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.
Servings
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.
Agree! Thank you!
I love this pasta salad! Perfect for hot summer days and guests that picky eaters.
Thank you, Alana! So happy you enjoyed it! Loving your substitutions too :)
Fantastic! 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.
Look so yummy and tasty. I will try doing tommorrow. Thanks for your nice recipe…
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Hi 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
I want to make this for a party. How much of each ingredient would I use for 40-50 people?
So 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!
Realllllyyyy gooooooddd, except I would the tomatoes out just because I dont like tomatoes.
I love all these flavors together!
What a great idea! So much flavor in this combo!
You can make this a day ahead but I would wait to add the avocado until just before you serve :)
Just wondering how long this will keep refrigerated and will avacado turn brown?
What a treat!!! Taco seasoning makes everything just a little better, doesn’t it?? Love this!
what a cool idea
Love it! So creative.
Such a unique recipe twist! I love it!
Great idea! Sounds delicious!
Great idea! Love this :)
what a great idea to combine two awesome sides into one!
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Thank you! They are my favorite too! :)
I love this so much! Two of my favorite cookout foods combined into one!