Always popular at parties, 7 Layer Dip is an easy make-and-take recipe that everyone loves to share. Use this recipe to make a quick dairy-free version of this popular dip, thanks to a delicious plant-based queso made from veggies. Every layer is so delicious, and all together they make for a flavor-popping bite with every colorful scoop!
This post was created in partnership with Good Foods.
Recipe Highlights: 7 Layer Dip
This classic party dip has a big fan following. It’s so good, and here are some reasons we love this recipe:
- a simple dairy-free version using plant-based queso
- loaded with nutritious ingredients, like beans and veggies
- colorful and delicious
- quick to make and easy to transport
- easy to customize with your favorite ingredients
Why is it called 7 layer dip?
This great-tasting party dip features Tex-Mex taco flavors. Seven individual layers are stacked one to top of another to make a platter full of dip. To eat it, take your favorite dippers, such as tortilla chips or veggies, and dip it down through all of the layers to get a nice taste of each one. Combining all your favorite taco flavors and toppings into a layered dip makes you feel like you’re eating a delicious bite of taco with each dip! Read below for the 7 layers that are most common in this party dip.
what Are the 7 layers in 7 Layer Taco Dip?
One of the great things about a 7-layer dip recipe is that you can easily make it your own by adding any layers that you want or eliminating any layers that you don’t want. Have a favorite veggie? A favorite spice? A favorite taco topping? You can easily work those ingredients into 7 Layer Dip to make the dip just right for you and your party guests.
Here are the typical layers in Seven Layer Dip:
- beans – most recipes have a base of refried beans
- guacamole – creates a flavorful and vibrant green layer
- sour cream – typically, this layer is mixed with taco seasoning for added flavor; in our version we use vegan plain yogurt or vegan sour cream to make a dairy-free dip
- cheese – you can use shredded cheese or queso for the cheese layer (or both); in our recipe, we use vegan queso, such as this plant-based Queso Blanco to get great cheesy flavor without the dairy
- tomatoes – tomatoes are the typical veggie used and they add a nice bright red layer to the dip. You could also use salsa, diced bell peppers, or any favorite crunchy veggie here (or a combination of them)
- green onions – sliced scallions are a beautiful and flavorful addition that is commonly used
- black olives – sliced black olives add a stunning dark topping to this dip
Other common ingredients added to seven-layer dip, include fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, diced red onion, shredded lettuce, corn, black beans, and diced avocado. Some versions even included cooked taco meat and Spanish rice.
Find the ingredients list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
More Dairy-Free Dips To Try!
Ingredients to make dairy-Free 7 Layer Dip Recipe
Gather these ingredients to make this popular party dip for every fun occasion:
- refried beans – use any brand of refried pinto beans or refried black beans for the base layer
- salsa – you can use any favorite salsa or pico de gallo for this layer
- guacamole – for a convenient already-made guacamole that tastes so fresh, reach for Good Foods Chunky Guacamole (they also make a great Spicy Guacamole). Use this store locator to find Good Foods sold near you
- plant-based queso – we love this Spicy Queso Blanco from Goods Foods, which is made from a base of cauliflower, almonds, and veggies
- sour cream – you can use standard sour cream or plant-based sour cream, depending on if you want your seven layer dip to be dairy free or not. Alternatively, you can use plain Greek yogurt or a plain vegan yogurt, too
- taco seasoning – you can use any favorite brand of taco seasoning. Or, easily make your own Homemade Taco Seasoning that you’ll love
- veggies – we used diced tomatoes, diced yellow bell pepper, and green onions here. But you can use any favorite veggies to make this your own
- garnishes – our dip uses sliced black olives, sliced jalapeños, and chopped fresh cilantro for garnishes on the top layer. But you can use any garnishes that you’d like (scroll back up for some more suggestions)
How to Make this 7 Layer Dip Recipe
This no-cook, no-baked dip recipe couldn’t be easier. Have fun stacking the layers with these basic steps:
- Start building the layers: Create the base layer by spreading the refried beans on a platter, then top the taco seasoning over the beans
- Add more delicious layers: Spread the guacamole over the beans, then top with the salsa and dollops of sour cream, then gently spread those out before adding the next layers
- Add the fresh layers and queso on top: Finish the layered dip by adding fresh tomatoes, green onions, and bell pepper (and any desired toppings) over the sour cream layer. Drizzle the queso over the veggies and add any desired garnishes. Serve with dippers, such as chips and veggies, and enjoy!
For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition analysis, listing calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, sodium, and more per serving.
How To Make This Dip Dairy Free
By using a plant-based queso dip (like this one) in place of the standard shredded cheese, and by swapping in a vegan sour cream or a plain vegan yogurt in place of the sour cream, you can easily make this a dairy-free dip
This Dip Is Naturally Gluten Free
This dip is made up of layers of foods that are naturally gluten free. Those gf layers include beans, guacamole, queso, veggies, and more. If gluten is a concern for you or your guests, be sure to serve gluten-free dippers, too. Some great choices include corn tortilla chips, grain-free tortilla chips, and fresh-cut veggies
Easily Make this a Plant-Based Whole30 Dip
This dip doesn’t contain any added sugars. And when you use the dairy-free swaps listed above you make it Plant-Based Whole30 friendly, as well (the Plant-Based Whole30 allow beans – read more about it here). Using our Homemade Taco Seasoning will also help ensure you make this is a Whole30 friendly dip
Make It Vegan with Simple Swaps
Use the dairy-free swaps listed above to make this a vegan and 100% plant-based dip recipe that everyone at the party will appreciate
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most versions of this popular party dip include sour cream and cheese, which are both foods that contain dairy. To make a dairy-free version, use a vegan sour cream or plain vegan yogurt in place of the sour cream, and use a dairy-free queso dip, such as this one, in place of the shredded cheese layer
We highly doubt that you’ll have any leftovers! Every time we serve this dip at a party, it is one of the first foods to disappear! But on the chance that you do have some leftovers, you can wrap the platter with plastic wrap and store in in the fridge for another day or two.
Yes, you can make this dip several hours prior to serving it, making it a great recipe to prep ahead of a party or potluck. For the freshest looks, we suggest that you build the base layers (the beans, guacamole, sour cream, and queso) up to 6 hours in advance and store on the platter in the refrigerator. Prior to setting out the dip, add the top veggie layers and garnishes.
Corn tortilla chips and veggies make great dippers for this Tex-Mex flavored bean dip. Some favorite veggie dippers include carrot sticks, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips, and celery sticks.
This dip has some subtle spice to it, which we think makes it so great! But if you’d like an even milder 7 Layer Dip, Good Foods makes both guacamole and plant-based queso style dip that are not spicy. Find where Good Foods dips are sold near you.
7 Layer Dip (Easy and Dairy Free)
A favorite party dip gets a dairy-free makeover with some easy swaps. Serve this delicious and colorful layered dip at any party. Any friends who are dairy-free will be so appreciative, and everyone will love the rich pops of flavor in every bite!
Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can refried beans
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning of choice (or make your own)
- 1 (14-ounce) container Good Foods Chunky or Spicy Guacamole
- ½ cup salsa of choice
- 1 ½ cups dairy-free sour cream or dairy-free plain yogurt (or omit if desired)*
- ½ cup cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
- ⅓ – ½ cup Good Foods Spicy Queso Blanco Dip
- For garnish: thinly sliced jalapeño peppers, sliced black olives, chopped fresh cilantro, and/or lime wedges
- For serving: Tortilla chips and/or mini bell peppers or other vegetables of choice
Instructions
1. Spread the refried beans in a thin layer on a large plate or platter. Sprinkle evenly with taco seasoning.
2. Spread the guacamole over the refined beans layer.
3. Then, spoon the salsa over the guacamole spreading it into a thin layer.
4. Next, dollop the sour cream over the salsa in 8-10 small mounds and use the back of the spoon or a knife to spread the sour cream over the salsa layer.
5. Top the sour cream layer with chopped tomatoes, green onions, and bell pepper along with any additional toppings you’d like.
6. Drizzle the Queso Blanco dip over the vegetable layer. Garnish with lime wedges, sliced jalapeños, black olives, and fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips and/or vegetables for dipping.
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Notes
* if you don’t need dip that is dairy-free, you can also use regular sour cream or plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: 1/12th of recipe
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 5 g
- (Sat Fat: 1 g)
- Sodium: 395 mg
- Carbohydrate: 12 g
- (Fiber: 5 g
- Sugar: 2 g)
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Dietary
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