Bring this creamy, cheesy Mexican Dip to your next potluck or game-day party for a delicious, Tex-Mex-inspired appetizer that everyone will love!
I love attending potlucks and other bring-your-own-dish-style parties, so I have a go-to list of things to make for these occasions. My list of choices changes depending on the type of party it is—for example, a football-watching party will usually warrant an appetizer or finger food, while a dinner potluck will get one of my tasty casserole options.
But once in a blue moon, I’m caught off-guard by an unexpected potluck party invitation and don’t have much time to plan something to bring. Barring going to the store for a ready-made contribution, I usually do a quick dive into my pantry to sort out my options. As a person with a huge love of Mexican and Tex-Mex food, I practically always have the stuff I need to make a quick Mexican layer dip, along with a bag of tortilla chips (which, in my opinion, are required).
This Mexican dip recipe is what saves me in these surprise potluck situations. It’s such a universally liked dish, I feel confident bringing it to pretty much any gathering. Plus, it takes no time at all to assemble it, as there’s no cooking involved. Hearty refried beans are topped with taco-flavored sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, green onions, lettuce, and black olives. Scoop up this dip with your favorite tortilla chips for a tasty snack that could even double as an easy meal!
Is This Mexican Dip Recipe Healthy?
Well, it’s not terribly unhealthy! The base of this recipe is refried beans, which are usually high in fiber and protein. Black olives provide a dose of iron along with healthy monounsaturated fats, while the fresh veggies add vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Though the sour cream and cheese add some calcium and protein, they also contain a significant amount of unhealthy saturated fat. Canned refried beans typically contain saturated fat and are high in sodium. If this is a concern, use fat-free and low-sodium refried beans, low-fat sour cream, and reduced-fat cheese.
Overall, this recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. You can make it vegan by using vegan refried beans (they usually contain lard, which is animal-derived), non-dairy sour cream, and vegan cheese.
Ways To Jazz Up A Mexican Dip
This recipe is quick to put together because it’s fairly minimal. If you like to go all-out, enjoy experimenting with flavors, or have more time on your hands, I have some great suggestions that could turn this dip into a masterpiece!
- Add mashed avocado or guacamole: It’s hard for me to build this dip without adding a layer of guac, or at the very least, some mashed avocado with a squeeze of lime. I like to put it on top of the bean layer, then top the guac with sour cream.
- Add a salsa topping: Spoon a thin layer of your favorite spicy (or mild!) salsa on top of the sour cream layer, before adding the rest of the toppings.
- Mix up the cheeses: Cheddar is great, but this dip tastes even better with a little bit of pepper jack cheese mixed in!
- Garnish with chopped cilantro: It will add a fresh touch and pop of color, making your dip even more irresistible.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
If there is any dip left over, keep it refrigerated inside an airtight container. It should stay good for up to 3 days. It’s not served warm, so no need to reheat it! I wouldn’t recommend freezing the leftovers, however, because all the fresh veggies will get soggy, and the sour cream will change texture.
Serving Suggestions
I personally require tortilla chips beside my Mexican dip, but naturally, you have a choice for how to scoop up your dip. Rather than relying on store-bought chips, you can always make your own homemade Air-Fryer Tortilla Chips, Keto Tortilla Chips, or Homemade Potato Chips.
Call me an oddball, but if there’s any dip leftover from whatever potluck event I’m attending, I like to scoop a spoonful onto a warm bowl of Chipotle Cilantro-Lime Rice when I’m in need of a quick dinner.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can refried beans (16 ounces)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 medium tomato diced
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- 1 jalapeño seeded and diced (optional)
Instructions
- Spread the refried beans in an even layer on the bottom of a serving dish.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the sour cream and taco seasoning until well combined, then spread over the beans.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the sour cream layer.
- Add a layer of shredded lettuce, followed by a layer of diced tomato.
- Garnish with sliced black olives, chopped green onions, and diced jalapeño, if using.
- Serve immediately with tortilla chips for dipping, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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