Here’s a last minute dish you can serve at your New Year’s Eve party. This Taco Dip which can be made hot and spicy or mild and cheesy, is easy to decorate, and everyone loves it.
I’d have to say that this layered taco dip is the most universally well liked appetizer recipe that I make. When I bring it to parties, it’s one of the first dishes to be wiped clean.
My friend who was going to host the New Year’s Eve party this year had a change of plans and at the last minute invited us to gather together on Sunday evening. So I quickly pulled together this taco dip, then packed up my Parmesan Artichoke Cheesecake Countdown Clock, the Time’s Square Cheese Balls, and my Ball Drop Pinata Cookies and headed over to her house for a game night and party.
Although there was a lot of food served, this taco dip was, as I suspected, the most popular dish at the party.
Making it is quick and easy and I’ve often decorated it for holidays. The first time I made this dip was while I was writing my cookbook, Hungry Halloween. I used it to make a Wickedly Spicy Witch Dip which was decorated with Guacamole and Black Bean Dip Witch. Then when I began blogging I made a Frankenstein’s Monster Taco Dip complete with a Guacamole monster on top and last year for the Super Bowl I put the dip in a Football Shaped Serving Bowl.
To dress this dip up for New Year’s Eve, even though it really wasn’t New Year’s Eve, I just wrote out “2015” in black olive slices. It wasn’t fancy, nor is this dip, but everyone seemed to think it added a festive touch to this simple appetizer.
We’ve been invited to another party on New Year’s Eve, but I already feel like I’ve celebrated and I’m really tired after a crazy holidays season, so I’ll be ringing in the new year in my pajamas, snuggled up in bed with my hubby and dog. I’m actually looking forward to a night to just chill out and relax.
I hope that whatever you do this New Year’s Eve, that you are happy and safe. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup water
- 16 ounce can refried beans
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup black olive slices
- 1/2 cup diced jalapenos
- 2 cups 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- decoration: 30-40 black olive slices
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Add ground beef and cook until browned; drain.
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Add taco seasoning and water and bring to a boil.
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Lower heat and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated.
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Spread refried beans into bottom of a round or rectangle baking dish.
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Sprinkle taco seasoned beef over beans (not pictured).
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Sprinkle on diced tomatoes, chopped olives, and diced jalapenos.
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Top with shredded cheeses.
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Arrange black olive slices in "2015" over top of the cheese.
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Bake for 25 minutes or until heated through.
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Serve hot.
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned; drain. Add taco seasoning and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Spread refried beans into bottom of a round or rectangle baking dish. Sprinkle taco seasoned beef over beans (not picture.) Sprinkle on diced tomatoes, chopped olives, and diced jalapenos. Top with shredded cheeses. Arrange black olive slices in “2015” over top of the cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes or until heated through. Serve hot.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
For more fun New Year’s Eve Appetizer and Dessert Recipes, check these out…
I didn't realize how deep this dip was – and it looks delicious. For some reason taco dip sounds really really good after all the turkey and ham!!
Yes, you can make this dip in a 9×13 dish or a round dish. It's deeper in the round dish. It makes it harder to just dip chips, but everyone just spooned the dip onto their plate then scooped it up with the corn chips. It was a nice change of pace for this time of year.
There you go with your "presentation" again. Beans have never touched my lips, but I'm going to save this recipe and will make it some time for those who do. If you say it's a crowd please I can be SURE it is. You made it so attractive with the olives spelling out 2015.
Did you bake it in a 9X13 and then transfer it to the clear pyrex plate? If so – was there any left over?
Glad you decided to stay home tonight as I can tell you're the guest who never comes empty handed to a party and you've already done enough! Besides, the roads will be congested and the 3 of you can have a wonderful time just by yourselves.
Happy New Year and thank you SO much for all your wonderful ideas this year. You're just limitless with your creativity. Thanks to you I now had to go buy an egg shaped candy mold. You keep coming up with more and more ideas that are just to cute to not do.
We've "dipped down" into the 70's tonight and it's been raining all day so hope it lets up so people can enjoy the fireworks.
Tavette (S. Fla.)
Oops, I'm glad you asked about the 9×13 pan. I just copied and pasted the instructions I had used for the Frankenstein Taco Dip. I just fixed it. I did layer it the round baking dish, not a 9×13 pan. I didn't like beans much as a kid, but I do like them a lot now. The dip is definitely a favorite, so I highly recommend making it for a party.
We curled up to watch movies at 5:30 and fell asleep before midnight. Somehow I woke up just as the ball was dropping in Time's Square. I heard fireworks go off a minute later, then I was fast asleep again. It was the best way to ring in the New Year!
My husband and I spent the night before in Cincinnati. We saw the lights at the zoo, had a free hotel night's stay, then played games at Dave and Busters on New Year's Eve afternoon. That was our celebration. I was happy to not be on the roads with the drunk people on New Year's Eve.
It is freezing here. We had a low in the teens yesterday, but still no snow. Today it's sunny and cold. I'd always rather have sunny and cold than rain or grey skies. I function so much better in the sun! I'm back in the kitchen today making some Super Bowl stuff.
Have a Happy New Year,
Beth
Do you it covered, or not??
I have made this dip both ways, covered and uncovered. It really doesn't matter. The cheese around the edges will brown a little bit if it's not covered, but I kind of like the crispy bits.