Description
This Baked Taco Dip is a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer perfect for parties and gatherings. It features layers of seasoned ground meat, creamy cheese mixture, and shredded Mexican blend cheese, baked to bubbly perfection and topped with fresh tomatoes, olives, and green onions. Serve warm with tortilla chips for a crowd-pleasing snack everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Layer
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup water
Cream Cheese Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup salsa
Toppings
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the layers of this taco dip.
- Cook Meat: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat, then stir in the taco seasoning and water. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and salsa. Mix until smooth and well blended to form a creamy base layer.
- Assemble Dip – Base Layer: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly across the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish, creating the first layer of the dip.
- Assemble Dip – Meat Layer: Evenly layer the cooked taco meat over the cream cheese base in the baking dish.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the shredded Mexican blend cheese over the meat layer to add gooey, melty texture.
- Bake: Place the assembled dip in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
- Add Fresh Toppings: Remove the dip from the oven and scatter the chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, green onions, and the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese on top.
- Serve: Serve the baked taco dip warm alongside tortilla chips for dipping and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to drain the fat from the cooked meat to keep the dip from becoming greasy.
- Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for the creamiest texture.
- Leftover dip can be refrigerated and reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
- Customize toppings by adding jalapeños or avocado for extra flavor.
- For a lighter version, use ground turkey and reduced-fat dairy products.
