Last Updated on February 15, 2022 by Anne-Marie

Serve this cheesy Layered Taco Dip with ground beef and cream cheese at your next get together. It's a crowd pleasing party dip!

Why this recipe works

This quick and easy appetizer is made with refried beans, layers of cheese, tomatoes, olives, green onions, and more.

It’s perfect for a crowd, whether you’re getting together for game days or Taco Tuesday.

This cheesy beef taco dip is so hearty that you can serve it for dinner, too.

How to make layered taco dip even easier

I’ve given directions below to make this a 5 or 7 layer taco dip depending on what ingredients you have on hand.

One trick I like to do a few days in advance is to make a double batch of Crockpot Taco Meat.

Then I serve crockpot tacos for dinner one night and save the leftover taco meat for the taco dip layer, omitting steps 1-3 below.

Other quick tips:

Buy already diced onions from the produce section and use (drained) canned diced tomatoes. 

No need to spend extra time chopping vegetables when you’re planning a party.

Can I make this in advance?

While this creamy taco dip can be made a few hours in advance, don’t make it too early or the avocado will start to brown.

Also, make sure that the avocado layer is completely covered by the layers of cream cheese, beans and meat. That way not much air can get to it, so it should stay a lovely bright green.

How to serve layer taco dip

While you can serve this dip cold, the best way is to serve the dip right out of the oven.

Place the casserole dish in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes BEFORE adding any additional toppings.

Pro tip: Layer the dip in a slow cooker and keep on low for a party. That way the dip is warm and the cheese is gooey! Spray the crock with cooking spray for easy cleanup. Works great in a 3 to 4-quart crockpot.

Serve the taco dip with a variety of tortilla chips, both sizes and styles as well as flavors. I like restaurant style as they hold up to a heavy dip.

Can this be made into a keto taco dip?

If you’re on a low carb keto diet, omit the refried beans and add a layer of sautéed onions and bell peppers.

Substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream. And don’t serve with tortilla chips.

Can you make this vegan or vegetarian?

Vegetarian: The meat can be omitted for a vegetarian option. Or you could use veggie crumbles or a Beyond Beef-type product instead.

Also make sure to use vegetarian refried beans.

Vegan: This layered taco dip recipe can be made vegan with a little planning. See the vegetarian and dairy free tips.

Is this gluten free?

This taco layer dip recipe is naturally gluten free. Just make sure all the ingredients you’re using are gluten free.

Taco seasoning: If you’re concerned about the taco seasoning, use my Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix recipe.

Cheese: Most shredded cheeses are gluten free. If you’re concerned about the powdered cellulose used to prevent clumping, shred your own cheese.

Can you make this into a dairy free dip?

If you’re dairy free, this recipe is going to be challenging because of all the cheese and sour cream. However, you could try the following substitutions:

● Use my Vegan Tofu Sour Cream Recipe as a substitute for the sour cream.

● Find a vegan or dairy free cream cheese to use instead of the regular cream cheese.

(Check out this The 14 Best Substitutes for Cream Cheese article for more dairy free cream cheese substitutes.)

● Use vegan cheddar shredded cheese.

Check the label to make sure the taco seasoning you use doesn’t have any dairy in it. You can also use my Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix.

Substitutions and additions

Here are some favorite toppings and ingredient suggestions to make this taco dip even more tasty!

● Guacamole – use instead of the avocado. This comes in handy if you can’t find ripe avocados at your grocery store and don’t want to deal with the frozen avocados.

● Cheese – use other varieties of shredded cheese like sharp cheddar cheese, spicy pepper jack, Monterey Jack, crumbled queso fresco, or a combination of two or more.

● Ground meat – you can use ground venison or ground turkey instead of ground beef. See vegetarian suggestions above.

● Yogurt – Substitute a no fat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

● Corn – use canned (and drained) or thawed frozen corn.

● Beans – use mashed black beans instead of refried beans.

● Salsa – thick and chunky salsa would be a tasty substitution for the diced tomatoes. Drain the salsa in a fine mesh colander so your dip doesn’t get soggy.

● Bell peppers – a layer of chopped red, yellow or green bell peppers adds a dash of color. Bell peppers can be served raw or sautéed.

Making the ultimate Cinco de Mayo party

Having a Cinco de Mayo party? This taco layer dip makes a great addition to your celebration and goes well with all kinds of Mexican recipes.

I love grilling up some Best Authentic Carne Asada or preparing Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork to make tacos for a party. Both are delicious with a side of this Quick Mexican Rice Recipe.

If you’re looking for another easy appetizer, try this Easy Nachos Recipe.

I also like serving Peach & Cherry Beer Margaritas for the adults and Quick & Healthy Horchata for the kids.

Another tasty Cinco de Mayo party recipe is Chopped & Layered Taco Salad. It uses similar ingredients to the seven layer taco dip, making your grocery shopping a breeze.

More party dip recipes

If you’re looking for more easy to make party dips, try these:

● How about a sweet dip? Try this Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip Recipe.

● If you looking for protein packed dips, try Edamame Avocado Dip and Easy Edamame Hummus.

● Need green dips for St Patrick's? Check out Avocado Hummus and Avocado Dip Veggie Shooters.

● Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip and Hot Crab Spinach Dip are easy to make.

What’s your favorite party dip?