Taco Dip

This taco dip recipe is fast and easy: the ideal party appetizer for a crowd! Scoop up this irresistible creamy mix with tortilla chips.

Here’s a creamy, irresistibly spiced party dip you need in your life: our perfect Taco Dip Recipe! It comes together in minutes, and we can confidently say almost no one turns this one down. This one is even better than the standard: it’s got a quick homemade seasoning blend, Greek yogurt, and a colorful mix of fresh toppings for the absolute best flavor. Here’s how it’s done!

Ingredients in this taco dip recipe

Taco dip is a party dip that’s a creamy mix of cream cheese and taco seasonings, topped with crunchy toppings like lettuce, tomato, and often black olives. Don’t think there’s anything Mexican about it: this one is solidly American or Tex Mex. It’s different from 7 layer dip in that it’s got one layer of cream cheese and one layer of veggies. But you can definitely mix it up with more layers: see below! Here’s what you’ll need for the base recipe:

• Cream cheese
• Greek yogurt
• Salsa
• Spices: cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper
• Mexican blend cheese
• Toppings: lettuce, tomato, and black olives
• Optional: red onion, cilantro, pickled jalapeños

What makes this the best layered taco dip

This recipe has a few innovations from the classic taco dip recipe that makes it even tastier! Here’s what make this the best taco dip, in our opinion:

• Greek yogurt makes it taste fresh (and cuts calories). Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a deliciously creamy, tangy flavor. It also cuts calories by 1/3: 1 cup of sour cream is 445 calories vs 1 cup of Greek yogurt is 100 calories.
• Homemade seasonings keep it fresh and healthy! Packets of taco seasoning can have additives and preservatives, and lots of salt. Use a quick blend of spices for mega flavor: you probably already have them on hand.
• Extra toppings add color and flavor. The standard taco dip just has lettuce, tomato, cheese, and black olives. But step it up with our extra toppings that add color and flavor: red onion, cilantro and pickled jalapenos.

Secrets to the homemade taco seasoning

Sure, you can buy taco seasoning to make this dip. But as we noted above, often the packets have additives and preservatives. Here we made a shortcut to taco seasoning using ingredients you likely already have on hand. You don’t even have to make a homemade taco seasoning blend: it’s even simpler! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Cumin
• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Salt and pepper

You’ll be surprised at how these seasonings work together to provide a big pop of flavor to the taco dip. Say goodbye to taco seasoning packets!

Making a more layered taco dip

Were you looking for a dip with layers, more like a 7 layer dip? Don’t worry: you can do that too! Here’s what we’d consider adding on top of the cream cheese layer:

• Refried beans seasoned with salt to taste (and/or cumin or chili powder)
• Guacamole
• Salsa

A quick way to soften cream cheese

One trick to this taco dip recipe: most of the time we don’t think ahead when it comes to softening cream cheese. It’s important to soften it for this recipe, since it needs to be warmed up in order to mix with the other ingredients. Here are a few notes:

• Use a microwave to quickly soften the cream cheese. Place it on a plate in the microwave. Microwave 5 seconds, then flip over the block of cheese and cook another 5 seconds. If it’s not room temperature and soft at this point, try another 5 seconds but air on the conservative side. You don’t want to overcook the cheese!
• When you whisk the cheese with the ingredients, it starts out chunky. It takes a few minutes to whisk up, so be patient! We prefer mixing by hand than whipping it all with a stand mixer: but you could do that too if you prefer.

And that’s it! Let us know what you think of this easy taco dip in the comments below. Grab your tortilla chips and start dipping!

More dip recipes

Dips are perfect for parties and as game day appetizers! Here are a few more tasty dip recipes we love:

• Try classic Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Go for 5-Minute Bean Dip
• Try Simple Guacamole or Black Bean Hummus
• Opt for Texas Caviar (Cowboy Caviar)

01

Spinach Artichoke Dip

02

5-Minute Bean Dip

03

Easy Black Bean Hummus

04

Texas Caviar (Cowboy Caviar)

This taco dip recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.

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