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Dirt Seven-Layer Dip – Easy Spooky Halloween Appetizer

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This spooky dirt seven-layer dip is a festive, crowd-pleasing Halloween appetizer featuring classic Tex-Mex flavors and playful edible decorations like olive spiders and tortilla gravestones. Quick to assemble, make-ahead friendly, and guaranteed to get your guests talking!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (15 oz) can black bean refried beans
  • 1 cup guacamole (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • 1 cup salsa (medium or mild, chunky or smooth)
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes (Roma or cherry)
  • 1/3 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 cup crushed blue corn tortilla chips or black bean tortilla chips
  • Sliced black olives (for olive spiders)
  • Flour or corn tortillas, cut into shapes (for gravestones/bats)
  • Optional: Candy eyeballs
  • 1–2 tablespoons lime juice (for guacamole and salsa)
  • 1 teaspoon taco seasoning (mix into sour cream)
  • Chopped jalapeños or hot sauce (optional, for spice)

Instructions

  1. If making guacamole from scratch, mash 2 ripe avocados with 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of garlic powder. For tortilla decorations, cut shapes from tortillas using cookie cutters, bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until crisp, then cool.
  2. In an 8×8-inch glass baking dish, evenly spread the black bean refried beans as the base. Microwave beans for 20 seconds if stiff.
  3. Gently spread guacamole over the beans, dolloping and smoothing to keep layers distinct.
  4. Mix taco seasoning into sour cream if desired, then spread evenly over the guacamole.
  5. Drain excess liquid from salsa, then gently spoon and spread salsa over the sour cream.
  6. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the salsa layer and press down gently.
  7. Scatter chopped tomatoes, green onions, and sliced black olives over the cheese. Reserve some olives for spider decorations.
  8. Crush blue corn or black bean tortilla chips in a zip-top bag until coarse, then sprinkle over the top as ‘dirt.’
  9. Arrange olive ‘spiders’ (half an olive for the body, thin slivers for legs) and tortilla ‘tombstones’ or bats on top. Add candy eyeballs if using.
  10. Cover and chill for 30 minutes for best flavor and clean layers, or serve immediately if short on time.

Notes

For crisp layers, use cold ingredients and chill before assembly. Drain salsa well to avoid sogginess. Add chip ‘dirt’ and decorations just before serving for maximum crunch. Easily adapt for vegan or gluten-free diets by swapping cheese, sour cream, and tortillas. Get creative with spooky decorations—olive spiders, cheese webs, and candy eyeballs add fun Halloween flair.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween, seven-layer dip, dirt dip, spooky appetizer, party dip, Tex-Mex, vegetarian, gluten-free option, make-ahead, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/dirt-seven-layer-dip-recipe-easy-spooky-halloween-appetizer-idea/