When you host your basketball tournament viewing party this March, you’ll want to provide the best food. To stay engaged with the court action, you’ll want the spread to be easily maintained and last the whole game. This Seven Layer Dip should do the trick.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 packet taco mix
• 1 can Coke
• 1 16 oz can refried beans
• 1 cup salsa
• 2.25 oz can sliced olives
• ½ cup diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup guacamole
• 2 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup mayonnaise 
• 1 tablespoon milk
• ½ cup green onions, sliced thin
• 2 jalapeño peppers, sliced thin
• ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons lime juice

To Make the Seven Layer Dip

Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, milk, and lime juice. Whisk well. Set aside.

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Using lean ground beef will eliminate the need to drain the beef before adding the taco mix.

Add the taco mix to the browned ground beef. Mix well. Add 1 cup of the Coke. Stir well. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook over low heat for 40 minutes.

remove the lid and continue cooking until most of the liquid has cooked off. If the meat is too saucy, the dip will be too wet.

Remove the taco meat from the heat. Allow to cool almost to room temperature before assembling the seven layer dip.

In a 9”x13” baking dish or serving platter (that is about 1 ½ “ deep), spread the refried beans in an even layer on the bottom of the dish.

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the refried beans. Freshly grated cheese gives a better texture to the seven layer dip than bagged cheese.

Spread the cooled taco meat over the cheddar cheese, taking care not to disturb the layer.

Carefully pour/spoon the sour cream mixture evenly over the taco meat.

Add the guacamole for the next layer. Use a rubber spatula to ensure that the layer is spread evenly and that it doesn’t mix up the sour cream layer.

Pour the salsa evenly over the guacamole.

Sprinkle the Monterey Jack over the salsa.

Sprinkle the Monterey Jack with the olives, cilantro, and jalapeños.

Be sure to serve the seven layer dip with hearty chips that can handle the robust dip.