Cinco de Mayo – the Mexican holiday celebrated annually on May 5 (literal translation) – is just around the corner.
This crowd-friendly appetizer comes together in just 20 minutes with minimal effort. It’s creamy, bright, crunchy, and full of color.
It makes a lot and is best enjoyed fresh, so be sure and save this one for a small crowd!
A Family Favorite
I’ll admit—I don’t make this appetizer often. It yields a large batch and isn’t exactly heart-healthy (let’s be real! 😊). But it’s still a winner in my book and best enjoyed in moderation, like anything.
Growing up, this was one of my mom’s go-to appetizers whenever we had friends over, and my family would devour it so quickly. She got the recipe from my Aunt Val, who held a special place in my heart.
The day after I graduated high school, I moved from East Central Indiana to Northeast Ohio, where my mom’s family lived. I took my first job as the music leader at my uncle’s small country church and also worked a few days a week as a waitress at an Amish-style restaurant.
Aunt Val and Uncle Tom lived just a couple of miles down the road from the church, so I spent half the summer living with them and the other half with another aunt and uncle nearby (so I didn’t overstay my welcome in one place).
Both Aunt Val and Uncle Tom passed away within the past year and a half, so it feels especially meaningful to share this recipe with you today.
How to Make Festive Taco Dip
Everything you need is in this photo EXCEPT iceberg lettuce. Oops!
Gather up:
- Sour cream
- Cream cheese (room temp)
- Taco seasoning
- Iceberg lettuce
- Cheddar cheese
- Tomato
- Doritos (optional)
- Taco chips for serving
Mix the sour cream, cream cheese, and taco seasoning in a medium bowl with a hand-held mixer. Be sure the cream cheese is room temperature, or you’ll have little white lumps. (It will taste fine, but just not look as pretty.)
Spread the mixture onto a 10-12″ platter or in a 9×13 pan.
Another presentation option would be to present it in individual portion cups. Clear cups and platters highlight this dish especially well, letting the vibrant layers shine through.
Chop your lettuce and tomatoes.
I like to do them in fairly small pieces so it’s easier to dip. If you’ve washed your lettuce, make sure you get it good and dry. The same goes for the tomatoes. They release a lot of juice when you dice them, so be sure to strain them or pat them dry with a paper towel before spreading on the cream cheese mixture.
First goes on the lettuce.
Then cheese.
Then tomatoes.
And finally, Doritos (if using).
See? Easy. 🙂
I’ve seen people also add sliced black olives if that’s your jive.
Festive Taco Dip
Ingredients
Method
- In a medium bowl, blend sour cream, cream cheese, and taco seasoning with a hand mixer.
- Spread evenly in a 10-12" round platter or 9×13 dish.
- Gently pat the lettuce and tomatoes dry with a paper towel.
- Layer the toppings onto the spread in this order: lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, Doritos (if using).
- Enjoy with taco chips!
More Recipes
The Festive Taco Dip is definitely an “Americanized” appetizer. Another appetizer I love that’s also “Americanized” is this Creamy Olive & Pecan Spread.
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