7 Layer Dip – “Cielito Lindo”
If you are looking for an appetizer that covers all your bases at a party (e.g. Super Bowl) and almost feels like a meal… you’ve come to the right place! Also, be sure to check out my recipe for homemade sofrito here as it will add a nice seasoning base to your beef. It is super easy to make and you can use for many other recipes you make throughout the week.
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What is Cielito Lindo?
In Puerto Rico, this 7 layer dip is known as Cielito Lindo. It has variations on the order of the layers and some of the ingredients but usually the base is the same. I remember growing up and going to a party or get together and just waiting for the Cielito Lindo to come out. At that point, none of us would leave the food table, lol. As a grown up and having moved away I would go to parties and miss my adored dip so I started making and bringing it myself. It is always a hit!
One of the best parts about this dip is how customizable it is. You can add whatever cheese or protein you prefer. If there are other veggies you like to use and top off your dips, you can do that as well. Whenever anyone asks me for a recipe I will tell them what I use, but always remind them to have fun in the kitchen. Sometimes you find a recipe that is perfect as is! Other times you feel it would be perfect if you added x-y-z or substituted an ingredient.
A huge plus is that this dip does not require much cooking, other than the beef. It can be put together rather quickly and without much complexity. It will definitely be noticed at your next party, and you will come home with an empty tray. 😉
How do I make it?
To make this dish you will need 1 lb of ground beef, 3 tbsp of sofrito (store-bought or homemade). You can find the recipe for my homemade sofrito here. The sofrito will give your beef much more flavor! You also need 1 16oz pack of microwavable of refried beans, 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1 16oz jar of salsa, 3 cups of Mexican style shredded cheese, half of an iceberg lettuce, 1 tomato, 1 pack of sazon Goya, and half of a bouillon beef cube or packet.
The first step is to preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then begin cooking the ground beef on a skilled at medium heat. Add sofrito, sazon and the beef bouillon. While the beef cooks, warm up your refried beans in the microwave. Then spread the cream cheese on the bottom of a 9×13 pan for the first layer of your dip. For the second layer, add the refried beans and spread evenly.
Next, drain your cooked beef and make that the third layer. Over the beans, pour and spread the salsa. Afterward, top with the shredded cheese. I usually do an 8oz pack plus about half of a second pack. Then place in the oven for seven minutes or until the cheese melts.
While the dip is in the oven, chop your lettuce and tomato for the last two layers of your dip. I prefer to use spinach leaves because of the flavor and beautiful look it gives to the dish but that is entirely up to you. Once the dip is done, pull it out of the oven and carefully top with lettuce then tomatoes. All done! Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.
¡Buen provecho from The Happy Wookiee!
7 layer dip - Cielito Lindo
Equipment
- 1 9x13 glass pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 tbsp sofrito* (can be from a jar or home-made)
- 16 oz pack of 60-second microwavable refried beans*
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 16 oz jar of salsa
- 3 cups shredded Mexican style cheese
- 1 half iceberg lettuce*
- 1 tomato
- 1 pack of sazon knorr
- .5 beef bouillon cube or packet
Instructions
- Preheat over to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium size skillet begin cooking ground beef.
- Add sofrito, sazon and bouillon to ground beef and continue cooking.
- While beef cooks, spread softened cream cheese on the bottom of a 9x13" pan for your first layer.
- Place refried beans packet in the microwave. Once warm, spread over the cream cheese for your second layer.
- For the third layer, drain the ground beef and place over refried beans.
- Spread salsa evenly over the ground beef.
- Add shredded cheese over the salsa for the next layer.
- Place in the oven for 7 minutes or until cheese melts.
- While the dip is in the oven, chop lettuce and tomato.
- Once the dip is out of the oven, spread lettuce then tomato on top for your last two layers.
- Serve with tortilla chips.
- ¡Buen provecho from The Happy Wookiee!
Notes
- If you do not have sazon and/or bouillon, you can use any seasoning packet at hand (e.g.Mexican style) or simply season to taste.
- If I have time, I prefer to use canned refried beans and warm them on the stovetop. Of course this implies another dish to wash but it's worth it sometimes. Also, if you do not have refried beans at hand, you can make your own from canned beans. You can find my recipe here.
- For those who are not fans of iceberg lettuce, it can easily be replaced with spinach leaves. It looks beautiful and adds another layer of flavor.
