Taco Dip with Avocado

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This creamy, meatless taco dip with avocado is an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s perfect for summer gatherings, game days, holidays, and anytime you need a simple make-ahead snack.

I’m excited to share this recipe with you today! This creamy, meatless, cold, taco dip is one my husband‘s family has been making ever since we first started dating back in 1997. (Dang I’m old!) We make this during the summer to snack on with tortilla chips out at the lake. We make it when we’re watching the Huskers play football games whether they win or lose. This dip is always on hand for Christmas Eve to snack on while we open gifts together.

You know how there are some recipes that are just woven into the fabric of family time memories? This is one of them. It sounds silly and the recipe is so simple, but it sure makes my family happy when they open the fridge to find some Taco Dip waiting inside.

Want to see it step by step? Check out the video below

Tips for Making the Best Creamy Taco Dip Ahead of Time

This dip is best served an hour or so after you make it. Letting it chill in the refrigerator really lets the flavors develop. If you make it a full day ahead of time, it will still be OK but the lettuce is not gonna be as crisp since the creamy base and lettuce touching tend to wilt the lettuce after 24 to 48 hours. We usually make it earlier in the day or even just before eating it and then store the leftovers in the fridge and eat those sometime the next day. It’s super simple to put together, so I promise it’s not too much work to put together the day of!

Taco Dip Yield, Prep Time, and Serving Size

This recipe yields one 9 x 13 size pan of dip (or it looks really beautiful spread out on a platter too!) Hands on time for this recipe is really only about 20 minutes or so, and you can absolutely eat this right after assembling. But if you have the time, letting this chill in the fridge for about an hour enhances the flavors – and also can be helpful if you’re prepping it ahead of time for a gathering! This recipe will easily be enough snacking for a family of 4-6 or more depending how much other food you are serving. If you make a double batch, you can put it on an industrial size cookie sheet with edges or what some people refer to as a jelly roll pan. No, not like the person, like if you made an actual loaf of bread that you rolled with filling in it lol.

What to Serve with Taco Dip for a Complete Meal

This recipe is fantastic as a snack or appetizer, but you can also serve it with hamburgers and hotdog dogs off the grill –last night we had it with barbecue pork ribs. It is a decently filling dish, so you aren’t gonna need a bunch of other sides if you have this as a main course –unless you’re having a picnic or a party and then the more sides the merrier!

Ingredient Substitutions and Variations for Taco Dip

While I’m usually all for substitutions this recipe really does not have a lot of wiggle room if you want the base layer to taste right. You can add more or less avocado, but make sure to keep the ratio of cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise the same. If you want it tangier, you can add a little more lime juice and add the garlic salt to taste. You can add a few more toppings if you’d like but make sure to keep the topping layer not too thick as it ruins the ratio of creaminess in the dip. The red onion can be substituted for a sweet onion or even chopped green onions, but if you have to use a regular yellow or white onion, they are stronger and you’ll most likely want to use a little less.  One of my favorite additional toppings is a little bit of chopped cilantro.

Kitchen Tools Needed to Make Creamy Avocado Taco Dip

✔ 9 x 13 pan or platter

✔ Bowl to make your creamy avocado base layer in

✔ Hand mixer to combine your base ingredients

✔ Cheese grater

✔ Spatula

✔ Cutting Board

✔ Knife for chopping vegetables

✔ Juicer for limes (optional but here’s the exact one I have & love!)

If you’re an Amazon shopper -here’s a Taco Dip shopping list I curated for you! ❤

Ingredients for Creamy Avocado Taco Dip

Creamy Avocado Base Layer Ingredients

• 1 or 2 Avocados
• 8oz Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 cup Sour Cream
• ½ cup Mayonnaise
• 1 Tbs Lime Juice, fresh squeezed is best (about 1-2 small limes)
• Garlic Salt, to taste (approximately 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon)

Fresh Taco Dip Topping Ingredients

• 2 cups Chopped Lettuce
• 8 oz Cheddar Cheese, freshly shredded
• 1 Fresh Tomato, diced (about ½ c. – 1 cup)
• Sliced Black Olives (1 can or 2 small pre-sliced cups)
• Half Red Onion, diced
  

How to Make Creamy Avocado Taco Dip

Prepare the Creamy Avocado Base

Layer the Taco Dip Toppings

• Next sprinkle on a thin layer of finally chopped fresh lettuce. (Make sure to wash your head of lettuce and pat dry if needed. You don’t want excess water on the lettuce when you add it to your dip.)
• Shred your 8-ounce block of cheddar cheese with your cheese grater. The thickness of your cheese doesn’t matter, so you can do it finely graded or chunky. Whatever is gonna scoop up on a chip the best😉 Sprinkle the cheese on top of the lettuce.
• Dice your fresh tomato in small bite-size chunks. Leave out the watery part of the tomato that seeps out on your cutting board, just grab the chunks, and sprinkle them on top of the cheese layer.
• Open your olives, and if they are not already sliced, go ahead and slice them and sprinkle them over the tomatoes.
• Chop off the top and bottom of your onion, peel off the outside layer and finely dice half the onion. Sprinkle the onion for the last layer on the taco dip.

How to Serve and Store Leftover Taco Dip

Now you are ready to refrigerate or serve! When you’re ready to serve, grab your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy!

Ready to Make It?

I added the full recipe card below for easy printing, saving, or pinning. The recipe card includes the measurements and step-by-step instructions. (Or grab the pretty printable recipe card here.)

These are the stainless-steel juicer lids I love! I have an electric one also, but especially on a recipe like this where you just need a small amount of juice this lid makes it simple and cleanup is SO easy too!

If you’re an Amazon shopper, here’s a super easy shopping list for this recipe.

Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just trying to get a comforting meal on the table, I hope this Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup becomes one of those go-to recipes you reach for again and again. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how you made it your own in the comments below. Here’s to simple, delicious meals and full bowls!