Ground beef and cheese casserole only takes 15 minutes to prepare and is ready to serve in under an hour. It tastes best combined with a potato side, crunchy salad and Mexican condiments such as salsa or guacamole, for example. This is undoubtedly the best version of the original John Wayne casserole recipe. And it’s the perfect dish to bring some new life into Taco Tuesdays.

What is John Wayne Casserole?

This yummy casserole full of southwestern flavors got its name from the fact that in the 1970s the famous actor John Wayne contributed a version of this easy recipe to a cookbook called “Cooking with Love from Cara and her Friends”. Cara Connery created this charity cookbook for the American Cancer Society. Since then, the recipe has been adapted multiple times but still kept John Wayne’s name. This oven baked casserole is a scrumptious combination of a biscuit base, ground beef taco meat, Rotel tomatoes, bell peppers and lots of cheese.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: everything you love about Tex-Mex food in one scrumptious and easy casserole recipe that will impress the taste buds of your whole family
• Main Ingredients: Bisquick, water, ground beef, yellow onion, red bell pepper, Rotel tomatoes, taco seasoning, sour cream, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese
• Cooking Method: oven baked
• Cooking Time: 15 minutes prep time and 40 minutes bake time
• Pairs well with: potatoes, salad, pico de gallo, guacamole
• Special Equipment Needed: large skillet, kitchen spatula, 9×13-inch baking dish, large bowl, small mixing bowl

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this easy ground beef casserole recipe, try our Mexican Lasagna Recipe. You’ll love it because this taco casserole combines all your favorite Mexican flavors, such as taco meat, refried beans, salsa, melty cheese and sour cream.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook John Wayne casserole in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For detailed instructions and nutritional information see the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Prep: Firstly grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 1: Brown ground beef and chopped onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains and onions have softened. Onions will be translucent.

Step 2: Afterwards add the taco seasoning and mix well.

Step 5: Then add the cheese and form a cohesive dough. The cheese pieces will break up as you mix.

Step 6: Afterward press the biscuit layer evenly into a glass baking dish. It doesn’t need to be totally even or flat.

Step 7: Then add the ground beef mixture on top of the bisquick layer. Make sure to spread it out evenly.

Step 8: In a separate bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, and 1 cup of grated cheese. Then spread the sour cream mixture over the lean ground beef layer.

Step 9: Afterwards top the casserole with the sliced bell peppers and the remaining cheese.

Step 10: Finally bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Mexican inspired one pan meals then you’ll love our Frito Pie with Ground Beef. This yummy, quick and easy comfort food combines perfectly seasoned beef and beans with melty cheese and crispy Frito chips.

Make Ahead

John Wayne casserole tastes best fresh out of the oven, so we do not recommend making it ahead of time. However, you can prepare the ground beef layer ahead of time and then keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before assembling and baking the casserole.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Transfer to an airtight container, ziploc bag or wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then store meat and cheese casserole leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Freeze: Firstly, let leftover John Wayne casserole cool completely. Then transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

How To Reheat

You can reheat leftover casserole in the microwave.

Common Questions

Print

Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe

This amazing Tex-Mex casserole combines layers of ground beef, biscuits and cheese to a delicious family meal everyone will love. It has been around for decades because it's just that good!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword cheesy ground beef casserole, easy ground beef casserole, john wayne casserole, taco casserole recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 583kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• large skillet
• kitchen spatula
• mixing bowls
• 9x13in baking dish

Ingredients

• 2¼ cups Bisquick
• ⅔ cup water
• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ medium yellow onion diced, about 1 cup
• 1 red bell pepper sliced
• 10 oz Rotel tomatoes undrained
• ¼ cup taco seasoning or 1 package
• ½ cup sour cream plus more for serving
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2½ cups medium cheddar cheese shredded and divided

Optional Garnish:

• chopped fresh cilantro
• sour cream
• diced tomatoes
• sliced black olives

Instructions

• Firstly grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Brown ground beef and chopped onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains and onions have softened.
  
• Add the taco seasoning to the meat mixture and stir well.
  
• Then add Rotel tomatoes with all the juices and stir to combine. Set meat mixture aside.
  
• Afterward mix together biscuit mix and water in a large bowl until a shaggy dough forms.
  
• Then add the cheese and form a cohesive dough.
  
• Afterward press the biscuit layer evenly into a glass baking dish.
  
• Then add the ground beef mixture on top of the bisquick layer. Make sure to spread it out evenly.
  
• In a separate bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, and 1 cup of grated cheese.
  
• Then spread the sour cream mixture over the lean ground beef layer.
  
• Top the casserole with the sliced bell peppers and the remaining cheese.
  
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, until casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
  

Notes

• You can top each slice of John Wayne casserole with a dollop of sour cream, some diced tomatoes, black olives and chopped cilantro. 
• Salsa, pico de gallo and guacamole are also great sides with this casserole. 

Nutrition

Calories: 583kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1395mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1655IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 350mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Easy John Wayne Casserole Recipe appeared first on Family Dinners.

Hot Dip Recipes

Warm dips are very versatile and can be served as an easy appetizer at a dinner party, a snack at your next party or even as a fun lunch combined with crusty bread and a crunchy salad. Our favorite easy dip recipes only use simple ingredients, do not require fancy equipment and taste great at any special occasion. If you’re serving them at a Super Bowl party, put them in a crockpot to keep them warm.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Slow-cooker buffalo chicken dip is a scrumptious combination of juicy chicken, zingy ranch dressing, hot buffalo sauce and melty cheese. It only takes 10 minutes to prepare this hot dip, then it cooks all by itself in the crockpot. You can even make this crowd-pleasing party snack in the oven, if you prefer.

Serve this delicious dip with corn chips, crackers, veggies or toasted white bread. It will be a crowd favorite at your next super bowl party.

Get the Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

Texas Trash Dip

This flavorful dip is a perfect blend of cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning and cheese. Lots of cheese! It only takes 40 minutes to make this easy bean dip in the oven, however, you can also cook it in the slow cooker, if you prefer.

You can even assemble this perfect dip a day ahead of time. Serve Texas trash dip with your favorite tortilla chips, crackers or toasted white bread.

Get the Texas Trash Dip Recipe

Chili Cheese Dip

This crowd pleaser combines cream cheese, comforting chili and lots of gooey cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack. Chili cheese dip cooks in the oven or in a crockpot. In case you are in a time crunch, you can assemble this creamy, and cheesy dip a day ahead of time.

Chili cheese dip tastes amazing with tortilla chips, Fritos, tostadas, crackers or veggie sticks.

Crack Corn Dip

Crack corn dip is creamy, cheesy and packed with golden corn. This tasty dip is made from frozen corn, green chilies, sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese and spices. It can be oven baked or cooked in a crockpot. You can even prepare it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until ready to bake.

It tastes great with tortilla chips, tostadas, crackers or pita chips and is always a huge hit on game days, at summer cookouts or parties.

Rotel Dip with Sausage

This absolute crowd pleaser only requires 3 ingredients: Velveeta cheese, Rotel tomatoes and sausage. Rotel is a mixture of petit diced tomatoes, green and spices, almost like salsa. It cooks up on the stovetop in a record 15 minutes! However, rotel dip also cooks in a slow cooker, if you prefer.

Serve this crowd-pleaser dip with tortilla chips, pita chips, bagel chips, crackers, pretzels or fresh vegetables. This scrumptious appetizer is one of the best dip recipes ever.

Easy Hot Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe

Delicious hot pepperoni pizza dip combines mouthwatering layers of seasoned cream cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and pepperoni. You can also easily personalize this oven baked dip by adding your favorite pizza toppings such as black olives, green bell peppers or red onion, for example.

Serve this yummy party snack with crusty bread, pita chips, crackers, bagel chips, tortilla chips, garlic bread, french bread, pita bread or fresh bell peppers.

Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip

Hot spinach and artichoke dip is an oven baked classic, that can be served as a perfect appetizer or delicious party dip. It is a blend of cream cheese, butter, sour cream, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, spinach and artichoke hearts.

Serve this creamy spinach dip with toasted white bread, tortilla chips, pita chips, bagel chips, raw veggies, or crackers.

Queso Blanco

This amazing white queso is made from scratch with real cheese! We use evaporated milk and cornstarch for our silky smooth Mexican cheese sauce to avoid curdling or separation. Pour this smooth, creamy cheese sauce over nachos, tacos, baked potatoes or roasted vegetables.

Queso is a great appetizer, party or game day snack, but can also be served as part of a taco station or as a side dish for a Mexican inspired dinner.

Mississippi Sin Dip

This scrumptious football season favorite is a blend of cream cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ham, green onions and cheddar cheese. It can be baked in a bread bowl or casserole dish.

This amazing hot ham and cheese dip is one of the best recipes to use up leftover holiday ham. You can serve this cream cheese dip recipe with bread bowl pieces, any white crusty bread, potato chips, crackers or corn chips.

Cold Dip Recipes

The great thing about cold dips, they only use a few simple ingredients and are ready in just minutes. Cold dips can be prepared several hours or up to 2 days ahead of time and then refrigerated until ready to use. They therefore make party preparations easy and a lot less stressful. Additionally, cold dips make great appetizers for dinner parties or simply serve them with drinks!

The Best 7 Layer Dip

This easy appetizer is a beautiful mash-up of all your favorite Southwestern flavors including creamy refried beans and sour cream, salsa, fresh avocados, tomatoes and shredded cheese. It comes together in only 10 minutes and you can make it as spicy or mild as you like.

Serve this perfect appetizer and game day dish with sturdy tortilla chips, homemade tortilla chips, tostadas or other flavored corn chips.

Get the 7 Layer Dip Recipe

Crack Dip

Our mouthwatering crack dip combines cheddar cheese, real bacon bits, sour cream, cream cheese and ranch dip mix. This simple recipe is ready in just 5 minutes and is therefore also a great option when you need something quick for surprise guests.

Ranch crack dip tastes amazing with buttery crackers, tortilla chips, potato chips, pita chips, fresh veggies or toasted slices of French bread.

Get the Crack Dip Recipe

Million Dollar Dip

Even though you only need a bowl, a wooden spoon and 5 ingredients for this easy dip recipe, it tastes like a million bucks! Mayonnaise serves as the creamy base for this amazing dip, but can be substituted with greek yoghurt or sour cream. Its other main ingredients are cheddar cheese, green onions, almonds and bacon. 

This is one of the easiest but most flavorful party dip recipes ever. Serve million dollar dip with buttery crackers, tortilla chips, celery sticks, carrot sticks, bagel chips, pita chips, salty pretzels or any of your favorite crackers.

Sour Cream and Onion Dip

This simple French onion dip recipe only uses 2 ingredients and is ready to serve in just 5 minutes. Sometimes also referred to as “California Dip”, this flavorful dip is a simple combination of sour cream and onion soup mix. Use homemade French onion soup mix for the most delicious flavor.

Serve this easy dip recipe with plain potato chips, crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, fresh veggie sticks, or pretzels.

Ranch Dip

This easy recipe is a simple combination of sour cream, mayonnaise and ranch dressing mix. And the best part, this amazing dip is ready in only 5 minutes. You will get the best flavor using homemade ranch seasoning mix for this dip.

Serve creamy ranch dip with a bag of chips, tortilla chips, fresh veggies, such as carrots, red peppers or celery sticks, for example. Moreover, this flavorful dip also tastes amazing with fried fish, potato wedges, chicken wings or tater tots.

Dill Pickle Dip

The base for this mouthwatering dip is made by mixing up sour cream, cream cheese and ranch seasoning mix. Then simply add sliced deli ham, green onions and your favorite dill pickles and you have a crowd favorite dip that is ready in just minutes.

Enjoy this creamy and zingy dill pickle dip with Ritz crackers, Triscuits, potato chips, pretzels or with fresh veggies, such as carrots, red peppers or celery sticks, for example. Additionally, this amazing appetizer also tastes great on sandwiches.

Creamy Dill Dip

You only need a bowl and a whisk to make this easy sour cream and mayo based dip that gets its flavor from fresh dill and aromatic spices. Even though it is ready in just 10 minutes, we recommend letting it rest in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to let the flavors develop. It is the perfect dip to make ahead of time when hosting a party.

Creamy dill dip makes a great center piece on a veggie platter, as it tastes delicious with carrots, celery, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and more. In addition, you can dip buttery crackers, fresh crusty bread or potato chips into this amazing cold dip.

Sweet Dip Recipes

When you hear crowd-pleaser dips, you most likely think of savory dips. However, sweet dips are also a must have dessert at a good party. Dessert dips have a sweet creamy base and delicious add-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, or mini M&Ms, for example. They are the ultimate party food and all your guests will love them.

Cannoli Dip

This sweet and creamy dip is basically a deconstructed cannoli. It only uses 5 ingredients and is ready in just 5 minutes. It is usually made from ricotta, mascarpone, sugar, vanilla and chocolate chips.

A perfect party dessert, this great dip can be served with cannoli chips, cone pieces, waffle cookies, graham crackers or fresh fruit.

Get the Cannoli Dip Recipe

Buckeye Dip

Buckeye dip tastes just like a blend of buckeye candies and peanut butter frosting. This easy cream cheese dip combines the two classic flavors of chocolate and peanut butter. It uses only 6 simple ingredients and is ready in just 5 minutes.

Serve with chocolate graham crackers, pretzels, Nilla wafers or cookies. This amazing dip is especially popular at holiday parties, on super bowl Sunday or Valentine’s day.

Get the Buckeye Dip Recipe

Cookie Dough Dip

Cookie dough dip is generally made from cream cheese, butter, sugars, vanilla and add-ins, such as chocolate chips or toffee pieces. It does not contain any flour or raw eggs, and is therefore completely safe to eat! Ready in just 5 minutes, this is one of your absolute favorite dips.

Serve this classic dip with chocolate chip cookies, fresh fruit, honey graham crackers, animal crackers, pretzel rods, vanilla wafers or apple slices. You can even dip pretzels into this sweet treat to get an irresistible sweet and salty combo.

S’mores Skillet Cookie Dip

This scrumptious dessert dip combines a warm and gooey chocolate chip cookie base with a toasted marshmallow s’mores top. The cookie dough in this amazing dip is made from scratch and only uses simple ingredients. Best of all, this oven baked treat is ready in just 30 minutes. If you love s’mores you’ll love this s’mores skillet cookie!

Serve this fun twist on a summer time classic with graham crackers or simply spoon it out of the pan.

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Dip

Peanut butter cheesecake dip only uses 5 simple ingredients: cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, heavy cream and vanilla. Moreover, this amazing peanut butter and cream cheese fruit dip takes only about 5 minutes to make and can be served immediately! Simply combine all ingredients in a food processor and you end up with the most delicious fruit dip.

Enjoy this scrumptious party snack with fruit such as apple slices, strawberries or blueberries, for example. However, it also tastes great with crackers, cookies and even pretzels.

Booty Dip

This viral TikTok dip recipe is a heavenly combination of cream cheese, marshmallow creme, heavy whipping cream, brown sugar, vanilla and lots of mini chocolate chips. Booty dip has gotten its name from the tagline that when you eat it you can watch your booty grow. And with it being so creamy, light, delicious and simply addictive, they are not wrong!

Serve this scrumptious chocolate chip marshmallow fluff dip with graham crackers, Nilla wafers, animal crackers or just spoons. However, it also tastes great with fresh berries such as strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries, for example.

Print

22 Crowd-Pleaser Dips: The Best Party Dip Recipes

Looking for a new scrumptious dip recipe? We have got you covered! These are our all time favorite crowd pleasing party dips. No matter if you are looking for a warm, cold or sweet party snack, these easy dip recipes wont disappoint!

Course Appetizer, Dessert, side

Cuisine American, keto, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Keyword cold super bowl dip, dip recipes, hot dips, party dips, warm dips

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Author Andrea + Stef

Ingredients

Warm Dips:

• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Texas Trash Dip
• Chili Cheese Dip
• Crack Corn Dip
• Rotel Dip with Sausage
• Easy Cheesy Hot Pizza Dip
• Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip
• Queso Blanco
• Mississippi Sin Dip

Cold Dips:

• Easy 7 Layer Dip
• Crack Dip
• Million Dollar Dip
• Sour Cream and Onion Dip
• Homemade Ranch Dip
• Dill Pickle Dip
• Creamy Dill Dip

Sweet Dips:

• Cannoli Dip
• Buckeye Dip
• Cookie Dough Dip
• S'mores Skillet Cookie Dip
• Peanut Butter Cheesecake Dip
• Booty Dip (Viral TikTok Recipe)

Instructions

• Choose your favorite dip recipe.
• Gather all the ingredients.
• Prepare the dip.
• Enjoy!

Notes

Please check each recipe for detailed instructions on

• how to make the dip
• what to serve with your delicious party snack
• and how to store leftovers safely.

The post 22 Crowd-Pleaser Dips: The Best Party Dip Recipes appeared first on Family Dinners.

This easy recipe comes together almost as fast as it disappears. With a few simple fresh and canned ingredients, you’ll have a guaranteed crowd pleasing dish that’s going to be a huge hit at your next party.

WHAT IS 7 LAYER DIP?

7 layer bean dip is a classic Tex-Mex appetizer that is so universally loved it deserves its own star in the appetizer hall of fame. In this dish, fresh guacamole, salsa, refried beans, sour cream, tomatoes, shredded cheese and toppings are arranged in colorful layers. It’s simple but beautiful, and it’s so delicious that your tortilla chips will practically scream “dip me!” That’s the magic of a 7 layer dip.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: Perfect game day or potluck party dish. Easy to whip up and refrigerate for later.
• Main Ingredients: refried beans, Rotel, guacamole, sour cream, Mexican cheese blend, salsa, black olives, green onions, fresh tomatoes
• Cooking Method: no bake
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time
• Pairs well with: sturdy tortilla chips, homemade tortilla chips or other flavored corn chips, tostadas
• Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, vegetarian
• Special Equipment Needed: 9×13-inch baking dish, 8×8-inch baking dish, pie pan, cooking spoon or spatula, medium bowl

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this Mexican 7 layer dip recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and therefore not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this 7 layer dip appetizer you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

7-Layer Taco Dip Ingredients

• 16 oz can of refried beans (spicy or mild)
• 5 oz Rotel with juices (½ a 10 oz can)
• 2 cups guacamole
• 2 cups sour cream
• 4 oz grated Mexican cheese blend (about 1 cup)
• 1-2 cups salsa
• 1 can sliced black olives or green olives (½-1 cup)
• 1 bunch diced green onions
• ½ cup fresh tomatoes (diced)

Optional Garnish

Fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, a squeeze of fresh lime juice

Substitutions

Refried Beans: Use full fat refried beans, if possible. You’ll also want to add a little water to the refried black beans to thin them out a bit , as creamy refried beans are more spreadable.

Guacamole: You can use your favorite store-bought guacamole for this great dip or prepare homemade guacamole, in case you have the time.

Sour Cream: Use regular cool sour cream, try our cilantro lime sour cream or one of 3 ways to make dairy free sour cream for this easy dip.

Cheese: Grate the cheese yourself. Sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey jack and pepper jack are a great combination. Pre-grated cheese has preservatives and additives that make the cheese taste not quite as good.

Salsa: Use your favorite kind of salsa, such as chunky salsa, homemade pico de gallo, homemade salsa verde, or restaurant style salsa. You can of course also use your favorite store-bought brand of salsa or fresh pico de gallo.

Tomatoes: We prefer Roma tomatoes or plum tomatoes or other medium sized tomatoes for this 7 layer dip recipe.

Variations

TACO FLAVOR: Mix in a packet of taco seasoning with the sour cream.

LESS SPICY: Use regular refried beans, instead of spicy.

MORE SPICY: Add a can of diced green chiles or chili powder to the bean layer. Use hot salsa or mix salsa with some hot sauce.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this traditional 7-layer dip recipe, try our Buffalo Chicken Dip. You’ll love it because it’s a creamy mix of cheese, chicken and hot sauce, that makes the perfect game day party snack.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Baking Dish – An 8×8 baking dish works perfectly for this recipe. It’s just the right size and goes from fridge to table beautifully. If you want to use a 9×13-inch baking dish just double the recipe.

Instructions

This section shows how to make seven-layer dip, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For printable instructions and nutritional information see the recipe card below.

Prep: Use an 8×8 glass dish or equivalent serving dish.

Step 1: Firstly, mix spicy refried beans and Rotel to make the bean layer.

Step 2: Then spread layer of beans evenly on the bottom of your baking dish.

Step 3: Next add the guacamole layer on top of the beans and Rotel tomato layer.

Step 4: Afterwards add sour cream layer and salsa on top of the avocado layer.

Step 5: Top the layer of salsa with remaining layers of shredded cheese, olives and green onions. Tomatoes are optional.

Step 6: Afterwards, cover and refrigerate for an hour or until you are ready to serve.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Mexican layered dips then you’ll love our Chili Cheese Dip. This perfect game day snack is full of chili flavor and gooey cheese! You can make it as mild or spicy as you like!

Make Seven Layer Dip Ahead

You can refrigerate this delicious dip for up to 3-4 days, so you can absolutely make it ahead and keep it in the fridge overnight. This will also help chill your dip so it’s firm and ready to serve.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best 7 layer spicy bean dip.

• Tip: Use full fat refried beans, if possible, and thin the bean mixture with a little water and Rotel juices.
• Tip: Use fresh, ripe avocados to prepare homemade guacamole if you can and grate the cheese yourself. Pre-grated cheese has preservatives and additives that make the cheese taste not quite as good.
• Tip: Refrigerate before serving. Give your bean dip time to chill keeps it fresh and firm before serving.

Serving Suggestions

We love to eat 7 layer dip all by itself as a party snack. But sometimes you need to serve it as part of a Mexican inspired meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Appetizers: Combine this easy taco dip recipe with Loaded Beef Nachos or Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells.

Main Dishes: Pair this classic recipe for 7 layer dip recipe with crock pot chipotle chicken tacos, chipotle chicken burrito bowls, grilled chipotle chicken kabobs, Instant Pot carnitas or sheet pan chicken fajitas.

Mexican Condiments and Dips: This scrumptious layered dip also tastes great in combination with Queso Blanco, Crack Corn Dip or Chili Cheese Dip.

Sides: We love serving Mexican dishes with homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice.

• 

  Cilantro Lime Rice

• 

  Grilled Chipotle Chicken Kabobs

• 

  Instant Pot Carnitas

• 

  Mild Pico de Gallo Salsa (Chipotle Copycat Recipe)

More Delicious Dip Recipes

If you love this best 7-layer dip recipe, then you’ll enjoy these other yummy dip recipes:

• 

  Texas Trash Dip

• 

  Crack Dip

• 

  Rotel Dip with Sausage

• 

  Mississippi Sin Dip

How To Store

Refrigerate: Leftover 7 layer bean dip can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Store in an airtight container or tightly wrap with plastic wrap. However, layers will start to separate some and it may become a bit watery.

Freeze: We don’t recommend freezing this Mexican dip.

Common Questions

What’s in a 7-layer dip?

A 7 layer dip consists of fresh guacamole, salsa, refried beans, sour cream, tomatoes, shredded cheese and toppings (green onions, olives and tomatoes), all arranged in different layers.

Does guacamole turn brown in a 7-layer dip?

Similar to apples and bananas, the flesh of an avocado can turn brown when it is exposed to the air for a long period of time. An easy way to slow this oxidation process is to add some fresh squeezed lime juice to your guacamole. It also helps to reduce the amount of air your guacamole is exposed to. You can do this by putting your guacamole in between two other layers in your 7 layer bean dip.

Can 7 layer dip be frozen?

As a matter of fact, we do not recommend freezing 7 layer bean dip and this dip is so popular that you probably won’t have any left over to freeze!

Is it ok to heat 7 layer dip?

This 7 layer dip is best served cold or at room temperature because it contains sour cream and guacamole. However, in case you would like to make a warm Mexican inspired dip try our Chili Cheese Dip or Texas Trash Dip.

Can 7 layer dip be made the night before?

Yes, you can refrigerate this dish for up to 3 days, so you can absolutely make it ahead and then keep it in the fridge overnight. This will also help chill your dip so it’s firm and ready to serve.

Is it possible to serve this 7 layer bean dip recipe with taco meat?

Most definitely. In fact, combine this delicious dip with our scrumptious Ground Beef Taco Filling and Air Fryer Taco Shells and you have the perfect weeknight dinner.

Print

The Best 7 Layer Dip Recipe

This classic, creamy 7 layer bean dip is an easy-to-make crowd pleaser for your next game day gathering, picnic or potluck.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Mexican

Diet Vegetarian

Keyword cheese, guacamole, olives, refried beans, spicy 7 layer dip, tomatoes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 16 servings

Calories 163kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• 8×8 baking dish

Ingredients

• 16 ounces spicy refried beans canned
• ½ 10 ounce can of Rotel with juices
• 2 cups guacamole
• 2 cups sour cream
• 4 ounces grated Mexican cheese blend
• 1-2 cups salsa
• ½-1 cup sliced black olives canned
• 1 bunch diced green onions
• ½ cup fresh tomatoes, diced

Instructions

• Use an 8×8 baking dish or equivalent serving dish.
  
• Mix spicy refried beans and rotel. Spread in the bottom of your baking dish. (For more spice, add a can of diced chiles into the bean layer.)
  
• Spread guacamole layer over the bean layer.
  
• Spread a layer of sour cream over the guacamole. (For a taco flavor, add a packet of taco seasoning into the sour cream layer.)
  
• Spoon salsa over the sour cream.
  
• Sprinkle cheese over the sour cream layer.
  
• Top with olives, green onions, and tomatoes (optional).
  
• Cover and refrigerate for an hour or until you are ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips,warm flour tortillas or slices of bell pepper.
  

Notes

 

• You can change up the amounts of each ingredient to suit your own tastes.
• Feel free to change the order of the layers. 
• For a less spicy bean dip, use regular refried beans.
• For more spice, use hot salsa or mix salsa with some hot sauce.
• For more of a taco flavor, mix in a packet of taco seasoning with the sour cream.
• 7 layer dip can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Layers will start to separate some and it may become a bit watery. 

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 390mg | Potassium: 252mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg

The post The Best 7 Layer Dip Recipe appeared first on Family Dinners.

What is Chili Cheese Dip?

This perfect game day snack, sometimes also called “Hormel Chili Dip”, combines a layer of cream cheese, salsa and grated cheese with a second layer of chili and cheese. Additionally, before being baked in the oven, this perfect appetizer is topped with an extra layer of cheese. While we prefer the layered version of this scrumptious party food, there are other versions of this dip as well. Other easy dip recipes call for blending all ingredients together before baking, being cooked on the stovetop or even in a slow cooker.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: warm dip that is creamy, full of chili flavor and melty cheese
• Main Ingredients: cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, salsa, cream cheese, chili
• Cooking Method: oven baked
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes of prep time, 20 minutes baking time
• Pairs well with: tortilla chips, flavored corn chips, French fries, potato chips, Fritos scoops
• Diets: gluten free
• Special Equipment Needed: mixing bowls, cooking spoon or spatula, 8×8-inch baking dish, pie pan

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this cheesy chili dip recipe, try our Instant Pot White Chicken Chili. You’ll love it because this easy chili made with chicken, canned beans, vegetables and spices cooks up in the pressure cooker in just 15 minutes.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook homemade cheesy chili dip in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MAKE CREAM CHEESE LAYER: Afterwards, mix together softened cream cheese, salsa, and 1 cup of grated cheese in another small bowl. Then spread mixture into a pie plate or oven-proof shallow dish.

MAKE CHILI LAYER: Combine another cup of shredded cheese and the can of chili and spread on top of the cream cheese mixture in the baking dish.

BAKE: Then top with remaining cheeses, before baking at 350°F for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Finally serve with corn chips, Fritos, veggies or crackers.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love hearty ground beef chili with beans and tomatoes and just the right amount of spice then you’ll love our Easy Chili recipe. You can make this tasty chili con carne in the slow cooker, Instant Pot or in a dutch oven on the stovetop.

Make Ahead

You can assemble this creamy chili cheese dip recipe up to 1 day ahead of time. Make sure to cover tightly with cling wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Only bake the dip when you are ready to serve it.

Crockpot Chili Cheese Dip Instructions

To make the chili cheese dip in a slow cooker, simply add layers of the cream cheese mixture, chili cheese mixture and grated cheese into a small crock pot. Then cook on High for 2 hours. Keep warm to serve.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover chili cheese dip in an airtight container, ziploc bag or tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up 3 days.

Freeze: You can freeze this cheesy dip in a freezer safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: Thaw chili cheese dip leftovers in the fridge overnight.

How To Reheat

A great way to reheat this easy chili dip is in the microwave or oven until hot and bubbly again.

Common Questions

Print

Chili Cheese Dip Recipe

Perfect game day snack full of chili flavor and gooey cheese! Make it as mild or spicy as you like! This baked hot chili dip is perfect for dipping anything.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free

Keyword cheesy chili dip, chili cheese dip recipe, chili cream cheese dip, hot chili dip, super bowl chili dip

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 10 servings

Calories 263kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• mixing bowls
• cooking spoon or spatula
• baking dish

Ingredients

• 1½ cups grated cheddar cheese
• 1½ cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
• ½ cup salsa
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 15 oz can of chili

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine cheeses in a small bowl.
  
• In another small bowl, mix together cream cheese, salsa, and 1 cup of grated cheese.
  
• Spread mixture into a pie plate or oven-proof shallow dish.
  
• Combine another cup of cheeses and the can of chili and spread over the cream cheese mixture in the baking dish.
  
• Top with remaining cheeses.
  
• Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
  

Notes

• Tip: Soften cream cheese to almost room temperature. That way it blends smoothly with the other dip ingredients.
• Tip: For best results, grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains additives and therefore does not provide the same amazing flavor as freshly grated cheese.
• Tip: Use good quality chili. Only tasty chili makes a great tasting dip.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 591mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 292mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Chili Cheese Dip appeared first on Family Dinners.

What is Crack Corn Dip?

Delicious super bowl crack corn dip is served warm and made from frozen corn, green chilies, sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese and spices. It tastes great with tortilla chips, tostadas, crackers or pita chips. Even tough this creamy dip only takes 20 minutes in the oven, it can also be cooked in a slow cooker. Hot cheesy corn dip is also often called cowboy corn dip, Mexican corn dip or fiesta corn dip.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: creamy hot dip packed with corn and melty cheese, that tastes heavenly on a salty chip
• Main Ingredients: frozen corn, green chilies, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, black pepper and garlic salt
• Cooking Method: oven baked
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 20 minutes cook time
• Pairs well with: plain tortilla chips, tostadas, flavored corn chips, pita chips, crackers
• Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, vegetarian
• Special Equipment Needed: large bowl, cooking spoon or spatula, 8×8-inch baking dish, pie pan

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this Mexican inspired corn dip recipe, try our Frito Pie with Ground Beef. This yummy, quick and easy comfort food pairs perfectly with crack corn dip.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook corn chip dip in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the printable recipe card below.

TOP WITH CHEESE: Then transfer to an oven-proof, shallow baking dish or pie plate. Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the dip.

BAKE AND SERVE: Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve this party dip immediately with your favorite chips.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love serving easy to make dips at parties then try our amazing Buckeye Dip. This sweet dessert dip tastes just like a mix of buckeye candies and peanut butter frosting!

Make Ahead

You can easily assemble this scrumptious dip several hours or even 2 days ahead of time. Tightly cover the dish with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you are ready to bake.

Slow Cooker Corn Dip

Additionally to the oven method, you can also make this easy chip dip recipe in a crockpot. Simply combine the dip ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours. Shortly before the cooking time is over (about 10 minutes) give the dip a good stir and top with the remaining cheese.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store cowboy corn dip leftovers in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing this dip, because its consistency might change after defrosting.

How To Reheat

Reheat leftover fiesta corn dip in the microwave. However, you can also serve leftovers as cold corn dip. Just give it a good stir before serving.

Common Questions

Print

Crack Corn Dip Recipe

Creamy and flavorful dip chock full of cheesy corn, that tastes amazing with tortilla chips.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, keto, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Keyword corn chip dip, corn dip, crack corn dip recipe, easy chip dip, super bowl crack corn dip

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 10 servings

Calories 269kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• mixing bowl
• cooking spoon or spatula
• baking dish or pie plate

Ingredients

• 3 cups frozen corn thawed and drained
• 4 oz can diced green chilies
• 1 cup sour cream
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 8 oz cheddar cheese and/or pepper jack cheese grated (2 cups)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

• First preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• Set aside ½ cup of the grated cheese and then stir together all remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  
• Transfer mixed dip to an oven-proof, shallow baking dish or pie plate.
  
• Next, sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top.
  
• Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
  

Notes

• Tip: For perfectly creamy texture, make sure to soften the cream cheese before blending it with the remaining ingredients.
• Tip: Use frozen or fresh summer corn for this dip. While you can use white, yellow or sweet corn, we do not recommend canned corn for this crack corn dip recipe.
• Tip: Due to the high dairy content we recommend not leaving this dip out for more than 2 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 390mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 692IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 212mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Crack Corn Dip appeared first on Family Dinners.

What is Texas Trash Dip?

Texas trash dip is a warm cheesy bean dip that is a game day favorite all through football season. Hot bean dip usually contains cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning and all sorts of ooey gooey cheese. This crowd pleaser can be baked in the oven or cooked in a crock pot. Serve Texas trash dip with corn chips, crackers or toasted white bread.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: creamy Mexican inspired hot bean dip with lots of cheese, that tastes amazing with corn chips
• Main Ingredients: cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning, grated cheese
• Cooking Method: oven baked, Crockpot (optional)
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 30 minutes baking time
• Pairs well with: tortilla chips, tostadas, flavored corn chips, crackers, toasted white bread, pretzles
• Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, vegetarian
• Special Equipment Needed: large microwaveable bowl, cooking spoon or spatula, 9×13-inch baking dish, baking pan or disposable pan, OPTIONAL: slow cooker

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this warm cheesy dip recipe, try our Hot Pizza Dip. You’ll love it because this creamy and cheesy hot dip has everything you love in pizza. Enjoy dipping crusty bread, vegetables or crackers in this game day favorite.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook cream cheese bean dip in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the full recipe in the recipe card below.

ADD INGREDIENTS: Afterwards add sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning and 2 cups of the cheese to the softened cream cheese and stir to combine. Then spread mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish or a quarter sheet pan, and top with the remaining 2 cups cheese.

BAKE AND SERVE: Bake for 25-30 minutes in the preheated oven until the dip is hot and bubbly and the cheese is beginning to brown. Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers or toasted white bread.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love quick and easy dips then you’ll love our amazing sweet Buckeye Dip. It tastes just like a mix of buckeye candies and peanut butter frosting. Every peanut butter fan will love this amazing sweet treat.

Make Ahead

You can assemble this creamy bean dip recipe up to 1 day ahead of time. Make sure to cover tightly with cling wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Only bake the dip when you are ready to serve it.

Slow Cooker Texas Trash Dip

Prepare this warm bean dip as described in the recipe, then spread bean mixture at the bottom of a crockpot instead of the bottom of a baking dish. Afterwards top with cheese and cook on high for 2 hours.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store cheesy bean dip leftovers in an airtight container, ziploc bag, or other sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing this creamy dip, as its consistency might not be the same after defrosting.

How To Reheat

Reheat leftover Texas trash dip in the microwave or in the oven until hot and bubbly again.

Common Questions

Print

Texas Trash Dip Recipe

Warm and creamy dip full of beans, cheese and taco flavor. Texas trash dip is a cheesy bean dip that's perfect for tortilla chips.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Keyword bean and cheese dip, cream cheese bean dip, hot bean dip, hot texas trash dip, texas trash dip recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 10 servings

Calories 321kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• cooking spoon or spatula
• mixing bowl
• 9x13in casserole dish

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 16 oz cans of refried beans
• ¼ cup taco seasoning or one packet
• 4 cups grated cheese cheddar, Monterrey Jack or Mexican blend

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Microwave cream cheese for 30 seconds – 1 minute until it is melted and can be easily stirred.
  
• Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, refried beans, taco seasoning, and half of the cheese.
  
• Spread mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish or a quarter sheet pan.
  
• Sprinkle the remaining cheese onto the dip.
  
• Bake for 30 minutes until dip is hot and bubbly and cheese is beginning to brown.
  

Notes

• Tip: Don’t skip the softening of the cream cheese. Otherwise it wont blend evenly with the other ingredients.
• Tip: Grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains additives and therefore does not provide the same amazing flavor as freshly grated cheese.
• Tip: Due to the high dairy content we recommend not leaving this dip out for more than 2 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 852mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1456IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 365mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Texas Trash Dip appeared first on Family Dinners.

Looking for some new inspiration to mix up your Taco Tuesday routine? We have found the perfect simple recipe in our mouth watering air fried fish tacos. You will love these crispy shells filled with flakey air fried tilapia, crisp veggies, fresh cheese and delicious salsa.

Impress your whole family and guests with an amazing Mexican feast by combining some of our easy to follow recipes. Homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Air Fried Fish, tangy Mango Habanero Salsa and creamy cilantro lime sour cream make this air fryer fish tacos recipe absolutely irresistible.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: crispy fried fish, crunchy vegetables and mouth watering sauces create the perfect mix of textures and flavors
• Main Ingredients: white fish filets, panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, oil, tortillas, cilantro, salsa, queso fresco, shredded cabbage, sour cream, black beans and spices
• Cooking Method: air fryer
• Cooking Time: 20 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cook time
• Pairs well with: pico de gallo, guacamole, Mexican rice, black beans
• Special Equipment Needed: air fryer, shallow dish, knife and cutting board

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this flavorful air fryer fish tacos recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this tilapia fish tacos recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Air Fryer Fried Fish Ingredients

• 1 lb white fish fillets (cut into 1 inch strips)
• ½ cup panko crumbs
• ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoon oil

Taco Topping Ingredients

• 8 Air Fryer Taco Shells (or plain corn tortillas)
• 2 tablespoon cilantro (chopped)
• ½ cup Mango Habanero Salsa
• ½ cup Queso Fresco (or any crumbly Mexican Cheese)
• ½ cup shredded cabbage or crunchy slaw
• ½ cup Cilantro Lime Sour Cream (or plain sour cream)
• ½ cup Black Beans
• fresh lime wedges

Variations and Substitutions

White Fish Filets: We recommend using a firm white fish that is mild in flavor such as tilapia fillet, sea bass, cod or mahi mahi filet, for example.

Bread Crumbs: Use regular panko bread crumbs or substitute Italian bread crumbs. When using Italian bread crumbs, omit the Italian seasoning.

Italian Seasoning: You can substitute plain oregano, or make your own Italian seasoning by mixing oregano, dried basil, and thyme.

Oil: We like to use oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil or avocado oil, for example.

Cilantro Lime Sour Cream: You can substitute your favorite lime crema. Additionally, you can simply mix some greek yogurt with lime juice, in case you prefer a healthier option.

Gluten Free Substitutions

To make your air fried fish tacos gluten free, use gluten free bread crumbs. Make sure your corn tortillas are gluten free. Some brands mix flour into corn tortillas so look for the “gluten free” label on your package.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this simple recipe for yummy air fried fish tacos, then try our Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. You’ll love them because they are an easy and delicious one-pan meal packed with veggies, protein, and smoky chipotle flavors.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Air Fryer – This recipe requires an air fryer. We have both this Cosori air fryer, which is wonderful, and this Cuisinart Air Fryer, which we also love. The Cuisinart also has convection oven and toaster oven capacity. You can buy an air fryer with a basket with high sides that food goes into or a tray type of machine. The trays are shallow but are usually longer and can accomodate more food in a single layer.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook crispy fish tacos in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MAKE BREADING: Firstly, combine bread crumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper in a shallow bowl.

PREPARE FISH: After brushing the fresh fish with 2 tablespoons of oil, gently roll it in the panko mixture to cover. Afterwards, put gentle pressure on the fish to make the seasoning stick to the fish, using your hands or a rolling pin. The crispy coating will stay on the fish better this way and less will fall off while cooking.

PLACE IN AIR FRYER: Then spray your air-fryer basket/tray with cooking spray to prevent fish from sticking. Place pieces of fish into the air fryer basket/tray in a single layer. Make sure there is space in between each piece of fish. Do not overcrowd the basket. You may need to cook the fish in batches. Use air fryer parchment paper to keep the fish from sticking.

AIR FRY: Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cook time depends on the thickness and width of your fish pieces. Therefore check on the fish intermittently. Internal temperature should be 145°F.

SERVE: Warm the tortillas in the microwave or a skillet, or air fry them to make crispy tacos. Then place a piece of fish into your tortilla. Top with chopped cabbage, crumbled cheese, salsa, cilantro and any other toppings you choose!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love meaty tacos as much as food truck fish tacos then you’ll love our Instant Pot Carnitas. They are tender, juicy, crispy on the outside, melt in your mouth and bursting with flavor.

Stef says….

I always add my super yummy Mango Avocado Salsa to these amazing air fryer fish tacos.

Make Ahead

If you are in a time crunch, here are a couple of ways to pre-prep fried fish tacos.

You can prepare most taco toppings in advance, then store them individually in airtight containers in the fridge. Black beans and refried beans can easily be made a day ahead. Then simply reheat when you are ready to serve the tacos. Additionally you can shred the cabbage and crumble the cheese in advance.

Most Mexican condiments like salsa and guacamole are best made fresh. However, they can be prepared a couple of hours ahead of time. The added lemon and lime juice as well as storing them in the fridge will keep them fresh until ready to serve.

Air fried fish is ready in only 16 minutes, so there is no real need to make the tilapia ahead of time. Fried fish is definitely best when eaten fresh.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best air fried fish tacos.

• Tip: Cut your fish into thin strips. Wide pieces of fried fish don’t work well in fish tacos because corn tortillas are small.
• Tip: Press the bread crumb mixture into the fish. If the crumbs are falling off they’ll blow off in the air fryer.
• Tip: Balance the textures in the tortilla. Fish tacos need a good mixture of crunchy, spicy and soft ingredients inside the tortilla. Cabbage works well for a crunch so don’t skip that if you’re using soft corn tortillas.

What To Serve With Air Fried Fish Tacos

We love to eat street tacos with air fried fish all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Fish: Not in the mood to bread fish? Air fryer tilapia is another absolutely scrumptious, quick and easy option to make fish tacos with.

Mexican Condiments: Pair these air fryer baja fish tacos with homemade Pico De Gallo, Salsa with Canned Tomatoes, Mango Habanero Salsa, Guacamole, Queso Blanco,or Cilantro Lime Sour Cream.

Sides: We love serving healthy air fryer tacos with homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Black Beans, Instant Pot Refried Beans, Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice.

• 

  Air Fryer Tilapia

• 

  Mild Pico de Gallo Salsa (Chipotle Copycat Recipe)

• 

  Instant Pot Black Beans

• 

  Cilantro Lime Rice

How To Store

Refrigerate: We recommend storing all taco toppings separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Let any air fryer fried fish leftovers cool completely. Then store them in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Already assembled fish tacos need to be eaten right away.

More Taco Recipes

If you are also a big fan of everything taco related, her are some of our other easy and delicious Mexican inspired taco recipes:

• 

  Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells

• 

  Crock Pot Chipotle Chicken Tacos

• 

  Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole (Mexican Lasagna Recipe)

• 

  Ground Beef Taco Filling

How To Reheat

Reheating: Reheating air fried fish in the air fryer is super easy and beats reheating it in the microwave by miles. To bring your fried fish back to almost perfect crispiness, simply put your pre-cooked fish back into the air fryer and cook at 400ºF for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Your fish fingers should once again be crunchy on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside.

Common Questions

What kind of fish can I use to make air fryer fried fish?

Any mild tasting white fish works well with this easy dinner recipe. Besides tilapia and cod, you can also try haddock, halibut, grouper, pollock, flounder or whiting.

Are air fried fish tacos healthy?

Yes, because fish cooked in the air fryer uses a lot less oil than traditional deep fried fish. Additionally, most taco toppings are fresh, cut up vegetables. Eating fish tacos therefore also provides you with a healthy serving of raw, nutritious vegetables.

---

Print

Air Fried Fish Tacos Recipe

These crispy taco shells filled with battered and air fried tilapia, crunchy vegetables and delicious salsa will be a sure hit on your next taco night.

Course dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword air fryer, air fryer tilapia, battered fish tacos, fish, fish tacos, habanero salsa, how to make fish tacos, tacos

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 8 tacos

Calories 255kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• knife and cutting board
• shallow dish
• Air Fryer

Ingredients

Air Fryer Fried Fish

• 1 lb white fish filets cut into 1 inch strips
• ½ cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tbsps oil high heat oil like vegetable oil or avocado oil

Taco Toppings

• 8 Air Fryer Fried Tortillas or plain corn tortillas
• 2 tbsps cilantro chopped fresh
• ½ cup Mango Habanero Salsa
• ½ cup Queso Fresco or any crumbly Mexican cheese
• ½ cup shredded cabbage
• ½ cup Cilantro Lime Sour Cream or plain sour cream
• ½ cup Black Beans optional

Instructions

Air Fryer Fried Fish:

• Combine bread crumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika and black pepper in a shallow dish.
  
• Brush fish with oil.
  
• Gently roll fish in the crumb mixture to coat. Press down to prevent it from falling off while cooking.
  
• Spray the air fryer basket/tray with cooking spray or use air fryer parchment sheets. Place fish into the basket.
  
• Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minute. Cook time depends on the thickness and width of your fish. Internal temperature should be 145°F.
• Remove from the air fryer.
  

Make Tacos:

• Warm the tortillas in the microwave or a skillet, or air fry them to make crispy tacos.
  
• Place a piece of fish into your tortilla. Top with chopped cabbage, crumbled cheese, salsa, cilantro and any other toppings you choose!
  

Notes

1. Use your favorite type of fish. We love using our Air Fryer Fried Fish recipe.
2. Substitute the mango habanero salsa for pico de gallo or your favorite salsa.

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 362mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 362IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Air Fried Fish Tacos appeared first on Family Dinners.

This super yummy mild pico de gallo salsa is one of the easiest but most rewarding recipes you have ever made. Even though, it takes only 10 minutes to make, this chunky salsa enhances the flavor of pretty much all your favorite Mexican food. We love serving this vegan, low-calorie, and nutritious salsa with tortilla chips and guacamole as an appetizer or party snack. However, it is also the most amazing topping for tacos, burritos, fajitas, nachos and more.

All you need is a knife and a cutting board to make this mouthwatering tomato and pepper salsa.

What is Pico de Gallo?

Pico de gallo is a simple, chunky Mexican salsa made from chopped fresh tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, and onion, seasoned with lime juice, salt and cilantro. This Mexican staple does not contain much liquid, which is the main difference to regular salsa. Salsa is often more saucy and blended in a food processor.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: fresh salsa that is chunky, flavorful and tastes wonderful on any Mexican dish
• Main Ingredients: tomatoes, jalapeño pepper, onion, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, sea salt
• Cooking Method: no bake
• Nutrients: even though it’s a low calorie food, it is packed with vitamin C and potassium
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time
• Pairs well with: tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, and all your favorite Mexican dishes
• Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan
• Special Equipment Needed: large bowl, knife and cutting board

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this chunky salsa recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this mild pico de gallo recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Pico De Gallo Ingredients

• 3 Roma tomatoes or plum tomatoes (seeded and diced, about 1-1 ½ cups)
• 1 jalapeño pepper (minced)
• ½  small white onion (diced, about ½ cup)
• 1 clove garlic (minced, about 1 teaspoon)
• 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice (1-2 limes)
• 2 tablespoon cilantro (chopped)
• ½ tsp sea salt or kosher salt

Variations and Substitutions

Tomatoes: It is vital to use ripe, red tomatoes to make pico. If the tomatoes are not ripe they don’t have much flavor and therefore lead to bland pico de gallo. We like using Roma or plum tomatoes.

Jalapeño: Jalapeños can vary in hotness. We recommend tasting a small bit of your pepper to see how hot it is. This way you can make sure your pico isn’t getting too spicy. If you like a spicier salsa, you can add some of the jalapeño seeds as well as some black pepper.

White onion: You can substitute red onion or use the white parts of green onions (scallions) instead of white onion.

Cilantro: If you really love cilantro you can add up to a ¼ cup of cilantro to this mild salsa.

You can get very creative with pico de gallo and vary the flavor by adding a number of other delicious fruits or vegetables, such as

• avocado
• corn
• mango
• pineapple
• strawberries
• peaches

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love flavorful Mexican inspired one-pan meals, try our Frito Pie with Ground Beef. You’ll love it because this yummy, quick and easy comfort food combines perfectly seasoned beef and beans with melty cheese and crispy Frito chips.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook fresh pico de gallo, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

COMBINE INGREDIENTS: Firstly, add tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, garlic, lime juice, cilantro and 1 teaspoon salt to a bowl.

TOSS: Then stir to mix well. Afterwards, let your pico rest in the fridge for 10 minutes to develop its great flavor.

SERVE: Finally, serve with chips and guacamole or as a topping for your favorite Mexican dishes.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love homemade tacos then you’ll love our Ground Beef Taco Filling. This scrumptious and keto friendly taco meat is the perfect combination of juicy beef, creamy refried beans and fresh salsa.

Make Ahead

Although, pico is best when eaten fresh, it keeps well in the fridge. You can prepare chopped salsa up to 3 days ahead of time. Save in an airtight container for freshness.

Andrea says….

I love pico. We eat it with our homemade chicken taquitos all the time. Delicious!

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best copycat chipotle pico de gallo.

• Tip: For best flavor use red ripe tomatoes. Avoid mushy tomatoes or underripe ones. Unripe tomatoes are hard and lack flavor. If your tomatoes are flavorless your salsa will also turn out bland.
• Tip: Use freshly cut onion.
• Tip: Taste your pico and adjust ingredients and seasonings if necessary.
• Tip: Let you chunky salsa rest in the fridge for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.

What To Serve With Mild Pico De Gallo Salsa

We love to eat chunky pico de gallo all by itself with tortilla chips. But sometimes you need to serve it as part of a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Appetizers: Use this best chunky salsa recipe for making Loaded Beef Nachos or Easy 7 Layer Dip.

Main Courses: Serve this pico de gallo salsa with all your favorite Mexican food such as Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos, Fried Fish Tacos, Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole and Instant Pot Carnitas.

Other Mexican Condiments: Pair this mild salsa with homemade Guacamole, Queso Blanco,or Cilantro Lime Sour Cream.

Sides: We love serving Mexican dishes with homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice.

• 

  Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl

• 

  Easy Guacamole Recipe (No Onion)

• 

  Instant Pot Mexican Rice

• 

  Crock Pot Chipotle Chicken Tacos

How To Store

Refrigerate: While pico de gallo is best eaten fresh, you can store it in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days. It might get a bit soupy as the tomatoes release their juices, so you might have to drain the extra liquid after 1-2 days in the fridge.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing leftover chunky tomato salsa, because it would lose its texture.

More Salsa Recipes

If you love this fresh homemade chunky salsa then you’ll also love our other easy recipes for amazing salsa, such as salsa recipe with canned tomatoes, mango salsa or Stef’s salsa verde.

• 

  Mango Habanero Salsa Recipe

• 

  Salsa Recipe with Canned Tomatoes

Common Questions

Lots of people don’t like cilantro. Are there any substitutes I can use?

While cilantro is the herb of choice in most Mexican dishes, there are some alternatives for people who are not so fond of its flavor. Have you tried chopped basil, parsley, oregano or mint, for example? Moreover, you can also leave out the herb altogether.

Is chunky salsa healthy?

Yes. Pico is a mixture of chopped fresh vegetables and fruit (Tomatoes are technically a fruit.) that is full of nutrients and great for a low calorie diet.

What can I use this easy copycat chipotle pico de gallo recipe on?

There are endless possibilities on how to use fresh salsa. We love serving it with beef tacos, fish tacos, burritos, nachos, taquitos, fajitas, or as a dip alongside guacamole and tortilla chips.

How do I get the most juice out of citrus fruits?

Use a citrus juicer, to get the most juice out of a lime. If you don’t have one, here are some tips for getting the most juice. Roll the lime between your palm and the counter to squish a little before cutting it to juice it. Cut your lime into 8 wedges, then squeeze to get juice. These methods work the same when it comes to lemons and lemon juice.

Print

Mild Pico de Gallo Salsa (Chipotle Copycat Recipe)

Learn how to make authentic pico de gallo with this easy recipe. This super yummy chunky salsa goes with so many Mexican dishes.

Course condiment, side, Side Dish, Vegetable

Cuisine American, keto, Mexican, vegan, vegetarian

Keyword authentic pico de gallo, chunky salsa, chunky salsa recipe, how to make pico de gallo, pico de gallo, recipe for pico de gallo

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Refrigeration Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 2 cups

Calories 36kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• knife and cutting board

Ingredients

• 3 Roma or Plum tomatoes seeded and diced (about 1-1½ cups)
• 1 jalapeño minced
• ½ small white onion diced (about ½ cup)
• 1 clove of garlic minced (about 1 teaspoon)
• 2 tablespoon lime juice (1-2 limes)
• 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped
• ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

• Combine tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, garlic, lime juice, cilantro and salt.
  
• Stir to mix well.
  
• Refrigerate for 10 minutes before serving.
  

Notes

• Use fresh ripe tomatoes for best results.
• Use freshly cut onion.
• Use a citrus juicer to get the most juice out of a lime.If you don’t have one, here are some tips for getting the most juice. Roll the lime between your palm and the counter to squish a little before cutting it to juice it. Cut your lime into 8 wedges, then squeeze to get juice. 

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve with chips and guacamole.
• Serve with Mexican Rice and Refried Beans or Black Beans.
• Serve on Carnitas Tacos or Chipotle Chicken Tacos or Fish Tacos.
• Serve on 7 Layer Dip

Nutrition

Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 588mg | Potassium: 304mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 885IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Mild Pico de Gallo Salsa (Chipotle Copycat Recipe) appeared first on Family Dinners.

What is Taco Seasoning?

This Mexican inspired spice blend consists of chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt and black pepper. For a spicy seasoning, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or spicy chili powder are added. Even though it is called taco seasoning, this flavorful spice blend can be used in many dishes. Season fajitas, chili, burritos as well as Mexican inspired casseroles and bakes with traditional taco spice.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: this is the absolute best taco seasoning that will take your favorite taco recipe to the next level, it’s ready in only 5 minutes and you can make it as mild or spicy as you like
• Main Ingredients: chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper (optional)
• Cooking Method: no bake
• Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time
• Pairs well with: taco meat, Mexican casseroles, fajitas, chilis
• Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan
• Special Equipment Needed: small bowl, small whisk

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this amazing taco seasoning mix recipe, try our Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells. Carnitas and cheese stuffed into tender pasta shells and cooked in an air fryer to crispy, flavor-bursting perfection.

Instructions

This section shows how to make this mild or spicy homemade taco seasoning mix, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Mexican inspired dishes then you’ll love our Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole. It is everything you love about tacos in a quick and easy Mexican lasagna with ground beef.

How To Store

Room Temperature: In case you are not using your substitute for taco seasoning right away, store your own spice blend in an airtight container, ziploc bag, small mason jar, spice jar or other tightly sealed container until ready to use. We recommend keeping your own taco mix in a dry place such as a spice rack or a dark place such as a spice cabinet or spice drawer. If the spices you used for this recipe were fresh, the diy taco seasoning mix will last for up to 6 months.

Common Questions

Print

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix (Mild or Spicy)

Amazingly delicious taco spice that can be made mild or spicy and will add immense flavor to your taco meat.

Course recipe staple

Cuisine American, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword homemade taco seasoning, replacement for taco seasoning packet, substitute for taco seasoning, taco seasoning substitute

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 3 tablespoons

Calories 16kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• small bowl
• small whisk

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Optional:

• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or chipotle powder

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  
• Whisk together until evenly combined. Then use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
  

Notes

This recipe makes about 2½ tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning mix, which equals approximately one packet. 

To Use: Cook meat (ground beef, chicken, steak) in a skillet. Add ¼ cup of water and 1 serving of taco seasoning. Stir to combine over medium heat for a few minutes until the meat is coated.

Nutrition

Calories: 16kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 412mg | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 606IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix (Mild or Spicy) appeared first on Family Dinners.

This mild, slightly chunky salsa is perfect on all your favorite Mexican foods, such as tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, salads, nachos and as a dip with tortilla chips and guacamole.

Get all the best tips and tricks to make this incredibly flavorful Mexican condiment and surprise your family with the best salsa they have ever eaten.

Why You’ll Love This

• Notable: easy salsa recipe made with fresh ingredients that comes together in only 5 minutes and tastes so much better than store-bought salsa
• Main Ingredients: canned tomatoes, white onion, jalapeño peppers, fresh garlic, ground cumin, salt, sugar, cilantro, lime juice
• Cooking Method: no bake
• Nutrients: restaurant style salsa is low in calories but high in flavor
• Cooking Time: 5 minutes
• Pairs well with: tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, nachos, fajitas
• Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan
• Special Equipment Needed: food processor

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this easy homemade salsa recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this easy blender salsa you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Salsa Ingredients

• 28 oz can whole tomatoes (including juice)
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 2-3 jalapeño peppers (seeded and chopped)
• 3 garlic cloves (chopped)
• 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ tsp granulated sugar
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves (loosely packed)
• about 3 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Variations and Substitutions

Tomatoes: Use quality cans of plain tomatoes such as Muir Glen. Avoid canned tomatoes that already have herbs or seasonings added.

Onion: You can substitute red onions or use the white parts of green onions (scallions) instead of white onion.

Jalapeño peppers: Fresh jalapenos have varying degrees of hotness. We recommend tasting a small bit of your green pepper to see how hot it is. This way you can make sure your salsa isn’t getting too spicy. If you like a spicier salsa, you can add some of the jalapeño seeds as well or use hot peppers, like habanero peppers or serrano peppers, for example.

Lime Juice: You can substitute fresh lemon juice in a pinch.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Mexican inspired recipes, try our Instant Pot Refried Beans. This perfect Mexican side dish is rich in flavor and has a creamy texture. It’s restaurant-style but better.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Food Processor — This recipe requires a food processor or blender to achieve the desired consistency of the salsa.

Instructions

This section shows how to make this salsa recipe with canned tomatoes in the food processor, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

COMBINE INGREDIENTS: Firstly, place whole tomatoes and their juices, onion, jalapeño peppers, minced garlic, cumin, sea salt, sugar, cilantro and lime juice into the bowl of a food processor or blender.

BLEND AND REFRIGERATE: Then pulse until ingredients are chopped fine and combined. Do not overmix! Finally, refrigerate for a couple of hours (we recommend at least one hour) to combine flavors.

SERVE: Serve as a dip with chips and guacamole or as a topping for tacos, burritos, or nachos.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love homemade tacos then you’ll love our Ground Beef Taco Filling. This scrumptious and keto friendly taco meat is the perfect combination of juicy beef, creamy refried beans and fresh salsa.

HOW TO MAKE SALSA AHEAD

Restaurant style salsa is a great dip to make ahead. Actually, a lot of people recommend making it up to 24 hours in advance to give the flavors a chance to develop. You can store ready made salsa in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Andrea says….

Never buy salsa again! This is the easiest way to make salsa. I love to dip our homemade chicken taquitos in this salsa and a little sour cream.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best salsa recipe with canned tomatoes.

• Tip: Use good canned tomatoes. We love Muir Glen brand. Avoid any that already have seasonings or herbs added, like basil for example.
• Tip: Use fresh onions and peppers, not frozen or canned.
• Tip: Pulse the ingredients in the food processor. Be careful not to overmix, because you don’t want to end up with a smoothie.
• Tip: Let flavors blend. Resting time in the fridge will give the flavors a chance to blend together well.

What To Serve With Fresh Tomato Salsa

We love to eat this good homemade salsa all by itself with a bag of tortilla chips. But sometimes you need to serve it as part of a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Appetizers: Use this best homemade salsa recipe for making Loaded Beef Nachos or Easy 7 Layer Dip.

Main Courses: Serve this restaurant style salsa with all your favorite Mexican food such as Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Tacos, Fried Fish Tacos, Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole and Instant Pot Carnitas.

Other Mexican Condiments: Pair this mild salsa with homemade Guacamole, Queso Blanco,or Cilantro Lime Sour Cream.

Sides: We love serving Mexican dishes with homemade Air Fryer Taco Shells, Cilantro Lime Rice or Mexican Rice.

• 

  Easy Guacamole Recipe (No Onion)

• 

  Loaded Beef Nachos

• 

  Air Fried Fish Tacos

• 

  Instant Pot Mexican Rice

More Salsa Recipes

If you love this fresh homemade salsa then you’ll also love our other easy recipes for amazing pico de gallo, mango salsa or Stef’s salsa verde.

• 

  Mild Pico de Gallo Salsa (Chipotle Copycat Recipe)

• 

  Mango Habanero Salsa Recipe

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover salsa in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for up 5 days. Give it a good stir before serving again.

Freeze: Homemade salsa can be frozen in a freezer safe container, BUT freezing changes the consistency of tomatoes. We therefore recommend draining the salsa in a fine mesh strainer before freezing to remove any excess liquid. However, you still need to expect thawed salsa to have a slightly more watery consistency. The taste of defrosted salsa is still as yummy as it was before freezing.

Defrosting: Thaw salsa in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours on the counter.

Common Questions

What can I use homemade salsa on?

There are in fact endless possibilities on how to use fresh salsa. We love serving it with beef tacos, fish tacos, burritos, nachos, taquitos, fajitas, or as a dip alongside guacamole and tortilla chips.

Many people don’t enjoy cilantro. Are there any substitutes?

While cilantro is the herb of choice in most Mexican dishes, there are some alternatives for people who are not so fond of its flavor. Have you tried chopped basil, parsley, oregano or mint? Additionally, you can also leave out the herb altogether.

What is the difference between salsa and pico de gallo?

While delicious salsa is usually prepared in a food processor or blender using canned tomatoes, pico de gallo consists of hand chopped fresh tomatoes. Salsa is also more saucy than chunky pico de gallo. However, they are both used in mostly the same way.

How do I get the most juice out of a lime?

Use a citrus juicer, to get the most juice out of a lime. In case you don’t have one, here are some tips for getting the most juice. Roll the lime between your palm and the counter to squish a little before cutting it to juice it. Another trick is to cut your lime into 8 wedges, then squeeze to get juice. 

Print

Salsa Recipe with Canned Tomatoes

Easy to make restaurant style salsa. This mild salsa is perfect on tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, salads, nachos and as a dip.

Course condiment, side, Side Dish, Vegetable

Cuisine American, keto, Mexican, vegan, vegetarian

Keyword canned tomatoes, easy homemade salsa, homemade salsa recipe, jalapeno, mild salsa, restaurant style salsa

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Refrigeration Time 1 hour hour

Servings 3 cups

Calories 77kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

• food processor or blender
• bowl

Ingredients

• 28 oz can whole tomatoes including juices
• 1 small white onion chopped
• 2-3 jalapeño peppers seeded and chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic chopped
• 1½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
• ¼ cup cilantro leaves loosely packed
• 3 tablespoon lime juice (or to taste)

Instructions

• Place whole tomatoes and their juices, onion, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, sea salt, sugar, cilantro and lime juice into a food processor or blender.
  
• Pulse until ingredients are chopped fine and combined.
  
• Refrigerate for an hour to combine flavors.
• Serve and enjoy!
  

Notes

Recipe Notes:

• Make sure you don’t buy whole tomatoes with spices added to them. Some canned tomatoes have basil added.
• For spicier salsa, substitute serrano chili peppers or even habanero chili peppers for the jalapeños.
• Omit the sugar, if desired.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve with chips and guacamole.
• Serve on carnitas tacos, chipotle chicken tacos, fish tacos, burrito bowls or in 7 layer dip

Recipe Suggestions:

Use this salsa in our Beef Taco Filling, the Loaded Beef Nachos or the 7 Layer Dip. Or pair it with our Homemade Guacamole or Pico de Gallo.

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1158mg | Potassium: 629mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 521IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Salsa Recipe with Canned Tomatoes appeared first on Family Dinners.