The Best Layered Taco Dip Recipe

The Best Layered Taco Dip Recipe

You know you hit the appetizer jackpot when you return home from a gathering with an empty dish once graced with layers of savory taco goodness.  

This quick and easy classic layered dip has been a crowd favorite at our get-togethers and potlucks for years. Loaded with refried beans, creamy guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, black olives, green onions, and cheese, it is our secret ingredients, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend and Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning, that take this recipe from ordinary to extraordinary. It is no wonder why this recipe has earned the prestigious title "The Best Layered Taco Dip Recipe" from our friends and family. Since it is the "best," we would be amiss not to share it with you.

Whether it is a potluck or Game Day celebration, this dip will seriously score big with your gang!  It feeds a crowd, it can be made ahead, and it will definitely become your new favorite party appetizer!

Ingredients

• 1 16 oz. can of refried beans

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning

• 8 oz. of your favorite guacamole (We tested this recipe with Wholly Guacamole)

• 12 oz. sour cream

• 2 heaping Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend

• 1 14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained

• 3 green onions, finely chopped

• 1 2.25 oz. can sliced black olives, drained

• 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce (optional)

• 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (sometimes we use a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses)

• Tortilla chips (or substitute Frito Scoops for the tortilla chips)

Preparation  

In a small bowl, soften the refried beans in a microwave for about 20 seconds.  (This process makes the beans easier to spread).  Add the Cherchies® Chardonnay Lime & Cilantro Seasoning to the refried beans and mix.  Spread the bean mixture in a shallow baking dish (For the pretty factor, use a glass baking dish to show off the different layers).  For the next layer, spread the guacamole over the refried beans.

In a small bowl, mix together the sour cream and Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend and spread over the guacamole layer.  

If using lettuce (optional), sprinkle over the sour cream.  Next, sprinkle the tomatoes, followed by the cheese, green onions, and olives.  Finally, for a festive flair, sprinkle a small amount of Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub & Seasoning Blend over the dip.

Refrigerate the taco dip for at least a couple of hours to overnight.  Serve with your favorite tortilla chips (we used Frito Scoops this time) and watch this glorious layered dip disappear.  We dare you to try just one bite!

Or, mix things up for Halloween and create this creepy spider web. Expose the guacamole layer exposed, then add the cheese, olives, tomatoes an scallions around the edge. Serve with blue corn tortilla chips for a spooky effect and add a fake spider and you are all set for Halloween!

Enjoy!

Best Darn Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Best Darn Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Difficulty: Easy

One condiment you will find abundantly stocked in our home is Ranch Dressing. Since our second child was young (by far the pickiest of our three children), Ranch dressing was the quintessential condiment and the only way we could entice him to eat vegetables, chicken tenders, burgers, and pretty much anything. Whenever our children stayed at their grandparents' homes, we forewarned them to keep Ranch dressing on hand or suffer the consequences. 

To this day, Ranch is still our son's preferred condiment, but he's hardly the picky eater he was in the past. He considers himself "The Master Taster Tester" of the family (something he coined when he was younger). I had never made Homemade Ranch before until our son asked, "Mom, what is in ranch dressing?" I was stumped. So, we looked up the ingredients, and as it turns out, I had everything on hand, including fresh herbs from our garden. I sensed a method to his madness, so after playing with a few ingredients, I surprised him later with homemade ranch dressing. His smile said it all.

From The "Master Taster Tester's" lips, "Mom, this is the best darn ranch dressing ever!", It only seemed fitting to share this recipe with the world and label it The Best Darn Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe. Embodied in creamy buttermilk, Cherchies® Lem'n Dill, Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs, and other fresh herbs, this tasty ranch dressing recipe will appease even the most discerning ranch lover; but beware, you may never go back to the bottled ranch dressing again! Use this dressing in all your favorite recipes: a dip for vegetables, chicken tenders, fries, a spread on sandwiches, and a salad dressing.

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have made this recipe. Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup mayo

• 1/2 cup sour cream (could substitute Greek yogurt)

• 1/2 cup half and half

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) white vinegar

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) lemon juice

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) coarsely chopped fresh chives

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) chopped fresh parsley (3/4 teaspoon dried)

• 1 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning

• 1/4 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs No-Salt Seasoning

• 1/4 teaspoon (tsp) ground black pepper

Preparation

Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender.  Pulse to combine.  If the recipe is too thick, add more half-and-half or milk to the mixture.  

Refrigerate and chill for at least an hour, but overnight is preferable, as the flavors will marry. Serve over your favorite salad or as a dipping sauce for fries, chicken tenders, pretzels, vegetables, or whatever your heart desires.

Enjoy!

**Note: In the post, I mentioned buttermilk. I rarely have buttermilk on hand, so I use half and half and a teaspoon of white vinegar to simulate buttermilk. It is a quick and easy substitution.

Best Darn Homemade Ranch Dressing Recipe

Baked Cajun Shrimp Boil Recipe

Baked Cajun Shrimp Boil Recipe

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Difficulty:  Easy

Round three for our new Cajun Seasoning! Celebrate Summer with a fun, easy New Orleans inspired shrimp boil, guaranteed to impress your family and guests.  Unlike traditional shrimp boils as the name implies, this version is roasted on a sheet pan in the oven, so clean up is a cinch.

If you are looking for a quick and easy Louisiana-style dinner, tantalize your taste buds with this mouth-watering Cajun recipe, featuring succulent shrimp, sweet summer corn, savory sausage, fresh peppers and potatoes, and Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning. This recipe is so easy and delicious it will surely become your new go-to summer meal, or anytime you have a hankering for Louisiana flavor.  Serve this dish with our Cajun Cornbread Recipe or Our Best Darn Garlic Bread Recipe for a complete meal.

Try it and let us know what you think.  We would love to hear from you!  Thank you for stopping by!

Ingredients

• 8 yellow potatoes, cut into fourths (baby potatoes would also work nicely)
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) salt (use for boiling potatoes)
• 1 yellow pepper, seeds removed, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 red pepper, seeds removed, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 5 ears corn, each cut crosswise into thirds
• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) olive oil or cooking spray
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
• 3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (12.8-ounce) package s andouille sausage, sliced into 1 Inch pieces
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a large baking pan with Parchment Paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.   

Chop the peppers, corn, and potatoes and set aside.  Slice the sausage into 1-inch pieces.  (* Note: In the picture, I initially cut the sausage into 3-inch pieces, but they cooked longer, so you need to slice them into 1-inch pieces to ensure even cooking.  My family gobbled up this dish before I could retake another picture).

Cook the potatoes in a large pot of salted water for about 10 minutes to soften.  Drain.

In a small bowl, melt butter and add Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning and garlic.  Mix.

To the oiled baking dish, add the corn, peppers, potatoes, sausage, and shrimp.

Pour the butter mixture over the ingredients and gently mix with hands coat.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 12-15 minutes or until shrimp are pink and sausage is cooked.  Remove from oven and serve with lemon wedges.  Enjoy!

Baked Cajun Shrimp Boil Recipe

Cajun Tilapia Recipe

Cajun Tilapia Recipe

Prep Time:  10 Minutes

Cooking Time:  20 Minutes

Difficulty:  Extremely easy

Are looking for a quick and easy flavorful family-friendly meal perfect for those busy nights? Look no further, with only three ingredients; a mouth-watering Cajun-inspired dinner is 25 minutes away. 

You know this recipe is good when your child says, "Mom, we should have fish for dinner more often."  Did he really just say that?  

The secret to this savory dish is our newest addition, Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning, a rich blend of peppers, garlic, paprika, onion and other delicious spices. This mix is divine in eggs, casseroles, and stews, as a dip, or sprinkled on meat and seafood for that Cajun flair.

For this savory recipe, we used Tilapia, but any seafood would suffice.  In continuing with the Cajun theme, we sprinkled some Cajun Seasoning on store-bought tater tots, whipped up a batch of our Cajun Cornbread Recipe, baked everything at the same time, added a crisp green salad, and voila, dinner was ready in 25 minutes.

So next time you have a hankering for Cajun, spice up your dinner routine and savor the bold flavors of Louisiana with this delicious fish recipe featuring our new, Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning.  Your family will thank you, and may even ask for "fish more often." ;)

We would love to hear what you think about our new seasoning blend.  Thank you for stopping by!

Ingredients

• 4 Fresh or frozen Tilapia fillet or other white fish (amount depending on crowd)
• Olive oil
• Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning
• Lemon wedges (optional)
• Store-bought frozen tater tots (optional)
• Cherchies® Cajun Cornbread Recipe (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Drizzle a baking pan with a little olive oil, just enough to prevent the fish from sticking to the bottom.  Place the fish in the baking pan and drizzle the fish with about 1 teaspoon (tsp) per filet.  

Sprinkle each fillet with a generous amount of Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning, to taste.  The more you add, the bolder it will be.  If using tater tots on the side, in a separate pan, sprinkle the tots with some of the seasoning blend, again to taste.  You can also whip up a batch of Cajun Cornbread Recipe to accompany the fish.

Bake fish (and tater tots and cornbread) in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  Fish should flake easily with a fork when it is done.  Serve with lemon wedges (optional)!  Enjoy!

Cajun Tilapia Recipe