A variation of the well-known Seven Layer Dip, this colorful, flavorful and slightly spicy Taco Salad Dip has no refried beans or meat, resulting in a lighter and refreshing dish. Plus, it’s a snap to put together!
Cream Cheese Taco Dip
My first job out of college was as a Media Planner for Campbell-Mithun advertising in Minneapolis, MN. For a year I lived with two co-workers, one of whom gave me this recipe for Taco Salad Dip. It’s still a crowd pleaser today!
Taco Salad Dip Recipe Ingredients
This version of a taco dip is a great one to have in your repertoire, especially for last minute get-togethers, as you’re likely to have all the ingredients on hand. Not only is it easy to prepare, Marian’s version is a bit lighter, subbing flavored cream cheese for the refried beans. Here’s the full list of ingredients you’ll need:
- cream cheese
- sour cream
- Taco Seasoning
- salsa (or pico de gallo)
- chopped green onions
- grated sharp Cheddar cheese
- sliced black olives
- chopped avocado
- chopped fresh tomato
- chopped lettuce
How to Make Taco Salad Dip
You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to put this dip together, with just 3 easy steps:
- Prep ingredients.
Chop onions, peel and chop avocado, chop and seed tomato, chop lettuce. - Mix together base ingredients; spread in dish.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning. Spread evenly in the bottom of an 8- or 9-inch pie plate or other shallow 4-cup dish. - Layer remaining ingredients.
Spread salsa evenly over the top of cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining ingredients in this order: onions, cheese, olives, avocado, tomato, and lettuce.
How to Serve Taco Dip with Cream Cheese and Sour Cream
Note that this dip tastes best if you let the cream cheese mixture sit for an hour or two before serving to allow the flavors to blend. Don’t worry if you don’t have time though – it also tastes great when served immediately!
Storing Cream Cheese Taco Dip
To store, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.
How long can taco dip sit out?
Because this dip contains sour cream, it can sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours, no longer.
Recipe for Taco Dip with Cream Cheese FAQ
There are a few reasons why your taco dip might be runny:
1. You didn’t remove the seeds from the tomato.
2. Your lettuce was wet when you chopped it.
3. You over-mixed the sour cream and cream cheese.
4. Your salsa was watery.
4. It’s been refrigerated for too long.
Unfortunately, this type of taco dip is difficult to thicken once it’s assembled. Try to carefully pour off any excess moisture before serving. If the cream cheese-sour cream mixture is thin after mixing, whisk in sifted flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it thickens.
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Taco Salad Dip
A variation of the well-known Seven Layer Dip, this Taco Salad Dip has no refried beans or meat and is a snap to put together. A mixture of cream cheese and sour cream seasoned with taco seasoning is the base for layers of traditional taco ingredients – salsa, onions, cheese, olives, avocado, tomato and lettuce. So easy, so colorful and flavorful!
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 2 tablespoons Taco Seasoning – see Note
- 3/4 cup salsa (we like Pace brand)
- 6 green onions, chopped (white, light green and some of the dark green portion)
- 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, or more to taste
- 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
- 1 ripe avocado, chopped
- 1 small tomato, seeded and chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped lettuce
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning.
- Spread evenly in the bottom of an 8- or 9-inch pie plate or other shallow 4-cup dish.
- Spread salsa evenly over the top of cream cheese mixture.
- Top with remaining ingredients in this order: onions, cheese, olives, avocado, tomato, and lettuce.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
Notes
Note on cream cheese mixture: It’s best to let the cream cheese-sour cream mixture sit for an hour or two before serving, to allow the flavors to blend. Don’t worry if you don’t have time though – it also tastes great when served immediately!
Note on Taco Seasoning: you can find my Taco Seasoning recipe here. Prepared Taco (or Mexican) Seasoning is also available in the spice or Mexican food aisle at most major grocery stores.
Gluten free: if using a purchasing Mexican or taco seasoning blend, make sure it’s gluten free.
- Category: Easy appetizers, dips, vegetarian
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
