We love to include dips in our Mexican spreads and at our fiestas like Cinco de Mayo (and any party, if we’re being real). This specific bean dip recipe is our ALL-TIME favorite not only because it’s easy, but because it’s delicious and always gets 5-star reviews.
It’s similar to a loved dip from a local AZ restaurant (but even better) and can be made at home ALL of the time! Plus, it’s filled with cream cheese, sour cream AND cheese!
This classic dip has to be our #1 choice when it comes to bean dips, but we also love our Black Bean Dip and 7 layer Bean Dip.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Ready in minutes. The simple ingredients whip this up in under 30 minutes!
- Party favorite. This bean dip is sure to be a hit at any gathering, making it a go-to Mexican Appetizer for social events.
- Slow cooker option. The recipe provides an alternative cooking method, allowing for a delicious, hands-off approach to making the dip.
Bean Dip Recipe Ingredients
- Refried beans (16-ounce can)- The beans provide the hearty base, thick and scoopable, with savory bean flavor that carries the seasonings. Use a store-bought can or make homemade Canned Refried Beans
- Sour cream (1 cup)- the sour cream adds tang and silkiness, loosens the beans a bit, and keeps the dip creamy. You can also use plain Greek yogurt.
- Cream cheese, softened (4 ounces)- The cream cheese melts into the mixture for a luscious, ultra creamy texture.
- Taco seasoning (1-ounce package)- The seasoning brings a balanced blend of chili, cumin, garlic, and onion for classic Tex Mex flavor in every bite. You can also use 3 tablespoons of our Taco Seasoning Recipe (a mix of chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper).
- Salsa, store-bought or Homemade Salsa (¼ cup)- Salsa adds gentle acidity and moisture so the dip bakes bubbly instead of dry.
- Shredded Mexican cheese (1 cup)- The cheese melts on top into a gooey, golden blanket and adds salty, cheesy goodness. A Mexican cheese blend uses cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, asadero cheese, and queso quesadilla cheese.
- optional mix-ins – Stir in precooked ground beef or sausage.
- optional garnish – Top with jalapenos, green chiles, sliced black olives, chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, green onions, or shredded lettuce.
- serve with – Tortilla Chips, corn chips, Fritos, or Doritos, Quesadillas, vegetables like carrots or celery
How to Make Bean Dip
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
COMBINE. In a medium bowl, mix refried beans, sour cream, and cream cheese until well combined. Add taco seasoning and salsa and stir to combine.
BAKE + ENJOY! Spread the bean mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish and top with 1 cup shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Want it spicier? Stir in chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
- Crock pot. Layer the bean mixture and cheese into the pot. Cook on low for 2–3 hours, or until the dip is heated through and the cheese is melted.
- Top with jalapenos, green chiles, sliced black olives, chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, green onions, or shredded lettuce.
- Serve with Tortilla Chips, corn chips, Fritos, or Doritos, Quesadillas, and vegetables like carrots or celery.
Slow Cooker Directions
- ASSEMBLE. Mix all ingredients minus the shredded cheese. Put half of the bean dip in the crock pot and cover it with half of the cheese. Add the rest of the bean dip and top with the remaining cheese.
- HEAT. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until the dip is heated through and the cheese is melted. It can stay on the “warm” setting for up to 4 hours.
See also our Crock Pot Bean Dip.
Bean Dip Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) can refried beans
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning
- ¼ cup salsa, store-bought or homemade
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, mix beans, sour cream, and cream cheese until well combined. Add taco seasoning and salsa and stir to combine.
- Pour into an 8×8-inch baking dish and top with shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Serve hot with tortilla chips.
Notes
- Want it spicier? Stir in chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
- Top with jalapenos, green chiles, sliced black olives, chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, green onions, or shredded lettuce.
- Serve with Tortilla Chips, corn chips, Fritos, or Doritos, Quesadillas, and vegetables like carrots or celery.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Mix the dip 1-2 days before and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to top with cheese, heat, and serve.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge, and reheat slowly. If needed, add a bit of milk to smooth into a creamy texture.
More Like This
Bean Dips
Mexican Dips
Collections
This recipe was first published July, 2014.
One of my absolute favorite things to take to a potluck/party or just make for myself. Super easy, always have the ingredients on hand, gives me a great way to use up those taco seasoning packets that always seem to accumulate in my pantry, and, most importantly, it tastes phenomenal. Quite frankly, this bean dip is lit.
(I would rate this 5 stars, but the website won’t let me select it :/ )
Thank you so much!!! We love it too!!! Thank you for telling me 🙂
I make something similar but increase the salsa and add canned chili! I cube 2 packages of cream cheese and lay on the bottom of a (9×9?) casserole dish. Spoon over a small jar of salsa of choice, then two jars of chili with beans. Sprinkle with cheddar and bake at 350 until cheese is melted and it’s heated through! It’s always a hit!
Sounds amazing!! I’ll have to give that a try 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
looks yum – serve this in a taco instead of plain boring beans
Great idea!! Thanks for stopping by!!
Why did you say, “Combine beans, sour cream, and cream cheese in a bowl until well combined”, even though the sour cream is missing on your ingredient list?
Oh, I forgot… the sour cream is at the top of the ingredient list. My bad.
Ha, no worries!! I hope you tried and liked the recipe!
Yes, I did, just now. And it was pretty good. A bit spicy, but good. Thanks.
The Cream Cheese Bean Dip sounds Amazing. I am going to try this, this weekend.
It is amazing!! Did you try it? I hope you liked it!!
This is a bland version from what I use. Replace the taco packet with enchilada packet and the refried beans with the beans with green chillies. It’s not to hot but lots more flavor.
It’s literally called bean dip
Just stumbled across this recipe and made it for lunch because I had the ingredients on hand. I used spicy Black refried beans and spicy blend taco cheese. I had forgotten to soften the cream cheese so it wouldn’t stir in. So pulled out my hand mixer and whipped it so the cream cheese would break down. It came out super fluffy and creamy. Great Recipe Thanks for posting!
I bet this dip would be the first to go!
Holy cheese seduction ! I’m all about this insanity !
I love all the cheesy goodness in this dip! I could make it and enjoy it all to myself! Yum!