Taco Cream Cheese Dip

This Taco Cream Cheese Dip is flavored with salsa and Mexican spices and topped with layers of your favorite taco toppings. It’s a creamier, cheesier twist on everyone’s favorite 7-layer dip (without the layer of refried beans).Serve it with tortilla chips and enjoy everything you love about your favorite Tuesday night meal in a fun and delicious appetizer.

Taco Cream Cheese Dip

This taco cream cheese dip transforms your favorite Tuesday night meal into a delicious appetizer.

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Course Appetizer

Cuisine Mexican

Ingredients

  

• 16 ounces full fat cream cheese softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup salsa
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• salt to taste
• 8 oz shredded lettuce iceberg, butter lettuce or romaine lettuce
• 1 tomato chopped
• ¼ cup green olives optional
• ¼ cup black olives optional
• 3 ounces shredded Mexican cheese
• 3 green onions sliced thin
• 1 Jalapeno sliced thin, optional
• Tortilla chips for serving

Instructions

 

• Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, chili powder and onion powder. Add salt, to taste.
• Add the cream cheese mixture to the center of a serving bowl and surround it with shredded lettuce.
• Top the cream cheese mixture with the shredded cheese and then the green onions, tomatoes and olives.
• Serve with tortilla chips.

Keyword cream cheese taco dip, creamy taco dip, gluten free taco dip, layered taco dip, taco dip

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Let’s make this everyone’s favorite taco dip

I absolutely love this easy taco cream cheese dip recipe because pleasing everyone in my family is a challenge, to say the least, but this appetizer makes everyone happy thanks to a little topping bar. Just like traditional tacos, this recipe is easily customized to please everyone. When I make this for my family, I use a basic recipe using the creamy sour cream and cream cheese base and top it with the toppings that everyone can agree on. In my family that’s the cheese, the lettuce and that’s about it. I include the rest of the toppings on a separate serving dish so that everyone can select their own topping and customize their own appetizer. Yessss…finally an app my entire family can agree on.

This taco dip is delicious with almost any traditional taco toppings but if you need inspiration, here are a few variations.

• Sliced green onions – Adds onion flavor and a little crunch.
• Sliced black and green olives. I’m the only one in my family who eats olives so skipping this topping is tempting, but I don’t recommend it. If you like olives, add them in. Olives add a delicious and unique flavor to this dip!
• Chopped tomatos
• Jalapeños – Sliced fresh or from the jar. If you prefer less heat, remove the seeds and ribs before slicing and adding them to your toppings plate.
• Black beans – Additional plant-based protein? Yes please!
• A dollop of avocado or guacamole
• Ground beef – If you’re looking for a heartier dip recipe, you can add about 1/2 lb cooked ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning. Sprinkle it on top of the dip before adding the shredded cheese.
• Hot sauce – Turn up the heat with a drizzle of hot sauce like Cholula.

Taco Cream Cheese Dip Ingredients

• 16 ounces full fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup salsa – Store-bought or homemade. Keep in mind that the dairy ingredients will cut the heat so you can use a salsa with some heat!
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• salt, to taste
• 8 oz shredded lettuce. The pre-shredded iceberg lettuce in a bag makes it easy but shredded butter lettuce and romaine lettuce are also great in this recipe.
• 1 tomato chopped
• 1/4 cup green olives (optional)
• 1/4 cup black olives (optional)
• 3 ounces shredded Mexican cheese or cheddar cheese
• 3 green onions, sliced thin
• 1 jalapeno, sliced. Remove the ribs and membrane to reduce the spice. Keep them in if you like it spicy! (optional)
• Tortilla chips or corn chips, for serving

Instructions

• Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, chili powder and onion powder. Add salt, to taste.
• Add the cream cheese mixture to the center of a serving bowl and surround it with shredded lettuce.
• Top the cream cheese mixture with the shredded cheese and then the green onions, tomatoes and olives.
• Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips.