My homemade Bean Dip Recipe is made with a can of refried beans, cheese, seasonings, and some stock or water to give it that great dip consistency that perfectly coats your chip without being too thick.

Homemade Bean Dip Recipe

You never need to buy a pre-mixed bean dip again if you just keep a couple of ingredients on hand in the pantry. A can of refried beans and some taco seasoning. That’s it for the shelf-stable items. You dress it up with sour cream and Mexican cheeses to serve, and that’s it!

You can open a can of beans then mix everything in and be serving it up before anyone even realizes it is snack time.

Why You’ll Love This Dish

Fast And Easy – Uses pantry staples so you can mix it up in just minutes without fancy prep.
Comforting Flavor – Warm refried beans, melty cheese, and taco seasoning hit that cozy‑snack groove.
Customizable Heat – You can add hot sauce or salsa for spice or omit them for a milder version.
Great With Dippers – Perfect with tortilla chips, veggies, or crackers; crowd‑friendly for game day or casual hangouts.
Make Ahead Friendly – Keeps well and is easy to reheat, which means less stress when you want something tasty fast.

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Bean Dip Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Refried Beans – The creamy base of the dip; use vegetarian or standard depending on preference.
Taco Seasoning – Adds the spicy, smoky flavors; you can use a premade mix or blend your own.
Mexican Cheese – Melts over the beans and adds richness; cheddar, pepper jack, or a blend works.
Sour Cream – Adds tang and creaminess; can swap Greek yogurt for a lighter twist.
Water or Broth – Helps loosen the dip to the consistency you like.
Salsa (optional) – Adds extra flavor and a bit of texture.
Hot Sauce (optional) – For those who like heat; adjust to taste.

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How To Make Homemade Bean Dip

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Heat Beans And Seasoning – Put refried beans with taco seasoning in a microwave‑safe bowl, cover loosely, and warm until hot.
Mix In Cheese – Stir in the cheese until it melts into the beans. Add water or broth to get the dip to your preferred consistency.
Add Cream – Finally, stir in the sour cream. Ensure the dip is warm but not so hot that the cream breaks.
Serve Warm – Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy with chips or other dippers.

More South-of-the-Border Inspired Recipes here!

Bean Dip Recipe FAQ

What kind of beans work best?

These days you have tons of options for types of refried beans to use. You can get refried beans that are made the traditional way with lard, or you can get the vegetarian version of refried beans.

There are cans that come pre-seasoned with chilis, or you can get refried black beans too. Lots of options to choose from.

What kind you ultimately want depends entirely on your personal preferences, so pick your favorite!

What are some tasty variations?

Basic bean dip provides a great start for all sorts of variations.

Fans of spicy bean dips will certainly want to chop in some pickled jalapeno peppers. You can also go a bit hotter and add some smokiness with a chipotle pepper or two. Be careful. This will draw a line in the sand between those that like some heat and those that prefer the other way.

Chop in some onions or tomatoes and cilantro if you want to. You can even mix in some salsa if that’s your thing.

Also, if you are able to find it, then try using the Mexican style of sour cream. It tends to be a bit sourer and has a more liquid consistency. It will help the creaminess. This style of sour cream also preserves well so it helps the bean dip keep longer.

How do you store homemade bean dip?

Bean dip will store pretty well in the fridge, covered, for up to a week.

To reheat it, you just need to pop it in the microwave for a minute or two, stirring midway.

What seasoning is best for bean dip?

I like using a good taco seasoning in our bean dip. Taco seasoning is a simple mix of onion and garlic powder with some paprika, chili, and cumin, a bit of salt, and some pepper. If you don’t have premixed taco seasoning, then it is easy to make your own.

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More Mexican-Inspired Recipes To Try

If you are serving bean dip with tortilla chips, then chances are you may be looking for more Mexican style dishes to go with it. I happen to love Mexican style street corn.

I also think that Mexican style seasoned rice makes a perfect side, so I have another version of it to check out too, one-pot seasoned Mexican rice. Either way is easy to do so it just comes down to what is more convenient based on which method you have the right utensils for.

Traeger Carnitas would be a killer option if you are looking for something that’ll really impress whoever you are feeding!

Yield: 8 servings

Bean Dip Recipe

Easy homemade Bean Dip comes together in just 5 minutes and is one of my favorite appetizers to throw together in a snap. It is endlessly customizable, and you probably have all of the ingredients on hand right now.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 16-ounce can refried beans
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
3-4 tablespoons water or broth, as needed
1/8 cup salsa (optional)
1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

Place the beans and taco seasoning into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover loosely, and heat for 2-3 minutes in the microwave (or until it is hot).
Mix in the cheese until it is melted. Add in the water until it is at your desired consistency.
Stir in the sour cream last, and make sure it is warm but not HOT when you do it so the cream doesn't "break".
Serve warm with tortilla chips!

Bean Dip Recipe