Recipe: Best-Ever 7-Layer Dip

As far as classic game-day dips go, seven-layer dip ranks among the very best. Carefully composed and colorfully striped, it’s no wonder this dip is a key player on the tailgate snack table. It is everything you love about a taco, from the beans and guac to sour cream and pico de gallo, served dip-style — meaning it’s hearty enough for dinner, but just as appropriate to eat as a snack with friends.

The key to the best-ever seven-layer dip is knowing which layers to focus on and which to shortcut. Here’s my advice.

1. Beans: Choose the best-tasting can of refried beans at the grocery store and spread it in the bottom of the dish. Since they’re about to be covered in guacamole, don’t overthink this layer. My top choice is the Rosarita brand of refried beans. They don’t get as much real estate on the grocer’s taco aisle as the big brands; look for them on the bottom shelf.

2. Guacamole: This guacamole comes straight from our Cooking Lesson. The key is making a garlic paste, which gives the guac a gentler garlic flavor and incorporates more seamlessly than minced garlic. Mash the guac to a smoother consistency than you would if serving it straight up, making it easier to scoop.

3. Taco-seasoned sour cream: Mix half a block of very soft cream cheese (you may need to microwave the unwrapped block for a few seconds) with sour cream and a package of reduced-sodium taco seasoning. The cream cheese adds richness and body to the sour cream. Be sure to cover the guacamole completely to seal it in, ensuring it doesn’t dull or brown. When prepping for a party, I make the dip up to this point and refrigerate until serving time.

4. Salsa: Spread your favorite salsa over the sour cream. Choose any variety you like: chunky or restaurant-style, mild or hot, salsa verde or fire roasted.

5. Cheese: Use a blend of shredded Mexican cheeses. A thicker, off-the-block-style looks and tastes more like you grated it yourself.

6. Pico de gallo: Technically, this layer doesn’t contain any chile peppers or lime juice like a classic pico does, but this version is easier: You just need chopped tomatoes, finely diced red onion (leftover from making the guacamole), cilantro, and a pinch of salt. This layer adds freshness and texture — a welcome contrast to the creamy and rich layers below. If you’d like, substitute a store-bought pico de gallo here.

Learn more: What’s the Difference Between Salsa and Pico de Gallo?

7. Olives: This feels like an odd choice for a final layer (is there a subculture of taco-lovers who put olives on top?), but it’s classic. Scatter one small can of drained, sliced black olives over top, and the dip is finished. If olives aren’t your thing, sliced scallions are a good substitute.

Trifle dishes and deep glass bowls are often used for this dip because they illustrate the layers, but they make it almost impossible to get all the layers with just one dip of your chip. The better choice is a clear, shallow casserole dish, so the layers are still visible but dipping is much easier.