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Cream Cheese Taco Dip

Cream cheese taco dip with golden browned seasoned beef, melted cheddar, and vibrant jalapeños and green onions. Baked until bubbly and creamy, then served with crunchy tortilla chips for a fast party appetizer.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

cream cheese taco dip base
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 taco seasoning packet
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 0.5 cup salsa
  • 0.25 cup diced jalapeños
  • 0.25 cup chopped green onions
serving
  • 1 tortilla chips for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Brown the beef
  1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and brown the ground beef, breaking it apart, for about 8 minutes until no longer pink. Visual cue: the meat should look crumbly and browned.
  2. Drain excess fat, then stir in taco seasoning and salsa until combined. Visual cue: the mixture should look glossy and evenly coated.
Assemble and bake
  1. Spread softened cream cheese in the bottom of a shallow baking dish. Visual cue: the surface should form an even layer.
  2. Top with the cooked seasoned beef mixture and spread into an even layer. Visual cue: beef should fully cover the cream cheese.
  3. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef, then bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Visual cue: cheese should be melted and lightly browned at the edges.
Finish and serve
  1. Top the baked dip with diced jalapeños and chopped green onions. Visual cue: toppings should look bright and fresh.
  2. Serve immediately with tortilla chips. Visual cue: chips should be ready on the side for dipping.

Notes

Pro tip: soften the cream cheese at room temperature so it spreads smoothly without tearing. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven at 325°F until warm; freezer is not recommended due to texture changes in the cream cheese and toppings. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cream cheese and reduced-fat cheddar while keeping the beef seasoning and salsa the same.