Description
A flavorful hot taco dip featuring seasoned ground beef, creamy layers of cream cheese and refried beans, topped with salsa and melted Monterey Jack cheese. Perfectly baked and served warm with crispy tortilla chips, this crowd-pleasing appetizer is ideal for parties and casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ounce taco seasoning (1 envelope)
Bean Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature (1 brick)
- 15 ounces canned refried beans (1 can)
- 2 ounces chopped green chiles (½ small can)
Toppings
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Chopped fresh cilantro, optional for garnish
For Serving
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the dip.
- Cook Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking the beef apart with a spoon, until the beef is cooked through and the onion becomes translucent, about 7 minutes.
- Add Garlic and Taco Seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and taco seasoning and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix Cream Cheese and Beans: While the beef mixture cooks, combine the cream cheese, refried beans, and chopped green chiles in a medium bowl until well blended.
- Layer Bean Mixture: Spread the cream cheese and bean mixture evenly on the bottom of an 8×8 or 7×11-inch baking dish.
- Add Beef and Salsa: Top the bean layer with the cooked ground beef mixture, then spread salsa evenly over the beef.
- Sprinkle Cheese: Generously sprinkle freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese on top of the salsa layer.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the dip is heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired, and serve warm with tortilla chips.
Notes
- For a spicier dip, add jalapeños or extra taco seasoning.
- Use low-fat cream cheese and lean ground beef to reduce calories.
- This dip can be made ahead up to the baking step, then refrigerated and baked just before serving.
- Substitute Monterey Jack cheese with a Mexican blend cheese if preferred.
- For a vegetarian version, replace beef with a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: taco dip, hot dip, party appetizer, ground beef dip, cream cheese dip, Mexican appetizer, baked dip
