Here’s a twist on the classic layered taco dip: smoky chipotle beef layered with beans, a sour cream and salsa verde mix, then piled high with fresh toppings. It’s perfect for parties or a casual dinner and absolutely delicious.
Raise your hand if you’d happily eat layered taco dip for dinner — or, let’s be honest, almost every meal. Sign me up for endless chips, a margarita, and a big plate of this. I’m in.
This is my slightly elevated version of the layered taco dip many of us grew up with — refried beans, sour cream, guac, olives, tomatoes — but with a smoky chipotle beef layer that makes it heartier and more flavorful. It’s one of my favorite party dishes and reminds me a bit of my turkey taco nacho skillet in spirit.
This dip is packed with texture, vibrant color, and bold flavors. It looks beautiful served on a platter so the layers are visible, but an 8×8 baking dish also works great. Make it for game day, a barbecue, a dinner party, or any gathering where you want an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer.
This is how we layer!
I start with a base of refried beans — they’re dense and make an excellent foundation. Next comes a creamy layer of sour cream mixed with salsa verde. The tang and brightness from the salsa verde really lift the creaminess.
The star is the smoky chipotle ground beef. You can swap in ground turkey, chicken, or a plant-based alternative if you prefer. The seasoned beef adds great texture and a deep, smoky flavor when spread over the sour cream.
Next: cheese. I use sharp cheddar, but use whatever melts and tastes best to you. After cheese, load on fresh toppings — chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, cilantro, and thinly sliced green onions all add crunch and brightness.
To finish, add pickled onions for a tangy pop and pretty pink color. They’re one of my favorite finishing touches and really elevate the overall flavor.
I usually skip a full avocado or guacamole layer when I prepare this for a crowd. Store-bought guac often falls short and avocado browning can dull the presentation if it sits. If you love avocado, dice and scatter it on top just before serving, or offer a bowl of guacamole on the side so everyone gets the best of both worlds.
Serve this with plenty of tortilla chips and a cold beer or margarita. It’s an easy, satisfying crowd-pleaser that’s great to assemble ahead of time — just add the most delicate toppings right before serving so they stay bright and crisp.
Chipotle Layered Taco Dip
Smoky Chipotle Layered Taco Dip
Leave a Review »
Ingredients
- 8 ounces ground beef or turkey
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- kosher salt and pepper
- 1 (14 ounce ) can refried beans
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup salsa verde
- 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- pickled onions, for topping
- tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
-
Heat a skillet over medium heat. If using ground beef you likely won’t need oil, but add 1 teaspoon olive oil if desired. Add the ground meat and break it apart with a wooden spoon.
-
Cook, stirring and breaking it up, until it begins to brown. Stir in the cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chipotle chili powder, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until just browned, then remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
-
Warm the refried beans in a saucepan until smooth and creamy. Spread them evenly on a large platter or in an 8×8 baking dish.
-
In a bowl, combine the sour cream and salsa verde. Spread this mixture over the beans, leaving a small border of beans visible along the edge if you like.
-
Scatter the cooked, seasoned beef over the sour cream layer and sprinkle with the grated cheddar.
-
Top with chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, green onions, and cilantro. Finish with pickled onions and serve immediately with tortilla chips.
-
You can assemble most of this in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Add the tomatoes, lettuce, green onions, and pickled onions just before serving so they remain bright and fresh.
-
Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to follow @howsweeteats on Instagram and tag #howsweeteats. You can also post a photo of your recipe to the Facebook page.
I appreciate you so much!
This is my perfect snack.