Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Seven Layer Dip Pasta Salad
Seven Layer Dip Pasta Salad is a combination of everyone’s favorite potluck dishes: creamy macaroni salad and seven layer dip. Perfect for potlucks!
Don’t let the 4th of July or summer pass without making yourself the ultimate potluck mashup: Seven Layer Dip Macaroni Salad. It has all the 7 layer dip goodness that you love tossed into a creamy pasta salad.
What are your favorite BBQ foods? I love the burgers, the hot dogs, the watermelon, the seven layer dip, the macaroni salad. That makes this recipe a no-brainer. Seven Layer Dip Macaroni Salad. It’s the best of both worlds and you and your family and friends are sure to love it. I know we did.
What Ingredients You’ll Need:
MACARONI: You can use any kind of short pasta that you like. Elbow macaroni is traditional with macaroni sala so that is what I use. You can also use shells, rotini or penne if that is what you have on hand.
MAYONNAISE/SOUR CREAM/TACO SEASONING: The creamy taco sauce was always my favorite layer of the traditional seven layer dip. That made it obvious that this would make it the perfect dressing for this creamy pasta salad. You can use your favorite store bought taco seasoning or make your own Taco Seasoning.
BLACK BEANS: Traditional seven layer dip has refried beans but those wouldn’t work very well in a pasta salad so I used black beans instead. Make sure they are drained well.
TOMATOES: To make this more traditional to the dip, I like to use diced roma tomatoes in this recipe. You can also substitute halved cherry tomatoes.
CHEDDAR CHEESE: I like to use cubes of cheddar cheese but you can also grate it if you want.
GREEN ONIONS: These add a nice pop of color and a slight oniony flavor that is not too overpowering.
OLIVES: Sliced black olives work best.
AVOCADO: Guacamole, like the refried beans, is traditional with seven layer dip but wouldn’t work very well in this pasta salad. Instead, you’ll add fresh diced avocado. Please keep in mind that if you want to make this salad ahead of time, add the avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
How do you make 7 layer dip macaroni salad?
Like most pasta salad recipes, this recipe comes together really quickly. Here are the step by step instructions with photos so you can follow along.
Make creamy dressing by whisking together sour cream, mayonnaise and taco seasoning. 
Place remaining ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix well. 
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve.
STEP #1: Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
STEP #2: Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream and taco seasoning together in a bowl.
STEP #3: In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour the dressing over the top and gently toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Season to taste with salt and serve.
This Seven Layer Dip Macaroni Salad came together really quickly. And as much as I wanted to dive right in, I thought that waiting would make it taste even better. So I covered it. Put it in the fridge and waited a couple of hours.
Boy am I glad I did. The flavor babies that this Seven Layer Dip Macaroni Salad made are unbelievable.
Can this pasta salad be made ahead of time?
Yes! You can make it a day ahead, simply wait until just before serving to add the avocado.
If you are looking for other Summer Recipes you’ve got to check out this Garlic Grilled Chicken and for a twist on BBQ sauce for all those burgers you’ve GOT to try Alabama White BBQ Sauce.
Make sure that you cook the pasta just until it is tender to the bite or “al dente”. If you under cook it, the creamy dressing wont’ stick as well.
Nope! There is no need to wait. The pasta will actually absorb more of the dressing if you dress it while it’s still warm.
Update: this post was originally posted in 2014 but was updated with new photos, a video and nutrition facts in 2022.
Seven Layer Dip Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups dried elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
- 1 cup diced green onions
- 1 cup diced cheddar cheese or 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 6 oz can sliced black olives
- 2 avocados diced
- salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water.
- Meanwhile, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream and taco seasoning.
- Add in black beans, diced tomatoes , green onions, cheddar cheese, black olives and diced avocados. Stir in macaroni. Toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Adjust seasoning with salt if desired. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Chef Paul
June 11, 2022 at 10:52 amI love this pasta salad! Perfect for hot summer days and guests that picky eaters.
Deseree
June 11, 2022 at 5:49 pmAgree! Thank you!
Alana
May 29, 2022 at 10:53 amFantastic! Your dressing is what makes it. I didn’t have avocado or green onions on hand, so after subbing in some chopped jalapenos and white onion, it morphed into more of a Mexican style macaroni salad with some kick. Still amazing! Can’t wait to try it with avocados for a creamier option.
Deseree
May 30, 2022 at 11:59 amThank you, Alana! So happy you enjoyed it! Loving your substitutions too :)
g switch 3
March 13, 2021 at 4:19 amLook so yummy and tasty. I will try doing tommorrow. Thanks for your nice recipe…
Lisa
August 18, 2018 at 6:39 pmI want to make this for a party. How much of each ingredient would I use for 40-50 people?
Deseree
August 26, 2018 at 6:05 pmHi Lisa- Sorry for the late response, I was out of town on vacation. If you are still needing the ingredients you could add the recipe to a recipe multiplier. As this one serves about 8, you’ll have to multiply it 5 – 6 times. Here is one I found. I hope that it helps! https://www.webstaurantstore.com/recipe_resizer.html
fnaf
June 18, 2018 at 7:46 pmRealllllyyyy gooooooddd, except I would the tomatoes out just because I dont like tomatoes.
Deseree
June 18, 2018 at 8:30 pmSo happy to hear that you enjoyed it! And that is the great thing about pasta salads, you can take out anything you don’t like and add anything that you do!
Carolyn
June 1, 2018 at 6:12 pmI love all these flavors together!
Megan | MegUnprocessed
June 1, 2018 at 3:46 pmWhat a great idea! So much flavor in this combo!
Ruth Lawdermilk
May 30, 2018 at 10:02 amJust wondering how long this will keep refrigerated and will avacado turn brown?
Deseree
May 30, 2018 at 12:39 pmYou can make this a day ahead but I would wait to add the avocado until just before you serve :)
Kim - Liv Life
August 7, 2014 at 9:17 amWhat a treat!!! Taco seasoning makes everything just a little better, doesn’t it?? Love this!
The Food Hunter
August 7, 2014 at 7:35 amwhat a cool idea
Michelle De La Cerda-Nash
August 6, 2014 at 10:13 pmLove it! So creative.
Nicole
August 6, 2014 at 10:05 pmSuch a unique recipe twist! I love it!
Coleen
August 6, 2014 at 11:14 amGreat idea! Sounds delicious!
Patricia Conte
August 6, 2014 at 9:00 amGreat idea! Love this :)
Janelle Dangerfield Shank
August 6, 2014 at 7:44 amwhat a great idea to combine two awesome sides into one!
fakeginger
May 22, 2014 at 6:16 pmI love this so much! Two of my favorite cookout foods combined into one!
Deseree
May 22, 2014 at 9:00 pmThank you! They are my favorite too! :)