Tangy, cheesy, and packed with Tex-Mex flavor, my vintage 4-Ingredient Taco Dip is so creamy and delicious!. Perfect for game day, movie nights, and casual family gatherings, this cold, creamy dip comes together in one step.
Better yet, it's a no-bake recipe—perfect for when you only have minutes to make a mouthwatering party appetizer.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store taco dip
- Marye's Tip o' the day
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose taco dip
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- A total crowd-pleaser, this easy recipe uses four simple ingredients and takes just seconds to stir together.
- Taco dip is a quick, tasty snack for tailgating and football watch parties. It's also a perfect appetizer on taco night or Cinco de Mayo!
- Make sure to let the cream cheese come to room temperature (or warm it gently in the microwave) so that it's easy to mix up.
When it comes to flavorful dips, this vintage recipe delivers classic comfort and an ultra-creamy texture. It's easy to customize and even easier eat with your favorite crunchy chips!
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- Add a protein. Make it heartier by stirring in cooked ground beef (like leftover taco meat) or shredded chicken.
- Switch up the spice level. Use a spicy taco seasoning packet, or add some cayenne for more heat.
- Experiment with fun mix-ins. Feel free to add chopped jalapenos, drained corn, diced red onions, or even refried beans.
- Don't forget your favorite toppings. Garnish like I did with cilantro and black olives. Green onions would taste great, too.
- More cheese, please. I like to use a Mexican blend, but Pepper Jack and cheddar cheese are good options to slightly change the flavor.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Place the softened cream cheese in a
Add the taco seasoning, sour cream, and some cheese.
Stir the mixture well until the ingredients are evenly combined.
Top with cheese. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or dippers.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
After mixing, spoon the taco dip into a clean, shallow serving bowl and add your favorite taco toppings as garnish. Using a prettier bowl gives this yummy dip a Super Bowl-worthy presentation!
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
- Medium-sized
mixing bowl - Spoon or a hand-mixer
🥫 Leftover love: how to store taco dip
Since this is a colddip, you can prep it ahead of time and easily store leftovers. It'll keep in the fridge for about three days.
I recommend using an airtight container or a tight layer of plastic wrap for storage to keep the flavors fresh.
Cream cheese and sour cream don't thaw super well, so I wouldn't freeze the leftover taco dip.
Marye's Tip o' the day
Use regular, full-fat cream cheese and sour cream—the good 'ol stuff. The low-fat options don't taste as rich and are often too watery.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- I prefer shredding fresh cheese from a block. Pre-shredded, bagged cheese often has a dusty white powder (starch) that prevents sticking—it can leave a weird texture in your mouth.
- Let it rest for 15 to 30 minutes after you've stirred it up. This let's the flavors blend and mellow.
- Old El Paso taco seasoning has tons of flavor, but you can use whatever your grocery store carries or go for homemade.
- To keep taco dip chilled, place your serving bowl in a larger bowl that's filled with ice. This is helpful for end-of-summer potlucks and BBQs.
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Nope! Just mix the ingredients together and enjoy. I like a good baked dip from time to time, but every once in a while, a lovely, chilled taco dip hits the spot. Plus, it's effortless and quick!
Place the sealed brick of cream cheese in a bowl of warm water for 10-15 minutes. If you need it softened even more quickly, heat the cream cheese in a bowl in the microwave in five-second bursts until soft but not melted.
I mean, I can't stop you—but I don't love it. Greek yogurt has a tangy flavor that will taste somewhat like sour cream, but it can also be a little too strong and bitter.
We love those tangy lime tortilla chips and Fritos scoops. Any type of tortilla chip or cracker will do. You can even add some crisp veggies as dippers, like bell pepper slices and celery sticks.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Using a hand mixer will cut down prep even more. It'll only take a few seconds for the cream cheese mixture to blend evenly together.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- If you enjoy hot dips—in terms of both spice and temperature—you'll adore this easy, creamy, and quick 3-Ingredient Rotel Sausage Dip.
- Freezer-Friendly Buffalo Chicken Dip is a fan favorite and has just the right balance of creamy heartiness to keep you full well into overtime!
- Perfect with potato chips, Cream Cheese Onion Dip is packed with caramelized flavor and better-for-you ingredients than jarred chip dip.
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose taco dip
I love that this 4-ingredient taco dip is as versatile as it is delicious. Use it in plenty of easy game-day recipes...
- as one of the layers in a 7-layer dip
- stuffed inside homemade taquitos
- slathered on some grilled chicken or a biscuit
- as a creamy addition to quesadillas
- in place of the "cheese" for a Mexican-style pizza
- add to your breakfast omelet
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
Whether it's game day, poker night, or Netflix chips and dip are one of our go to snacks. This taco dip recipe just could not be easier and it's unbelievably good.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Vintage 4-Ingredient Taco Dip
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 ounce taco seasoning, like Old El Paso
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 2 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese, or grated cheddar
Instructions
- Mix taco seasoning, cream cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup of the cheese together in a bowl until well blended.
- Spread mixture into a serving dish.
- Top with remaining cheese.
- Let stand 15 -30 minutes to let the flavors develop.
- Serve with chips.
Notes
- I prefer shredding fresh cheese from a block. Pre-shredded, bagged cheese often has a dusty white powder (starch) that prevents sticking—it can leave a weird texture in your mouth.
- Let it rest for 15 to 30 minutes after you've stirred it up. This let's the flavors blend and mellow.
- Old El Paso taco seasoning has tons of flavor, but you can use whatever your grocery store carries or go for homemade.
- To keep taco dip chilled, place your serving bowl in a larger bowl that's filled with ice. This is helpful for end-of-summer potlucks and BBQs.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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