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Cheesy Bean Dip

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This cheesy bean dip is a delicious gluten-free appetizer perfect for parties, football games, potlucks, and more. (Make it in the oven, or try our slow cooker version below!)

dipping tortilla chips into cheesy gluten-free bean dip

I’m a sucker for a good party dip, like Classic Guacamole, Restaurant-Style Salsa, or Hot Artichoke Dip, but this easy Cheesy Bean Dip recipe has been a long-time favorite at our house. It’s a total crowd pleaser–the perfect party, potluck, or game day appetizer–and always disappears fast!

People are sometimes surprised to find out you can make gluten-free bean dip, but it’s SUPER easy. (There’s only one ingredient you need to watch out for!)

And speaking of ingredients, you only need a few ingredients to make this gluten-free dip recipe. Let’s dive in!

ingredients for gluten-free bean dip

Simple Ingredients For Homemade Bean Dip

To me, the best part of this delicious dip is how simple the ingredients are! (Easy ingredients + easy prep = a perfect appetizer for your next party!)

  • Your Favorite Refried Beans. Simple, classic refried beans are the perfect base for refried bean dip. (I love green chile or spicy refried beans for other uses, but I like to start with regular refried beans for bean dip.)
  • Cream Cheese. This adds a creamy base to the cheesy dip.
  • Sour Cream. Another little trick that adds a layer of flavor and gives this a dip creamy texture.
  • Diced Green Chiles. I love green chilies in bean dip, but feel free to skip them if they’re not your thing.
  • Taco Seasoning. If you’re making gluten-free bean dip, be sure your taco seasoning is gluten-free! Many popular brands are NOT safe for Celiac disease, so only buy certified gluten-free taco seasoning (like Siete) or make my easy homemade gluten-free taco seasoning.
  • Shredded Cheese. Then, you’ll finish off the dip with a melty layer of cheese. A blend of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese is a good choice, but you can use your favorites here!

What To Serve With Bean Dip:

A good dip needs good dippers, so what should you serve to dip with bean dip?

  • Tortilla chips
  • Carrots – baby carrots or carrot sticks work well
  • Celery sticks
  • Jicama sticks
  • Crackers
  • Bell Peppers – Orange bell pepper, green bell peppers, red bell pepper, whatever!
making gluten-free cheesy bean dip step by step

How To Make Gluten-Free Bean Dip, Step By Step:

  1. Preheat Oven. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F. Set out a
  2. Combine. In a medium bowl, combine refried beans, cream cheese, sour cream, green chiles, and taco seasoning and beat with a hand mixer (or a spatula) until smooth. Transfer the bean mixture into a 1-quart or 2-quart baking dish (8×8 or smaller).
  3. Top With Cheese. Add the grated cheese on top.
  4. Bake at 375 degrees about 20 minutes, or until bubbly and melted. Garnish, if desired, with green onion, cilantro, chopped tomatoes, jalapeño, avocado, etc.
  5. Serve & Store. Enjoy bean dip warm with tortilla chips. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge 2-3 days. (Or just cover the pan well if you have a lot left!)

Or, Try It In A Slow Cooker! (Crock Pot Directions)

If you’re taking this bean dip on the go or simply want to keep it warm (great for a party or football game), you can make this bean dip in a slow cooker!

  1. Mix the ingredients together (except for the grated cheese).
  2. Transfer bean dip to the crock of your slow cooker and top with shredded cheese.
  3. Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours, or until the dip is warm and the cheese is melted.
dipping tortilla chips into hot cheesy bean dip

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Cheesy Bean Dip:

Can I Make Bean Dip Ahead of Time? YES! If you want to make this simple recipe in advance for a party or game day, you can mix up the bean dip as directed (don’t bake it), cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 day in advance. Set the dip warm out at room temperature while you preheat the oven, then bake as directed. Easy-peasy!

Make It Spicy. To turn up the heat to make spicy bean dip, you can add minced jalapeño instead of (or in addition to!) the green chiles, use spicy refried beans, use spicy/hot taco seasoning, add Mexican hot sauce, or use pepper jack cheese for extra heat.

How To Reheat Bean Dip. Bean dip easily reheats the next day in the microwave, in 20-30 second bursts. (Cover it to avoid splatters!) If you have a lot of dip left, you can simply reheat the entire pan in the oven at 300 degrees until heated through (15-20 minutes).

adding toppings to cheesy bean dip

Variations To Try.

You can easily play with this bean dip recipe with some simple variations:

  • Try Different Cheese. I love a blend of cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese, but you can use Pepper Jack cheese, Oaxaca cheese, a Mexican cheese blend, and more.
  • Add Shredded Chicken. Mix in some extra protein by adding cooked, shredded chicken.
  • Make Black Bean Dip. If you prefer refried black beans to traditional refried beans (made from pinto beans), you can absolutely use them here. (I don’t recommend whole beans for this recipe.)
  • Add Olives. Sliced black olives are delicious! (Always a huge hit for my daughter!)
  • Add Chorizo or Ground Beef. Cook and drain it first, then layer with the bean dip!
  • Top With Green Onions or Fresh Cilantro. Or, add a fresh finish with a pop of color from sliced green onions or minced cilantro.

More Easy Dip Recipes To Try:

⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star rating and comment below when you make our Gluten-Free Cheesy Bean Dip recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

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dipping tortilla chip into gluten-free bean dip

Cheesy Bean Dip (Gluten-Free!)


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Emily Dixon, One Lovely Life
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

The BEST bean dip recipe around! These easy, cheesy bean dip is a perfect party appetizer or snack for game day.


Ingredients

Scale

For The Bean Dip:

  • 1 (15-ounce) can plain refried beans (or about 2 cups homemade refried beans)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles, undrained
  • 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning*
  • 1 cup grated cheese (I use a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack)
  • Optional: Fresh cilantro, sliced green onion, avocado, chopped tomatoes, or jalapeño for garnish

To Serve:

  • Tortilla chips, blue corn chips, jicama sticks, carrot sticks, celery sticks, crackers, and more.

Instructions

To Bake In The Oven:

  1. Preheat Oven. Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees F. Set out a
  2. Combine. In a medium bowl, combine refried beans, cream cheese, sour cream, green chiles, and taco seasoning and beat with a hand mixer (or a spatula) until smooth. Transfer dip into a baking dish (8×8 or smaller).
  3. Top With Cheese. Add the grated cheese on top.
  4. Bake at 375 degrees about 20 minutes, or until bubbly and melted. Garnish, if desired, with green onion, cilantro, chopped tomatoes, jalapeño, avocado, etc.
  5. Serve & Store. Enjoy bean dip warm with tortilla chips. Store leftover bean dip in an airtight container 2-3 days. (If you have a lot leftover, just cover the pan well and refrigerate.)

To Make In A Slow Cooker (Crock Pot Bean Dip Method)

  1. Mix the ingredients together (except for the grated cheese).
  2. Transfer bean dip to the crock of your slow cooker and top with shredded cheese.
  3. Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours, or until the dip is warm and the cheese is melted. Then, you can keep the dip warm on the WARM setting for 3-4 hours. 

Notes

  • Make-Ahead Tips. You can mix up this bean dip, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 day in advance. Let the dip warm to room temperature while you preheat the oven, then bake as directed. Easy-peasy!
  • Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning. Most brands of commercial taco seasoning are NOT gluten-free, so only use certified gluten-free options (like Siete) or our easy homemade gluten-free taco seasoning.
  • Prevent Spills. If you’re using a small oval baking dish, rather than a deeper 8×8 dish, I recommend placing the baking dish on a sheet pan to catch any spills or bubbles. It’s easier to clean a pan than it is to clean the oven!
  • To Reheat Bean Dip. This bean dip is easy to reheat in the microwave! If you have a lot leftover, you can simply leave it in the pan and warm in the oven at 300 degrees until heated through and melty again (about 15-20 minutes).
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Originally published August, 2012. Fully updated with new photos, notes & video December 2023.

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9 Comments

  1. This looks excellent! It is quite similar to the mish-mashes of refried beans, salsa and Velveeta that my sister and I used to concoct for ourselves for lunch during junior-high summers:-B But everything is better with real cheese, and awesome chips. I am jealous of your salsa variety – here in Wisconsin, you can get awesome cheese, but the salsa leaves something to be desired . . .

  2. Oh, Yum! This sounds so delicious! It beats the socks off of Velveeta/chili dip. Did I mention the word “Yum”!?

  3. I made this dip a couple weekends ago. It is seriously yummo! Definitely going to be a go-to dip in our house!






  4. I just got around to making this, and it is seriously delicious! I added a little hot sauce for heat. After baking, I garnished with diced avocado and fresh tomato. I can’t wait to make this for company. Thanks for the recipe, Emily!






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