7 Layer Taco Dip
Thanks to my niece, Emme, I learned that 7 layer taco dip was popular in the 90s. I am an 80s baby, so I can easily remember having this dip at parties. I remember my mom making it one of our super bowl snacks for several years. I didn't realize the peak of its popularity was during the 1990s.
Emme turned two late last year. Her birthday party was a super cute 90s theme where we were all 2 legit 2 quit. My sister-in-law didn’t stop with 90s decorations and outfits. She also put a lot of thought into the menu for the party. We had Pizza Hut, Dunakaroos, and Jello Jigglers. I mean as if! We were totally having a party! Emme and her friends had a blast, and so did all of the adults.
I was excited to make this throwback dish, and I also enjoyed eating it, and I could feel the nostalgia when preparing to make it. It wasn't until I sat down to think about each layer that I realized it could easily feature a few recipes from my cookbook, Staples +5.
7 layer taco dip is a dip that shows each layer when digging in. I especially like making this dip because none of the layers require cooking. A little extra care to elevate a few layers and make them homemade makes this dip extra special and a layered flavor explosion!
The layers include:
Refried Beans
Seasoned Sour Cream
Guacamole
Shredded Cheese
Tomatoes (or Salsa before the cheese)
Black Olives
Cilantro or Green Onion
You'll notice the ingredient list suggests 10-16 oz of refried beans. That quantity is based on preference and brand. It's relatively easy to find a 16 oz can of refried beans at your local grocery, and it's becoming easier to find my favorite brand of refried bean, Dozen Cousins. Their heat-safe pouches are 10 oz. I have found that 10 ounces of refried beans work great, and I prefer Dozen Cousin because they are seasoned so well. You don't have to add anything additional.
Most 7 layer taco dip recipes include sour cream, and the best ones include seasoned sour cream. I chose to use the taco seasoning from my cookbook, Staples, +5 because it has much less sodium and filler than any store-bought packet of taco seasoning.
Store-bought guacamole is fine for this recipe, but I'm always going to make a small batch of Jack's Guacamole, found in Staples +5 because it has more texture than store-bought. My guacamole recipe has fresh red onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and lots of lime. The robust lime flavor helps brighten this 7 layer taco dip like no other.
Colby Jack or mild cheddar offers an excellent balance for 7 layer taco dip, and it doesn't overpower the other flavors and stands up to the creamier textured layers. Consider getting a block of cheese and shredding it with your food processor shredding attachment instead of grabbing a bag of the already shredded stuff. The shreds are usually bigger and don't have a weird powdery coating on them when you shred it yourself.
I wonder if, by the time Emme makes this recipe, on her own, it will be for a 2022 themed party or to watch a big game with friends. I'm confident, either way, it will be gone by half time.
Other recipes you can serve for the second half:
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