Quick Vegetarian 7-Layer Dip for a Party (With Variations)

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
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Updated on 12/22/21
Quick Vegetarian 7-Layer Dip for a Party (With Variations)

The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings

A classic 7-layer dip is a quick and easy vegetarian appetizer, inspired by the flavors of Mexico. It's perfect for any party, including the Super Bowl, and is sure to disappear shortly after you set it on the table.

This particular 7-layer dip recipe comes from Bush's Beans. It's a little more interesting than most because it combines the refried beans and salsa into a single layer. It also spices up the sour cream with taco seasoning.

This really is the perfect "semi-homemade" vegetarian bean dip, which is why it's so fast to make. Sure, you didn't make the salsa or the beans from scratch, but you will improve on the store-bought ingredients and add a few fresh ingredients, too. The most important part, however, is that everyone will love it.

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Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream

  • 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning

  • 2 (16-ounce) cans vegetarian refried beans

  • 1 (16-ounce) jar tomato salsa

  • 2 cups shredded lettuce

  • 1 large tomato, diced

  • 2 avocados

  • Juice of 1 lime

  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions

  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

  • 1 (4-ounce) can black olives, sliced

  • 1 bag tortilla chips

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Quick Vegetarian 7-Layer Dip for a Party (With Variations) ingredients

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  2. In a small bowl, mix together the sour cream and the packet of taco seasoning. Chill this mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine. 

    mix together the sour cream and the packet of taco seasoning

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  3. In a small saucepan, combine the vegetarian refried beans and salsa. Heat on medium until evenly blended, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

    combine the vegetarian refried beans and salsa in a pan

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  4. Dice the avocado, place in a medium bowl and toss with the juice of 1 lime. Set aside.

    Dice the avocado, place in a medium bowl and toss with the juice of one lime

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  5. In a 9 x 13-inch pan, spread the cooled beans and salsa in an even layer.

    spread the cooled beans and salsa in an even layer in a dish

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  6. Spread the spiced sour cream over beans.

    Spread the spiced sour cream over beans

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  7. Layer the cheese and olives.

    Layer the cheese and olives over the sour cream

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  8. Then the lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and green onions.

    add lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and green onions on top of the olives

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

  9. Serve your 7-layer dip with tortilla chips.

    Quick Vegetarian 7-Layer Dip for a Party (With Variations)

    The Spruce / Elizabeth Briskin

Tips

  • There's no real right or wrong way to make a 7-layer dip. You can add or subtract ingredients as you like, so have fun with it and add your favorite taco toppings.
  • If you do want to turn this dip into a truly homemade appetizer, it is possible. You can make the refried beans from scratch, using olive oil rather than bacon drippings. Likewise, a homemade taco seasoning is incredibly easy. It's actually a little better because you can control and fine-tune the flavor to suit your personal taste. And, of course, there are many homemade salsa recipes to choose from.

Recipe Variations

  • Need this dip to be vegan? Easy! Just use a non-dairy sour cream substitute or make your own with soy products, cornstarch, and lemon juice.
  • Also, you can either omit the cheese or use a non-dairy vegan cheese substitute. You might also want to try this vegan 7-layer dip recipe
  • Need it to be gluten free? In reality, it may be easier to make your own gluten-free taco seasoning than it is to find it in a store. That's OK, though, because that recipe will serve you well in a variety of Mexican dishes.
  • As an alternative, you can mix a gluten-free taco sauce, or even a hot sauce and some chili powder, into the sour cream. Just be sure to choose gluten-free tortilla chips as well.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
747 Calories
51g Fat
53g Carbs
26g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 747
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 51g 65%
Saturated Fat 20g 100%
Cholesterol 90mg 30%
Sodium 1661mg 72%
Total Carbohydrate 53g 19%
Dietary Fiber 13g 48%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 26g
Vitamin C 23mg 115%
Calcium 572mg 44%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 1191mg 25%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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