese and sour cream and go crazy with all your favorite vegetables. Use a vegan shredded cheese or nutritional yeast, or skip it entirely.

More delicious appetizers to try

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A platter of taco dip.

Taco Dip Recipe

If you have 10 minutes, you have plenty of time to make this Taco Dip recipe, the best ever layered Mexican dip that's loaded with your favorite toppings and perfect for parties.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 12 servings (¼ cup each)
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Calories 155
5 from 7 votes

Ingredients 

Toppings (choose your favorites):

For serving:

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, add cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning. Mix well until combined. Spread cream cheese mixture in the bottom of a shallow pie plate or 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish.
  • Top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and olives or your own preferred toppings. Serve with tortilla chips.

Notes

  1. Taco seasoning: I make my own taco seasoning blend to have on hand when the urge for tacos hits unexpectedly, but a store-bought packet is fine too.
  2. Lettuce: Some cooks prefer a Taco Dip without lettuce because the lettuce has a propensity to get soggy. Feel free to leave it out and skip straight to the other toppings.
  3. Olives: I love the flavor of canned black olives on this dip, but they are the easiest thing in the world to omit if you don’t like them.
  4. Yield: This recipe makes about 3 cups of the base dip plus whatever toppings you add on top (about 7 cups of toppings as written in the recipe card). It’s enough for 12 servings, ¼ cup dip each plus toppings.
  5. Storage: For best results, store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. After that, it starts to get watery but is still safe to eat for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25 cupCalories: 155kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 183mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 652IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 182mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
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Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.

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