Easy Cold Taco Dip Recipe
Dip recipes make the perfect appetizer option for any get-together. That’s because dip can be quick and easy to make — especially when there’s no cooking involved! This easy cold taco dip recipe is one of those delicious snacks that everyone at the party can enjoy. It’s packed with Mexican flavor and can be prepared in a matter of minutes!
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What is Taco Dip Made Of?
The base of this dip is cream cheese, giving it a smooth and creamy texture that matches well with just about anything you dip in it. And since it’s a meatless taco dip, it’s sure to appeal to just about everyone at the party.
To make this easy taco dip recipe, you’ll need:
- Cream cheese: To create a thick and creamy base for your cold taco dip, cream cheese is a must. Start with softened cream cheese so it’s easy to spread, then chill the dip to allow it to harden before serving.
- Sour cream: You can’t have tacos without sour cream, which means you cant’ make taco dip without sour cream either! Add some tanginess to your cold taco dip with the help of sour cream.
- Taco seasoning: You can use store-bought taco seasoning or make your own. If you’re making this dip gluten free, always be sure to check the ingredients of your seasoning packet to make sure it’s OK to eat.
- Salsa: I find that smooth, restaurant style salsa works best for this dip. But if you only have chunky salsa on hand, it’s fine!
- Shredded cheese: Just like a real taco, this taco dip is topped with shredded cheese. For this recipe, I used cheddar cheese, but taco blend cheese would also taste amazing!
- Green onion: Finish making your taco dip by garnishing the top of the dip with chopped green onions. You can also use chopped cilantro if you’re a fan of the herb.
How to Make Layered Taco Dip
After gathering up your ingredients, it’s time to start building your taco dip. The first step is to create the base layer of the dip. Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning in a bowl. Stir to thoroughly mix the ingredients.
After the ingredients are well combined, spread the mixture over the top of a serving plate. Once the cream cheese mixture is evenly spread, cover the plate with plastic wrap and chill the cream cheese for at least one hour. This step will make it easier to build your dip and ensure that the cream cheese has stiffened.
Making cold taco dip is slightly different than making other dip recipes. That’s because cold taco dip is typically layered rather than all mixed together. Follow these simple steps to make a quick and easy meatless taco dip for your next party.
After you have given the cream cheese time to chill, you can start to build your taco dip. I suggest waiting until you’re ready to serve the dip to put it together. That will ensure all the ingredients stay fresh and don’t get soggy. Don’t worry! You’ll only need a few minutes to finish making this dip!
Start by spreading a layer of salsa over the top of the cream cheese mixture. You want this layer to be fairly thing to keep it from dripping over the edges of your cream cheese as the dip sits.
Top the salsa layer with a layer of shredded cheese. Spread the cheese evenly over the top of the salsa until the salsa is fully covered.
After that, all you need to do is garnish your taco dip! I used chopped green onions to garnish my taco dip, but there are a variety of other great options for garnish. Consider adding one or all of these delicious toppings:
- Sliced jalapeno peppers
- Black olives that are thinly sliced
- Chopped cilantro
- Chopped tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Guacamole
- Sliced avocadoes
What Can I Serve with Taco Dip?
Now that you have your taco appetizer is ready to go, you’re probably wondering what to serve with it. These options are a great choice:
- Tortilla or corn chips
- Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese Doritos
- Crackers
- Veggies, like carrot sticks, mini bell peppers, or celery
Taco Dip Storage and Serving
How Long Can Taco Dip Sit Out? Since this dip is made with cream cheese, the longest I would recommend letting this dip sit out is two hours. After that, it’s a good idea to refrigerate the dip until you’re ready to eat it again. Before placing the dip in the refrigerator, be sure to cover it with plastic wrap to keep the cream cheese from hardening.
How Long Can I Keep Taco Dip in the Fridge? If you cover your dip and keep it refrigerated, it will stay good for up to four days. Make sure to tightly wrap the dish in plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator to keep the cream cheese from hardening.
Why Does My Taco Dip Get Watery? Since this dip is layered with salsa, you might notice excess moisture building up after you’ve added all the layers. To keep the dip from becoming watery, it’s best to use a chunkier salsa with less liquid. As you’re spreading the salsa over the top of the cream cheese layer, use a fork to scoop the salsa out of the jar. This will help the extra moisture drip off the tomatoes and other salsa ingredients, keeping your dip from getting watered down as it sits.
Cold Taco Dip Recipe
This easy cold taco dip recipe is made with just six ingredients and is naturally gluten free!
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning in a bowl. Spread the mixture over the top of a serving plate. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.
- When the cream cheese mixture has chilled, spread the salsa over the top in an even layer.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the salsa in an even layer.
- Top with chopped green onion.
- Chill until ready to serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 228Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 473mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 8g
More Easy Appetizer Recipes:
Taco Balls with Cream Cheese and Tortilla Chips
Emily is a midwestern mom of two boys. She loves all things DIY — from home renovations to kids birthday party planning. Whether she’s making a new farmhouse craft for her home or helping her kids with a cool activity, you can bet she’s in the middle of some kind of DIY project (or three) right now!
This looks like a great superbowl recipe!
I love this taco dip! I bet my family will go crazy for it too. Thanks for joining us in #OMHGWW and cheers