This Halloween graveyard dip is a classic seven layer Tex-Mex dip, refried beans, sour cream, salsa, cheese, and tomatoes, topped with a thick layer of guacamole and decorated like a spooky graveyard using baked tortilla gravestones, olive spiders, and blue corn chip mountains. Total time is about 30 minutes, and the gravestones can be baked hours ahead.
I am going to tell you how to make an easy seven layer dip. Then, decorate it to make a creepy graveyard. It is gonna be so much fun, and it is the perfect centerpiece for your spooky snack table.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Halloween Graveyard Dip
- It Is Insanely Easy: Most of the layers are just open, pour, and spread.
- It Is Totally Customizable: You can get as creative as you want with the spooky tortilla decorations.
- It Is a Crowd Pleaser: Seriously, it is so good. You get all the classic and delicious Tex Mex flavors wrapped up in one fun and festive dish.
- You Can Prep It Ahead: The gravestones can be baked hours before the party even starts.
If dips are the star of your Halloween spread this year, my The Best Buffalo Chicken Dip is another crowd-pleasing party dip worth putting out alongside this one.
What You Will Need
Special Equipment
- Large serving dish (9×13 inch or similar wide and shallow dish)
- Kitchen knife or kitchen shears
- Baking sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Food coloring marker (100 percent edible and food safe)
The Ingredients for the Dip
- 1 can (16 oz) refried beans
- 1 container (16 oz) sour cream
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup chunky salsa, drained well
- 1 cup diced tomatoes, drained well
- 2 trays (16 oz each) Wholly Guacamole (you need a thick layer for the graveyard base)
The Ingredients for the Graveyard Decorations
- 3 to 4 flour tortillas (a mix of regular and whole grain for color variation)
- Cooking spray
- 1 bag blue corn tortilla chips (for the mountains and dipping)
- 1/4 cup black olives (whole or sliced, to make spiders)
Let Us Get Assembling
1. First Up, the Seven Layer Dip
Okay, first, make the seven layer dip. I use the classics like refried beans, sour cream, taco seasoning, shredded cheese, salsa, diced tomatoes, and Wholly Guacamole. In a small bowl, mix one packet of taco seasoning into the sour cream until well combined and set that aside.
2. Start Layering
Next, in a large serving dish, spread a nice, smooth, and even layer of refried beans. Then, sprinkle on about 1 cup of the shredded cheese evenly over the beans.
3. More Layers
Now, it is just about the layering. Pour on an even layer of drained salsa, then followed by a layer of the taco sour cream mixture. More cheese. Sprinkle on the remaining 1 cup of cheese, of course. Then add an even layer of your well drained diced tomatoes.
If Tex-Mex layered dips are your thing, my Guacamole and Pico de Gallo is a great standalone recipe to pull from for that thick guacamole layer.
4. The Graveyard Base
The last layer is the guacamole. Spread both trays of the Wholly Guacamole carefully over the top. You actually use two 16 ounce trays of Wholly Guacamole because this will be the base for the graveyard, and you want to make sure it is nice and thick so your decorations stand up straight. Set the dip aside in the fridge.
5. Creepy Graveyard Decorations
Once the dip is done, let us set it aside and move on to the graveyard decorations. This is really easy and can be done hours before you make the dip. You will just need a few flour tortillas. I use a mix of regular and a couple of whole grain tortillas. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
6. Shape and Bake the Gravestones
Using a kitchen knife, carefully cut the tortillas to make them look like gravestone shapes. Use scraps to cut out creepy and twisted trees. Place your tortilla cutouts on a foil lined baking sheet and lightly spray both sides with cooking spray. Bake at 350°F for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until they are crispy and slightly browned. Keep an eye on them so they do not burn.
7. Decorate the Graves
Once they are removed and cooled completely, you can write fun and spooky Halloween messages like RIP or Boo on them using a food coloring marker. I also make some creepy trees out of some extra tortillas, so yeah, just get creative with it.
8. Time to Assemble Your Graveyard
Now, it is time to assemble. Push a row of blue corn tortilla chips into the back of the serving dish to look like dark and spooky mountains. Then, plant your tortilla gravestones and the creepy trees deep enough into the guacamole so they stand upright all around the dip. Have fun and be creative.
9. Add Spiders
Also grabbed some black olives and cut them to make them look like little spiders crawling across the guac. Cut black olives in half for spider bodies, and slice the remaining halves into thin strips for the legs. Arrange them right on top of the guacamole so they look like creepy spiders. Serve with the remaining blue corn chips and enjoy.
And there you have it. A fun and creepy Halloween dip that is perfect for any Halloween party.
What to Serve With This
- Round out your spread with a savory bite like my Mummy Meatballs for a full Halloween appetizer table
- Add extra tortilla chips or veggie sticks for dipping alongside the blue corn chips
- Keep it on ice or a chilled serving tray if your party is outdoors to help it stay food-safe longer.
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Can I make this graveyard dip ahead of time?
You totally can. But here is the trick. Assemble the first five layers, including the beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream, and tomatoes, up to a day in advance and keep it covered in the fridge. Wait to add that thick layer of Wholly Guacamole and your tortilla decorations until right before the party so the guac stays bright green and your gravestones stay perfectly crispy.
How do I stop my 7 layer dip from getting watery?
The secret is in the prep. Make sure you use a chunky salsa and drain off any excess liquid before layering it. You will want to do the exact same thing with your diced tomatoes. Less liquid means a perfectly scoopable and thick dip.
What is the best way to cut the olive spiders?
It is so easy. Just take a whole black olive and cut it right down the middle lengthwise. Use one half for the spider plump body. Then, take the other half and slice it into little thin strips to create the creepy legs. Arrange them right on top of the guacamole.
Can I use store bought tortilla chips for the gravestones?
You can, but you will not be able to write your fun Halloween messages on them. Taking 10 minutes to cut and bake soft flour tortillas gives you the perfect blank canvas to use your food coloring markers. Save the store bought chips for dipping and for your blue corn mountains in the back.
How long can this dip sit out at a party?
Because this dip contains dairy and avocado, it should not sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if your Halloween party is outdoors in warm weather). After that, refrigerate leftovers or refresh the dish with a new batch to keep it food-safe for your guests.
Can I make this with taco meat or ground beef?
Yes. Brown about 1 pound of ground beef with taco seasoning, drain the excess fat, and let it cool before adding it as its own layer between the refried beans and the cheese. This turns it into a heartier, meat-based version while keeping the same graveyard decoration on top.
Can I make a spinach dip version of this graveyard dip?
This specific recipe is built around a bean and guacamole base rather than spinach, so if you’re after a graveyard-themed spinach dip, you would want to swap the base layers for a classic spinach and artichoke dip mixture, then still use the guacamole or a green-tinted layer on top for that same graveyard grass effect and decorate with the same tortilla gravestones and olive spiders.
Can I turn this into a full Halloween chip and dip board?
Definitely. Build the graveyard dip in a smaller dish and place it in the center of a large board or platter, then surround it with blue corn chips, regular tortilla chips, pretzels, and other dippable snacks for a fuller chip and dip charcuterie board presentation.
Is this dip kid-friendly?
Yes, this recipe is naturally pretty mild. If you want to make it even more kid-friendly, use a mild salsa instead of a spicier variety, and skip the jalapeño-heavy taco seasoning blends in favor of a milder one.
Spooktacular Halloween Graveyard Seven-Layer Dip
Course: AppetizersCuisine: Tex-MexDifficulty: Easy12
servings20
minutes10
minutes280
kcal30
minutesA fun, creepy, and insanely easy seven-layer dip. Topped with a super thick layer of guacamole, baked tortilla gravestones, and olive spiders, it’s the ultimate centerpiece for your next Halloween party.
Ingredients
- Equipment Needed:
Large 9×13 serving dish
Baking sheet
Aluminum foil
Kitchen knife
Edible food-coloring marker
- Ingredients:
1 can (16 oz / 454g) refried beans
1 container (16 oz / 454g) sour cream
1 packet (1 oz / 28g) taco seasoning
2 cups (226g) shredded cheese, Mexican blend or cheddar, divided
1 cup (260g) thick chunky salsa, drained
1 cup (150g) diced tomatoes, drained
2 trays (16 oz each / 907g total) Wholly Guacamole
3 to 4 flour tortillas, mix of regular and whole wheat
Cooking spray
1 bag (250g) blue corn tortilla chips
1/4 cup (35g) black olives
Directions
- Mix the taco seasoning packet into the sour cream until fully combined. Set aside.
- In a large serving dish, spread an even layer of refried beans.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the bean layer.
- Add an even layer of salsa, followed by the taco sour cream mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese over the sour cream, then add the diced tomatoes.
- Carefully spread both trays of guacamole across the top to create a thick grass base for your graveyard. Refrigerate while you make the decorations.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Using a knife, cut the tortillas into gravestone and spooky tree shapes.
- Place cutouts on a foil-lined baking sheet, spray both sides with cooking spray, and bake for 5 to 10 minutes until crispy and golden. Let cool.
- Use a food-coloring marker to write spooky messages on the cooled gravestones.
- Assemble by pressing blue corn chips into the back of the dip for mountains. Stand the gravestones and trees up in the thick guacamole.
- Slice black olives to look like spiders, halves for the body, thin slices for the legs, and arrange on top. Serve with the rest of the blue corn chips.
Notes
- Pro Tip for a Perfect Dip: Make sure you drain your salsa and your diced tomatoes really well before layering. This keeps your dip from getting watery at the bottom.
- Make Ahead Magic: You can bake your tortilla gravestones hours, or even a day, in advance. You can also assemble the first 5 layers of the dip a day early and keep it in the fridge.
- The Guac Rule: Wait to add the guacamole layer and the chips or tortilla decorations until right before the party so the avocados stay bright green and the chips don’t get soggy.
- Swaps: Want a slightly lighter dip? Swap the sour cream for plain, full-fat Greek yogurt. It mixes perfectly with the taco seasoning.
- Food Safety Note: This dip contains dairy and avocado, both perishable. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour in warm outdoor conditions.
- Allergen Note: Contains dairy (sour cream, cheese) and gluten (flour tortillas). Blue corn chips are typically gluten-free, but check your brand.
