This American Flag Layered Taco Dip is the perfect appetizer for any patriotic celebration, like the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day! It’s a fun and festive twist on classic layered taco dip, with a creamy base of refried beans and taco seasoning, followed by layers of guacamole, sour cream, and a beautiful American flag design made with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and black olives. I love how this dip is both easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Get ready to impress your guests with this delicious and patriotic appetizer!
Why You’ll Love This American Flag Taco Dip
- Festive and Fun: The American flag design makes this dip perfect for patriotic holidays.
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
- Delicious Flavor Combination: The combination of refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and tomatoes is a classic.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Taco dip is always a popular appetizer.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: You can assemble this dip ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator.
Ingredients for American Flag Layered Taco Dip
Here’s what you’ll need to make this festive dip. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Refried beans (Beans)
- Taco seasoning (Spice Blend)
- Guacamole (Dip)
- Sour cream (Dairy)
- Mozzarella cheese, shredded (Dairy)
- Tomatoes, diced (Vegetable)
- Black olives, sliced (Olives)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love this American Flag Layered Taco Dip as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Different Beans: Use black beans or pinto beans instead of refried beans.
- Add Meat: Include a layer of cooked and seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken.
- Make it Spicy: Add a layer of diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the bean mixture.
- Different Cheese: Use cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or a blend of Mexican cheeses instead of mozzarella.
- Add More Toppings: Top with chopped onions, cilantro, or lettuce.
How to Make American Flag Layered Taco Dip
Let me show you how easy it is to make this American Flag Layered Taco Dip:
Prepare Bean Layer
- In a bowl, I combine the refried beans and taco seasoning. I stir until smooth.
- I spread the refried beans in the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
Add Guacamole and Sour Cream Layers
- I top with a layer of guacamole, spreading it evenly over the beans.
- I spread a layer of sour cream over the guacamole.
Create the Flag Design
- Using the diced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and black olives, I create a flag pattern as shown in the photo and blog post. This is where you can get creative!
Chill
- I cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Taco Dip
Here are my secrets for making this dip truly exceptional:
- Use a Clear Baking Dish: Using a clear baking dish allows you to see the beautiful layers of the dip.
- Spread Layers Evenly: Make sure to spread each layer evenly for a consistent flavor and presentation.
- Chill Before Serving: Chilling the dip for at least an hour allows the flavors to meld together and the layers to set.
- Get Creative with the Flag Design: Have fun with the flag design! You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you like.
How to Serve
This American Flag Layered Taco Dip is perfect for:
- 4th of July: A festive and delicious appetizer for Independence Day.
- Memorial Day: A great dip for Memorial Day gatherings.
- Labor Day: Perfect for celebrating Labor Day.
- Any Patriotic Occasion: A fun and flavorful dip for any patriotic celebration.
- Parties: A crowd-pleasing appetizer for any gathering.
Serve it with:
- Tortilla chips
- Vegetable sticks
- Crackers
Make Ahead and Storage
You can assemble this dip ahead of time and store it, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
FAQs about American Flag Layered Taco Dip
- Can I use a different type of bean dip?
- Yes, you can use black bean dip or any other type of bean dip you like.
- Can I make this without the sour cream?
- Yes, you can omit the sour cream or substitute it with Greek yogurt.
- Can I add meat to this dip?
- Yes, you can
Enjoy this fun, festive, and delicious American Flag Layered Taco Dip! It’s a perfect appetizer for any patriotic occasion.
Print
American Flag Layered Taco Dip
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 1x
- Category: Appetizer, Dip
- Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Description
This American Flag Layered Taco Dip is a festive and flavorful appetizer, perfect for patriotic holidays like the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or Labor Day. It features layers of seasoned refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, and a flag design made with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and black olives.
Ingredients
- 32 ounces (two 16-ounce cans) refried beans
- 1 (1.5-ounce) packet taco seasoning mix
- 2 cups prepared guacamole (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 cups diced tomatoes (about 2–3 large tomatoes, seeded and diced)
- 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
Instructions
- Prepare Bean Layer: In a medium bowl, combine the refried beans and taco seasoning mix. Stir well until the seasoning is evenly distributed.
- Spread Bean Layer: Spread the seasoned refried beans evenly in the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking dish, creating the base layer.
- Add Guacamole Layer: Spread the prepared guacamole in an even layer over the refried beans.
- Add Sour Cream Layer: Spread the sour cream in an even layer over the guacamole.
- Create Flag Design:
- “Stars”: Use the shredded mozzarella cheese to create the “stars” section of the flag in the upper left corner of the dish.
- “Stripes”: Use alternating rows of diced tomatoes and shredded mozzarella cheese to create the red and white stripes of the flag, covering the remaining surface of the sour cream layer.
- “Blue Field”: Use the drained, sliced black olives to create a border around the “stars” section, simulating the blue field of the flag. You can also scatter a few olives amongst the “stars.” Refer to the blog post photo for guidance.
- Chill: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the dip to chill thoroughly.
- Serve: with chips
Notes
- Refried Beans: You can use canned or homemade refried beans.
- Guacamole: You can use store-bought or homemade guacamole.
- Sour Cream: Full-fat sour cream is recommended for the best flavor and texture.
- Cheese: Mozzarella cheese is used for the white stripes and stars, but you can substitute another white cheese, such as Monterey Jack.
- Tomatoes: Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes. Roma tomatoes or vine-ripened tomatoes work well.
- Black Olives: Sliced black olives are used for the blue field, but you can substitute other ingredients, such as blueberries (for a sweeter option) or blue corn tortilla chips (crumbled).
- Make-Ahead: You can assemble the dip (without the flag design) ahead of time and store it, covered, in the refrigerator. Add the cheese, tomatoes, and olives just before serving.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve this dip with tortilla chips, vegetable sticks, or crackers.
- Storage: leftovers.