Classic Taco Dip is a wonderful game day snack or party appetizer that is a total crowd pleaser. Plus, no cooking required so it’s ready quickly.
As a child of the 80’s, and a pre-teen of the 80’s, I would find this taco dip at just about every family party, BBQ, and baby shower. And that is where I’d sit down and gobble this dip up!
I loved this appetizer so much then and I still do. It’s a bit retro and some might think that’s tacky, but it’s so tasty that I think the naysayers will be quiet quickly.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
Video: Easy Taco Dip
What Is Taco Dip?
This classic taco dip is a popular appetizer with great taco flavors. But there isn’t ground meat or beans in this dip like you get in my Nacho Dip recipe. Instead, it has a creamy base flavored with delicious taco seasoning and topped with your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients
The key to this dip is the sour cream AND cream cheese. Some people just use sour cream and it’s just not as good. The cream cheese makes it thicker and, well, it’s cream cheese so of course it makes it taste better. Let it soften up to room temperature before you start mixing.
You add taco seasoning to that, either a packet of store-bought or a couple tablespoons of homemade seasoning. If you don’t have the seasoning blend, you can mix up cumin and onion powder with some garlic powder and oregano with a bit of chili powder.
I find it easiest to mix those three things up a bit to break up some of the softened cream cheese, and then get out a hand mixer and mix it with that. You’re not trying to whip it to frothiness or anything, just making it a smooth, slightly orange dip mixture.
Serving Classic Taco Dip
My mom always put her taco dip in a pie plate and so I do the same. Top it with shredded cheese, sharp Cheddar cheese is my choice, but a Mexican mixture or Monterey Jack work as well. Then you go in with shredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, black olives (optional), and green onion. Maybe sprinkle on a bit more cheese on top for garnish!
You could add other favorite taco toppings like diced avocado, black beans, or jalapenos, but I made this classic taco dip recipe the way it was always made when I was a kid.
Serve with plenty of tortilla chips to scoop up this tasty dip.
More Delicious Dips
If you love this easy taco dip, you might enjoy some of these other crowd favorite dips.
- Hamburger Dip
- Easy Beer Cheese Dip
- Jalapeno Popper Dip
- Crab Cake Dip Recipe
- White Bean Dip
- 3-Ingredient Sausage Dip
Podcast Episode About Making Taco Dip
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this dip, along with some other great tips, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Classic Taco Dip Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
Classic Taco Dip is a wonderful game day snack or party appetizer that is a total crowd pleaser. Plus, no cooking required so it’s ready quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- 16 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 2 green onions, chopped
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- Measure the sour cream and cream cheese into a large bowl. With a wooden spoon, mash the cream cheese up a bit. Add the taco seasoning.
- Use an electric hand mixer to beat it all together until smooth and evenly colored.
- Spread the sour cream mixture into a 9-inch pie plate.
- Top evenly with 1 cup of the Cheddar cheese, then the lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and green onion. Sprinkled the remaining cheese over top.
- Serve with tortilla chips for dipping.
Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!
I love this dip. Can’t wait to give it a try. Looks delicious! Not
waiting for the superbowl either.
It’s delicious any day, Deborah! (And I have lots of tasty dip recipes if you need more ideas for the Superbowl.)