By Becky Hardin
Published Apr 14, 2023
Delicious layers of tangy sour cream, savory beans and cheese, chunky salsa, and more make these 7 Layer Dip Cups the perfect appetizer for any dinner party, event, or everyday snack! Try this dip with store-bought or homemade tortilla chips .
What’s in Individual 7 Layer Dip Cups
Turn a traditional 7 layer dip into individual-sized appetizers. Layers of beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and more are combined into a single dip that is just irresistible!
- Refried Beans: I used a simple can of refried beans but you can use your favorite brand or flavor, or even use homemade refried beans if you have some.
- Taco Seasoning: A store-bought packet works, but I highly recommend trying my favorite homemade taco seasoning !
- Heavy Cream: You can use half and half instead, but note that the consistency will be thinner.
- Fiesta Blend Shredded Cheese: You can use a combination of cheeses if you don’t want to get a pre-blended bag. A few cheeses that go well in this dip are cheddar, mozzarella, Colby jack, and Monterey. You can also use a pepper jack for a bit more spice.
- Guacamole: If you want an incredible homemade recipe, try my best guacamole recipe !
- Sour Cream: In a pinch, you can substitute plain Greek yogurt for the sour cream. It will taste similar but not exactly the same.
- Chunky Salsa: You can use a smooth salsa, but it may be watery. You can also use homemade salsa .
- Black Olives: I used water-packed. If you use oil-packed olives, rinse them before using.
- Cherry Tomatoes: You can substitute your favorite fresh tomatoes and chop them instead of using cherry tomatoes.
- Fresh Cilantro: While I prefer extra cilantro in my dip cups, you may not like this herb – and that’s okay! Add more or omit entirely.
- Tortilla Chips: Use your favorite chips, or make some baked tortilla chips !
Pro tip: If your salsa is runny, drain the liquid out before adding it to the cups.
Can I make 7 layer dip cups spicy?
Change up the spice level to match your preferences. If you like things hot and spicy, use a hot salsa, spicy guacamole, and add a bit more chili powder to your beans.
If you like a nice dip without heat, use mild ingredients and omit the taco seasoning from the beans. Or play around with something in the middle until you get just the right heat level for you and your guests.
Start with less and add more. You don’t want to run out of any ingredients before all the cups have some so don’t assemble one cup at a time. Do each layer in each cup and add slightly less than you think you need. You can always come back and add more afterwards if you have extra. It is easy to overload the first few cups and then not have enough for the last ones or even to overfill the first few cups and not have enough room for the last layers!
Absolutely! You can spread out the dip layers in an 8×8 or 9×9-inch casserole dish instead for a larger, shareable dip.
Be sure to use wide-mouth cups when assembling these dip cups. Tall, skinny cups will be difficult to assemble and difficult to eat from! I like to use clear disposable plastic cups so you can see the layers and for easy cleanup. You can also use ramekins or small bowls.
How to Store Individual Dip Cups
Store 7 layer dip cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy cold, at room temperature, or gently microwaved until warmed through. I don’t recommend freezing these.
What to Serve with 7 Layer Bean Dip
These cups are ready to go all on their own! Serve them with tortilla chips or any other dippers of your choice to get the party started. It’s a great appetizer to serve on taco night , with California-style burritos , or at Cinco de Mayo parties . And of course they taste even better when served with margaritas !
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 16 oz. refried beans (1 can)
- ▢ 1 oz. taco seasoning (1 packet)
- ▢ 2-4 tbsp heavy cream
- ▢ 8 oz. Fiesta blend shredded cheese divided (1 bag)
- ▢ 16 oz. guacamole (1 container)
- ▢ 16 oz. sour cream (1 large tub), or plain Greek yogurt
- ▢ 1 cup chunky salsa
- ▢ 2.25 oz. sliced black olives (1 small can), if you use oil-packed olives, rinse them
- ▢ ½ cup cherry tomatoes quartered, any tomato works, just chop them
- ▢ 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or use parsley
- ▢ tortilla chips for serving
Video
Instructions
- Set out eight 9-ounce clear, disposable cups.
- Place the refried beans in a large microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through. 16 oz. refried beans
- Mix in the taco seasoning packet, 2 tbsp of heavy cream, and ¼ cup of the cheese mix until melted and combined. 1 oz. taco seasoning, 2-4 tbsp heavy cream, 8 oz. Fiesta blend shredded cheese
- Stir several times until the beans have cooled enough to touch. You want a thick but easily spreadable consistency. If necessary, stir in more heavy cream, 1 tbsp at a time.
- Place ¼ cup of the prepared refried beans in each cup.
- Scoop all of the guacamole into a piping bag or sealable plastic baggie and cut off the corner with scissors. 16 oz. guacamole
- Pipe a circle of guacamole on top of the beans, against the edge of the cup in each cup and then fill the centers evenly with the remaining guacamole.
- Use a spoon to even out the guacamole into an even layer in each cup.
- Repeat the process with the sour cream in a new bag until each cup has an even layer of sour cream. 16 oz. sour cream
- Pour ¼ cup of salsa on each sour cream layer and gently even out with a spoon. 1 cup chunky salsa
- Sprinkle ¼ cup shredded cheese on the top of each cup, on top of the salsa.
- Top each cup with 1 tbsp sliced olives, 1 tbsp cherry tomatoes, and 1 tsp of cilantro. 2.25 oz. sliced black olives, ½ cup cherry tomatoes, 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- Garnish with a tortilla chip (optional) and serve with more tortilla chips. tortilla chips
Equipment
- Piping Tip Set (optional)
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
MoreMexican-Inspired Appetizer Recipes to Try:
- Fritos Mexican Layered Dip
- Avocado Corn Salsa
- Enchilada Cups
- Loaded Mexican Tater Tots
- Layered Bean Dip
- Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
- Instant Pot Queso Blanco
- Poblano Queso
- Mexican Street Corn Dip
- Rotel Dip
7 Layer Dip Cups Recipe
Equipment
- Piping Tip Set (optional)
Ingredients
- 16 oz. refried beans (1 can)
- 1 oz. taco seasoning (1 packet)
- 2-4 tbsp heavy cream
- 8 oz. Fiesta blend shredded cheese divided (1 bag)
- 16 oz. guacamole (1 container)
- 16 oz. sour cream (1 large tub), or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup chunky salsa
- 2.25 oz. sliced black olives (1 small can), if you use oil-packed olives, rinse them
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes quartered, any tomato works, just chop them
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or use parsley
- tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Set out eight 9-ounce clear, disposable cups.
- Place the refried beans in a large microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through. 16 oz. refried beans
- Mix in the taco seasoning packet, 2 tbsp of heavy cream, and ¼ cup of the cheese mix until melted and combined. 1 oz. taco seasoning, 2-4 tbsp heavy cream, 8 oz. Fiesta blend shredded cheese
- Stir several times until the beans have cooled enough to touch. You want a thick but easily spreadable consistency. If necessary, stir in more heavy cream, 1 tbsp at a time.
- Place ¼ cup of the prepared refried beans in each cup.
- Scoop all of the guacamole into a piping bag or sealable plastic baggie and cut off the corner with scissors. 16 oz. guacamole
- Pipe a circle of guacamole on top of the beans, against the edge of the cup in each cup and then fill the centers evenly with the remaining guacamole.
- Use a spoon to even out the guacamole into an even layer in each cup.
- Repeat the process with the sour cream in a new bag until each cup has an even layer of sour cream. 16 oz. sour cream
- Pour ¼ cup of salsa on each sour cream layer and gently even out with a spoon. 1 cup chunky salsa
- Sprinkle ¼ cup shredded cheese on the top of each cup, on top of the salsa.
- Top each cup with 1 tbsp sliced olives, 1 tbsp cherry tomatoes, and 1 tsp of cilantro. 2.25 oz. sliced black olives, ½ cup cherry tomatoes, 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- Garnish with a tortilla chip (optional) and serve with more tortilla chips. tortilla chips
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
