7 Layer Bean Dip

I aggree….no one likes cold refried beans, plus it makes them hard to dip. I solved this by mixing salsa in with the beans. That way I don’t have to warm the beans and the lettuce and other toppings will not get soggy.

This is the BEST. If you are reading this and haven’t tried it, get offline and make it!

This is SO GOOD! Thank you for posting this recipe…it is my favorite 7 Layer Dip!! I heated mine up, but served it cold. I took it to a pot luck, and it was completely gone. Everyone loved it!!

Adding the cheese on top of boiling hot beans….Great Idea! I usually top the cheese later. This time I prepared the beans the night before. I added whole black beans to the recipe and 1/2 sweet onion fine chopped, spicing with chipolte pepper, chili pepper, garlic powder and cumin to taste along the way.
Using a microwave and glass bowl, cook at 30 -40% power for 5 minutes, tasting and adjusting along the way. In the meantime you can chop those Kalamata Olives, Jalapeno peppers and Grate your cheese between cycles…about three to cook down the onions and blend the spices.
Final step is to refrigerate overnight and let the spices meld.
Follow the recipe from here. add more cheese if desired when layering :) I Love Cheese!

I really liked this recipe – thanks for sharing! I’ve actually made several recipes on your site, and they are literally changing my life. Literally. I can’t cook…or, at least, I couldn’t until I tried your recipes. :)

Anyway, I really liked this dip lots. The only thing I don’t like about it was that it doesn’t really keep well. Despite my best attempts at foiling the heck out of the leftovers, I was left with a soggy mess the next day (complete with brown guacamole). For a same-day meal, though, very good!

Chunky pieces of avocado were delicious in this dip! I added cilantro when I prepared the dip. Yum, yum, yum!

Ok..I agree on the refried bean issue. HOWEVER…this is a HUGE potluck item…so….how do you keep it warm?

I work in a hospital. So burners, etc. are NOT permitted in our lounge. Also, I have to be at work at 6 AM…the potluck isn’t until 11….again, how do I keep it warm? Obviously I am making it the night before, so anyone have any suggestions?

Just a quick idea for those of us who hate cold refried beans.

We love this recipe and we snack on it almost every time we have a party to attend or football game to watch. Since we like to snack on it all day and I hate how stiff it gets when the beans start to get cold I had the idea to through it in this really great single sized crock-pot I have. (Any crockpot, fondue pot or warming plate helps) I put the tempurature on the lowest setting and it just sits there melting the cheese and keeping the beans warm. MMMM

You do have to remember to stir the bottom occasionally, so it doesn’t burn and if it’s on a really long time you have to turn the crock pot off and on. So you have to keep an eye on things, but it’s worth it. Keeps it fresh and tasty for a long time.

I made this for a party last night and I doubled the recipe. It was gone in no time! People raved about it. I added some fresh shredded lettuce with the tomatoes. I also added some green salsa into the refried beans for some tanginess and eliminated the green chilis. I will definitely make this again!

We didn’t use any bacon fat but it still turned out really good. Goes very well with enchiladas.

I like the idea of the refried beans being warmed. Makes sense. One addition that I like to add on to the top of the dip is a chopped hard boiled egg. Looks nice and adds a great flavor. Thanks for all your great receipes.

Hi, I’ve just stumbled upon your recipe on my google homepage and have made this countless times. Warm or cold, this recipe is ALWAYS a hit. I just thought I’d toss out my “extra” ingredient since I haven’t seen it mentioned.
After the bean layer I add a cooked package of Lipton’s Spanish Rice and then the cheese and so on and so forth. The rice really makes for an added flavor burst. (And it’s cheap!)

I like to make this for parties and gatherings because I’m a vegetarian and most pot lucks don’t indulge into too many dishes for vegetarians.

OMG, this recipe is the most famous thing my mom does for parties! We use fried beans, ricotta cheese, guacamole and olives. Is sooooo good! Great you’re giving this away, everyone should know this recipe :)

Oh, you’re so right on this — I made a bean dip today using whole beans (not refried) and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it would taste better warmed up.

This recipe looks awesome, and right in time for the superbowl! I’ve never heard of a hot house tomato though — what is it, exactly?

Hi Katy, hot house tomatoes are those tomatoes that are grown indoors (during the off season); they typically have a thick flesh. They don’t taste very tomato-y compared to homegrown or heirloom tomatoes. Hot house tomatoes are what you would usually find in a supermarket, bred for durability and transportability. Usually I don’t buy them, but they work great in fresh salsa or on dishes like this because the flesh holds up well. The same reason that thinly sliced iceberg lettuce works best with Mexican food. High water content, holds its shape well. ~Elise

I love the idea of warming the beans. My sister makes a version of 7-layer dip for every family party. It’s different than this though. She puts a layer of beans, layer of guacamole, and then a layer of sour cream which has been mixed with chile powder, then scattered over those three layers grated cheese, tomatoes, sliced olives, and green onions. I think I like your version better, but my sister’s dip is always a hit with everyone too.