Cheddar Bean Dip (Printable)

Smooth beans with sharp cheddar and spices baked to bubbly perfection for any gathering.

# What You Need:

→ Beans

01 - 2 cups refried beans (1 can, 15 oz)
02 - 1/4 cup sour cream
03 - 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
05 - 1 tablespoon minced garlic
06 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced

→ Spices

07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese

12 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

→ Toppings

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
14 - 1 small tomato, diced
15 - 2 tablespoons sliced green onions

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine refried beans, sour cream, and cream cheese. Mix until smooth.
03 - Stir in red onion, garlic, jalapeño, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Fold in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese.
05 - Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 1-quart baking dish or pie plate.
06 - Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
07 - Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly, and the cheese is melted.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool for 3–5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro, diced tomato, and green onions if desired.
09 - Serve warm with tortilla chips, veggie sticks, or crackers.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way the sharp cheddar gets all bubbly and golden on top while staying creamy underneath is something special
  • It comes together in about five minutes of prep time but tastes like you spent way more effort on it
  • People literally hover around this dip until its gone, and the clean pan is basically a compliment
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling time after baking, otherwise the dip will be too thin and slide right off your chips
  • Room temperature ingredients blend much better, so set out the cream cheese and sour cream about 20 minutes before starting
  • The dip will stay warm for about 30 minutes after baking, but you can keep it in a low oven at 200°F if needed
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded bags for the creamiest melt possible
  • Taste the bean mixture before baking to adjust the spices since some brands of refried beans are saltier than others

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