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Mexican-style·Appetizer

Chili-Cheese Bean Dip

A rich, creamy, and spicy one-layer bean dip that requires zero cooking or baking. By combining refried beans with sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and a signature splash of avocado oil, this dip achieves a perfect texture that is thick enough to be satisfying but soft enough to keep your chips intact.

Prep

15m

Cook

—

Total

15m

Serves

8

Method

  1. 01

    Transfer one can of refried beans into a mixing bowl. Add freshly grated pepper jack and sharp orange cheddar cheese.

    Step 1
    Watch · 0:23
  2. 02

    Add the avocado oil, sour cream (or crema), minced garlic, sliced green onions, and chopped cilantro. Note: If making a day in advance, wait to add the garlic, onions, and cilantro until the day of serving to prevent the flavors from becoming overpowering.

    Step 2
    Watch · 1:05
  3. 03

    Squeeze in the juice of one lime. Season with ground cumin, ground chipotle, ground ancho chili powder, diced jalapeño, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

    Step 3
    Watch · 1:38
  4. 04

    Use a spatula to mix the ingredients thoroughly until perfectly combined. Taste for seasoning; salt is usually not needed if using canned refried beans.

    Step 4
    Watch · 2:24
  5. 05

    Optional but recommended: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld and the dip to chill.

    Step 5
    Watch · 3:00
  6. 06

    Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Garnish with a scattering of finely diced red and green peppers and extra green onions. Serve alongside corn chips.

    Step 6
    Watch · 3:13

From Chef John

  • “You can keep your seven layer dip; I prefer this one layer dip.”
  • “If you break a chip in a dip, it's not a dip for chips.”
  • “What this dip lacks in layers, it more than makes up for in every other way.”