Jill Can Cook: Simple Layered Salsa Dip

If you've learned anything about me in the past year (it's weird to think it's already been a year!! Yikes!!), it's that I like easy and simple recipes. And if you haven't realized by now, my family likes to eat really plain food. So, when I offer to bring anything to a family party, I get requests for the usual, extremely easy comfort food of years past.

Recently, we had a family party and my sisters begged me to make a layered salsa dip that I've been making for our family get togethers for about 10 years now. It doesn't get any easier than this, folks!

Simple Layered Salsa Dip

Ingredients:



Everything is fakey brand! That's how cheap I am.

• 1 large bottle of salsa (I prefer medium)
• 1 large container of sour cream (20- 30oz)
• half a head of lettuce, shredded
• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
• 1-2 large bags of tortilla chips

Directions:

1. Spread the sour cream across entirety of bottom of 9x13 pan.
2. Shred the lettuce and spread evenly on top of that.
3. Spread salsa evenly over that.
4. Top with shredded cheese.
5. Serve cold or heat for 10 minutes in a 200 degree oven.

So, easiest recipe ever. The pictures will be pretty lame, but educational if this is the first time you've ever set foot in a kitchen.

Layer 1: Sour cream.

Layer 2: Lettuce.

Layer 3: Salsa.

Layer 4: Cheese.

I go back and forth between using sour cream or using cream cheese for the bottom layer. The cream cheese has a much richer flavor, but the sour cream is a much lighter option.

I also go back and forth between heating it up in the oven or serving it cool. I usually only make this at my mothers house for holidays, so depending on if the oven is already on and if there's space, I may heat it up, like I did on this occasion. But my family likes it either way.

The great thing about this recipe (and most recipes that I try) is that it's pretty versatile so you can easily tweak it to make it your own. You can cut up black olives, green chili's, onions, tomatoes, etc. and throw them on top for additional flavor. You can add any type of meat as a layer to make this a more hearty appetizer (or even a main dish!). You can use any type of salsa, like salsa verde, queso, super chunky, corn salsa, etc. With all the different variations, you could make this 10 times and never end up with the same dip twice!

One thing to keep in mind when making this, though, is that with all those other components, the heat from the salsa is easily diluted. I use medium and with 4 layers, it tends to be only mildly spicy.

Anyway, as always, this dip is a huge hit at my families parties. It's not only quick to put together, but anyone could do it and it's not too expensive. It will always get an A+ in my family!