This cheesy, Baked Mexican Layer Dip is made with taco-seasoned ground turkey, re-fried beans, salsa, green chilies, tomatoes, cheese and avocado. It’s so good!
Mexican Layer Dip
This easy cheesy, hot Mexican dip is the perfect appetizer for parties or Cinco De Mayo theme gatherings! When I want a cold Mexican appetizer to bring to a party, we love this easy Taco Dip, or my go-to Guacamole recipe. But when I’m craving a hot dip, this is it!! Also great for parties, football games or any time you’re entertaining. It’s hot, cheesy, delicious, and loaded with flavor! Grab some chips, add some friends and dig in!
I make this hot dip all the time, it’s perfect to bring to parties and easy to prep ahead and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake and eat!
Why This Mexican Dip Works
- Delicious! It’s hot and cheesy, I always make this for parties.
- Protein and Fiber: Ground turkey and re-fried beans and protein and fiber.
- Easy To Make Ahead: Just assemble and refrigerate. Then bake when ready to serve.
- Great for many dietary restrictions: High protein, Weight Watchers friendly, and gluten-free.
- Great for parties! Super bowl, Cinco De Mayo, or any gatherings.
How To Make Mexican Layer Dip
This Mexican dip is easy to make, here’s the step-by-step photos (see full directions in recipe card below).
- This easy Mexican layer dip starts with cooked ground turkey, seasoned with spices and mixed with store bought re-fried beans as the base.
- Next layer is the jarred salsa and green chilies.
- Then it’s layered with a Mexican blend cheese that’s baked in the oven until hot and melted.
- Once that’s out, layer on the cold toppings–tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, green onions, and cotija cheese.
Variations
- Add a sour cream layer, or skip the avocado and replace with a guacamole layer.
- Add pico de gallo in place of tomatoes.
- Add sliced black olives.
How To Make Ahead
To make this Mexican layer dip ahead, cook the ground turkey meat and layer all the ingredients, finishing with the Mexican cheese blend. Then cover tight with plastic and refrigerate until ready to bake. Prep the remaining ingredients and pack them in small containers or ziplock bags. You can prep this dip 1 day in advance.
What can I make with leftover dip?
This dip is so delicious, and leftover should never be wasted. Leftovers last in the refrigerator up to 4 days in an airtight container. A few ways I like to use up my leftover layer bean dip:
- Heat the leftovers in the microwave and serve it over charred corn tortillas to make tacos.
- Use leftover dip as a filling for empanadas.
- Heat the leftovers in the microwave and top it on tostadas.
Mexican Dips and Appetizers
Cheesy Mexican Layer Dip
Equipment
- 9 x 9-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1 pound 93% ground turkey
- 2 1/4 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 15 oz can fat-free refried beans, Trader Joe’s
- 1 1/4 cups jarred medium salsa
- 4 oz can diced green chilies
- 1 1/2 cups reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese blend, Colby-Jack or cheddar cheese
toppings:
- 1 medium diced tomatoes, seeded
- 4 ounces from 1 small haas avocado, diced
- 2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced scallions
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- baked tortilla chips, to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and spray with oil.
- Add ground turkey, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili powder and salt and cook, stirring until cooked through and browned, about 7-9 minutes.
- Add the refried beans and mix well. Spread evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
- Next, pour the salsa and green chilies on top.
- Place into the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes until the edges begin to bubble. .
- Remove from oven, top with shredded cheese, place back into oven just long enough to melt the cheese, about 6 to 7 more minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with tomato, avocado, cotija, scallions and cilantro. Serve with chips
Excellent! Will make this again soon!
What would be the instructions to make this in a crockpot to keep it warm while serving?
2 hours on high or 3 to 4 on low.
We actually make this in a casserole dish and serve it as an entree – it’s delicious!
very very very good!
We made this for the Super Bowl and my family loved it! It made my teen and her friends happy. The next day, I used it as the filling for a quesadilla and it was FABULOUS! I just took a tortilla and put the filling in the middle, and grilled in a hot pan on both sides until warmed. Excellent and healthy lunch!
Loved this! My partner can’t tolerate cow’s dairy, so any layer dip with cream cheese isn’t an option for us. I used shredded manchego on top. The ground turkey makes this hearty and filling.
It was a Super Bowl hit!
Can I freeze leftovers?
Loved it! Had this as a meal.
I tried this recipe for the first time to bring to a sports game watch party, and it was a huge hit. I only had 1 cup of salsa on hand, and left out the cotija and cilantro and it still turned out phenomenal. People kept bringing it up! I brought tortilla chips that were supposed to be strong enough for dipping but the chips still broke easily under the weight of the dip — not the dip’s fault but something to keep in mind when picking out a bag of tortilla chips to pair with this dip. So easy and impressed my friends…absolutely plan to make again!
This was DELICIOUS. I added black olives and a drizzle of Crema (Mexican sour cream.) It was the perfect dip.
This recipe is absolutely amazing!! The only thing I did different was use Mexican cheese blend and squee lime juice on top. Another great way to use turkey. Thank you this recipe!!
Apologize if this has been asked before but has anyone tried assembling this in the slow cooker? I have a potluck at work and was thinking of bringing this but there is no way for me to heat it up. Was wondering if you think it would work if I assemble it in the slow cooker and keep it on the warm setting while it’s out
So good! Didn’t have the right cheese for the top but used more Mexican blend.
I used 1/2 lb turkey and 1/2 lb bison – leftover from the salisbury steak meatball recipe. I served it with chips I baked from white corn tortillas. Very good!
Absolutely delicious!!!
Has anyone used lean ground chicken to cut the points a little further down? Planning to make this and the 2 ingredient dough pigs in a blanket for the game. Thanks!
A fun and super satisfying game day must have!!! Make this every year during football season😊
Fresh and delicious and plenty left over for the next day ! Pretty easy to make too 😊
It says to put the refried beans as the base then when do I put the Turkey in?
You are adding the refried beans to the ground Turkey and mixing together then that is your base
Delicious!! Perfect gameday snack
Enjoyed the dish knowing it was not too fattening! 😊
Absolutely delicious – made it as New Years appetizer – I used regular coby jack cheese that I hand shredded and it was a huge hit!
Loved this recipe. I used fat free cheese, 99% fat free turkey, tostito cheese dip, green onions, and all the spices that you suggested. It was delicious. I will make this again. I think the points changed to 2 for Blue.
Soooo amazingly good! First time I made this was for a holiday potluck. Our family loves it so much though we’ll randomly make it just to eat for lunch or dinner. I literally just made it even though I was missing half the ingredients…no salsa, scallions, cilantro, cotija or even chips! We just use forks and it’s a family drool worthy favorite…even kids. *faint*
Lol that’s awesome!
Gina, when we have leftover nachos, I stir them into6 beaten eggs and bake it for a wonderful breakfast.
This dip was SO good! Just enough spicy heat to really make it flavorful but not so much that it was too much heat to eat. We ate it as a dip with chips for dinner one night, and then the next day put it in low-carb tortillas with some lettuce for wraps the next. Definitely a hit with adults and kids in our family.
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Are you serious for the portion….. 1/3 cup portion is supposed to be a meal????
Vicky,I totally agree. For 4sp on green that’s not at all worth it, plus you have to count the points of some of the toppings. I think it’s doable if you put it on a 1sp tortilla and be careful about counting what you put on top as a taco. But as a dip you’d probably overindulge, and really couldn’t have more than 1 portion. I guess all the guests who are not on WW would enjoy it. It really looks good!!!
Excellent! I added shredded carrots corn greenpeppers and Mexican rice.. wanted a non meat version. And put tater tots on top. Yummy.
I ate 2 portions for a meal, 8 points for green, and then added 10 La Favorita white corn chips for another 2 points. It was a very filling meal.
Want to make this for a birthday party, if I double the recipe….what size pan would you use? Looks delicious!!
Can i make this with 5% minced beef instead of turkey
Delicious! And a perfect Super Bowl party dish!
I have made this several times this football season. The leftovers are good for your Empanada recipe and nachos. My husband loves this and it is so easy to make
Absolutely fabulous! We made nachos with leftovers – twice!
Yummy, but I skipped the green chilies after my first time making it since they don’t come in BPA free cans that I could find and it was just as good!
I am going to make this for a party this weekend! Any recommendations for a substitute if I want to skip the turkey and make this vegetarian?
I used frozen riced cauliflower in place of the ground turkey to turn this into a side dish tonight and it was amazing! My family loved it!
Hi! Making this ahead… do I need to bake it for 35 minutes? Then when serving next day bake another 5-7 with the cheese? Or just mix all ingredients and bake when ready to eat with all ingredients (including cheese) about 10 minutes or so… Not sure what to do!
You probably already figured this out, sorry it’s late, lol… but you can prepare it ahead of time, stick in fridge, and then just throw it in the oven and bake for the 35 mins when you’re ready to serve it!
Perfect recipe! It was very delicious and easy to make.
Really good! It was a hit at the football party! Thanks
Made this tonight and it was delicious! We are trying to be healthier, so we skipped the chips and just ate it plain and it was fantastic all by itself! The only difference is I used refried black beans instead of your normal refried beans, still really good!
I topped it with greek yogurt, tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado. My boyfriend said it reminded him of a Mexican chili- and I agree. Definitely will be making this one again.
Huge hit in our home tonight! Thank you!!
This is crazy good and very fast and easy to make. I’ve made it two Sundays in a row for different friends and everyone raved about it. It’s great with or without chips. Lots of people were just happy spooning it onto their plate and eating without chips. People that like sour cream said it wasn’t missing it. Use leftovers with romaine and avocado to make a salad or quesadilla, burrito, anything! Will make this again and again.
Great for party! I made amazing nachos with the leftovers the next day!
Love this super flavorful recipe!! I used homemade pinto beans (like your pinto bean recipe) and smashed them up instead of a can of refried beans.
Made this for the football game on Sunday! It was a hit! Followed the recipe exactly, except I didn’t have a 9×9, so put it in my 9×13 and baked it for 25 minutes. Yum! I’m using what little leftovers there are in my lunch today wrapped in a tortilla. Thanks for the great recipe!
Sounds delish…is there anything you can substitute for cotija cheese?
Maybe feta? Or Mexican queso fresco?
This is a great recipe! I made it using ground bison and cashew fiesta dip (non dairy) — turned out yummy! Thank you 🙂
Not loving ground Turkey these days – is ground Chicken a reasonable substitute?
I add beef better than bouillon to ground turkey to get rid of gamy taste. Although in this recipe with all the spices I didn’t need it. 😊
Can this be prepared and baked at home and then warmed in a microwave at the party site?
Sure
Does the nutritional information include toppings? If so, how many tortilla chips (in weight)? Thank you!
Yes everything but the chips.
What can you use instead of refried beans?
You can use canned black beans, rinsed if you wish.
Hey Gina!! I can’t wait to make this this weekend. It looks amazing! One quick question: Add the refried beans and mix well. Spread evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
^^^^^^Does this mean to mix the refried beans with the ground turkey?
Yes, add the beans to the ground turkey. Made this tonight, my family really liked it.!
Yep!
“This easy Mexican layer dip starts with cooked ground turkey, seasoned with spices and mixed with refried beans as the base.”
Not Gina but yes.
Holy Yum! This looks amazing! Totally making this for the upcoming weekend!