Easy 7-Layer Spicy Mexican Dip

5 from 2 votes

This incredible 7-layer Mexican dip is spicy, flavorful, and stunning. It's layered with refried beans, guacamole, taco-seasoned ground meat, salsa, tomatoes, and diced jalapenos and topped with chopped scallions. It's perfect for Super Bowl Sunday, March Madness celebrations, and everything in between!

Prep Time12

Cook Time32

Total Time44

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: layered dip, mexican dip, refried bean dip, taco dip

Servings: servings

Calories: 244kcal

Author: Jenny Levine Finke

Equipment

1 large skillet pan
1 8x8, 8x9, or 9x13 glass baking dish

Ingredients

For the Taco Meat

2 tbsp avocado oil
1 lb ground meat of choice see notes
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper
¼ chicken or vegetable broth or water

For the Guacamole

2 avocados ripe
1 lime
1 tsp kosher salt
2 Tbsp cilantro chopped (optional)

Additional Ingredients

15.5 ounce can of refried beans
16 ounce jar of mild or medium salsa
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese more if desired (enough to fully cover the top of the dip)
½ cup tomatoes diced
1 jalapeno seeded and diced
4 green onions scallions, chopped

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400º F. Grease a glass 8x8", 8x9", or 9x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. I used an 8x9" rectangular glass baking dish.
To brown the meat, heat the avocado oil in a large skillet pan over medium-high heat, then add the ground meat. Cook until the meat is browned and cooked through, breaking down the meat into small chunks. This should take about 8-10 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, ½ tsp salt, and pepper and cook for another minute, then add the broth or water and scrape the brown bits of meat from the bottom of the pan. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the water cooks off. Remove the meat from the heat and allow it to cool.
In a medium bowl, combine the two ripe avocados, the juice of one lime, 1 tsp of salt, and cilantro. Mash the ingredients together with a fork and set it aside.
Add the ingredients in the following order into the prepared baking dish. Spread out each ingredient into an even layer:
1. Refried beans
2. Mashed avocado
3. Ground meat
4. Salsa
5. Cheese
6. Diced tomatoes
7. Diced jalapenos
Bake the dip in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly on top. To brown the cheese on top, turn the oven to high broil and bake for 3-4 minutes, watching the dip closely so it doesn't burn.
Top the hot dip with diced scallions and serve with Crunchmaster Avocado Toast crackers or tortilla chips. See notes for more suggestions.
Storing Leftovers: Once the dip cools, cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to four days. Before enjoying it, reheat it in the microwave.

Notes

Where can I find Crunchmaster Avocado Toast Crackers? While most grocery stores nationwide carry Crunchmaster crackers, not all carry the Avocado Toast-flavored ones. Check the company's store locator and filter by product name. Alternatively, you can order the crackers online and have them delivered to your doorstep.

Want to shake up the recipe? Here are a few suggested additions and changes:

Add a layer of sour cream, cream cheese, or Greek yogurt seasoned with taco seasoning. I don't like sour cream, so I omit it.
Add a layer of canned corn and/or green chilies.
Top with additional diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and/or sliced olives.
Instead of red salsa, use salsa verde (green salsa).
Swap refried beans for black beans (although I think the refried beans give the dip a solid foundation)

Can I Omit a Layer? Yes, you can omit a layer or swap it for something else. For example, you could skip the guacamole layer and use a sour cream layer instead. Or, you could omit the avocado layer and add chunks of avocado on top just before serving.

Can I tone down the spice level? To tone down the spice level, use less chili powder to season the ground meat, use mild salsa, and instead of shredded Mexican cheese, use plain cheddar cheese. I also suggest you omit the jalapenos on top.

Meat Options: You can use ground beef or turkey or keep it meat-free by using plant-based ground meat. I used Beyond Meat to make this dip meat-free. If you avoid meat, make sure the refried beans are labeled vegan.

Dairy-Free Options: Use a dairy-free cheese to make the appetizer dairy-free.

Nutrition information is approximate and doesn't include the crackers or chips.

Nutrition