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Easy and cheesy, this creamy bean dip is lightly spiced with diced green chiles and Mexican spices. Ready in under 30 minutes! Serve warm with crispy tortilla chips for the ultimate Tex Mex party appetizer that your friends and family will love!
This slightly spicy bean dip is the ultimate Tex Mex party appetizer. Smooth and creamy refried beans are mixed with diced chiles and a lightly spiced taco seasoning, all topped with melty cheese. Load this up with your favorite toppings and serve alongside some tortilla chips or sliced veggies for a snack everyone will love! This dip is:
- Quick and easy, only 5 minutes of prep and ready in under 30 minutes.
- Can be prepped ahead of time to simply bake up in the oven when needed, or can be made in the slow cooker for easy transport!
- Easily customizable to ensure the spice level that you and your guests need.
Ingredients Needed:
Notes on Some Ingredients:
- Taco Seasoning: use store bought or make your own following my recipe for Homemade Taco Seasoning.
- Refried Beans: again you can use canned or Homemade Refried Beans, made from dried beans. Or simply heat some canned pinto beans you may have and mash them up or blend with an immersion blender to get a smooth consistency.
- Diced Green Chiles: this recipe uses canned diced green chiles which have a mild heat, if desired you could use jalapeño also. I find that pickled jalapeño or chiles work nicely in this recipe. If you are using fresh I would recommend sautéing them first to soften them up.
How To Make (step-by-step):
- Step 1: Combine softened cream cheese with sour cream.
- Step 2: Then add in the refried beans and stir to combine.
- Step 3: Add in shredded cheese.
- Step 4: Mix in the taco seasoning and diced green chiles.
- Step 5: Spread the bean mixture into a baking dish and top with additional shredded cheese.
- Step 6: Bake the dip until warmed through and cheese is all melted on top. Top the dip with any favorite toppings you may have such as sour cream, diced tomato and fresh cilantro.
Expert Tips:
- Slow Cooker: since this is a perfect potluck or tailgating snack food, you may want to make this recipe in the slow cooker to make it easy to transport or keep warm. Prep the bean dip mixture, then add to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Add the cheese, cover and let melt for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Prep Ahead: you can easily mix together the bean dip, top with cheese, cover and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 days if needed before baking and serving. If baking straight from the refrigerator, cover with foil, bake for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes. Check to ensure the dip is warmed throughout.
FAQ’s:
Serve this dip alongside some tortilla chips, sliced up bell peppers, or crackers. Serve with your favorite tacos, nachos, or burritos. Whip up a batch of guacamole or homemade queso to go alongside. Or pair with a favorite margarita!
Store leftovers in a sealed container for 3-4 days.
Pinto beans are the most common type used for making this bean dip recipe. Canned beans are great since they are nice and soft. If using dried beans I would recommend cooking until softened and then blending to get the smoothest consistency possible.
More Snack/Appetizer Recipes:
Spicy Bean Dip
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 16 ounce can refried beans
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded, divided
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded, divided
- 1 4 oz can diced green chiles
- 1 packet taco seasoning homemade taco seasoning recipe here
Optional Toppings
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes sliced
- 2 tbsp green onions sliced
- 2 tbsp cilantro chopped
- ¼ cup jalapenos pickled
- 2 tbsp sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Combine Dip Ingredients: In a large bowl add the softened cream cheese and sour cream together. Stir together until well combined, might be slightly lumpy. Add in the refried beans and stir together.
- Add in 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Stir.
- Add in the diced green chiles and taco seasoning. Stir to combine.
- Add to Baking Dish: Spread the mixture into a 2-quart baking dish. Smooth out the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese.
- Bake: 25-30 minutes until the cheese on top is fully melted.
- Toppings: Remove from oven and top with any optional toppings desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Refried Beans: this recipe can be made using canned beans or homemade refried beans.
- Chiles: diced green chiles are fairly mild. For more heat add some chopped pickled jalapeños.
- Slow Cooker Option: prep all of the ingredients minus the toppings and mix them together, then add to the slow cooker. Cover and cook for 2 hours on high. Toppings should always be added just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe first published August 1, 2018. Updated January 21, 2022 with new images and information. Recipe is unchanged.
Photography done by the talented @KJandCompany.co
This turned out very well! I used El Paso hot and spicy taco seasoning. I also used Mexican Blend cheese in a two cup pouch vs one cup cheddar and one cup of Monterrey jack.
There is an error in the recipe instructions where it says to top with remaining “two cups” of cheese. At this point there’s only one cup remaining. I used just one cup to top and it was plenty. Baked in a 2.5 quart oval dish and it was the perfect depth. Baked 30 minutes.
Excellent! My family enjoyed their dinner yesterday, which included three of your recipes: chicken enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce, tacos, and this delicious bean dip. I received many complements on the dinner. Thank you, Serene. 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful meal!!
a great reminder of how much i love all of these ingredients! And spicier the better, so thank you!
Since I’m lucky enough to live in Texas, I can pick up cooked refried beans in the refrigerated section at ny local HEB. Easier than making my own and much better than canned beans.
This is a killer dip for football game spreads. Serve it with chips, pico de gallo and a batch of taquitos.