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Recipe of the Week: American Flag Taco Dip

Celebrate your next patriotic gathering with a fun and festive American Flag Taco Dip! This crowd-pleasing appetizer layers classic taco flavors—seasoned refried beans, creamy sour cream, guacamole, and shredded cheese—then gets topped off with fresh toppings arranged to resemble the American flag using diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and black olives. It’s as tasty as it is eye-catching and makes the perfect centerpiece for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or any red, white, and blue celebration. Serve it with tortilla chips and watch it disappear in no time!

Cooking Times

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) Crystal Farms Original Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1 jar (16 ounces) chunky salsa
  • 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
  • 8 ounces Hook’s Colby cheese, shredded (2 cups)
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions
  • 3 bags (9 ounces each) blue corn tortilla chips, divided
  • 2 blocks (8 ounces each) Hook’s Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 cup quartered grape tomatoes
  • 1 large sweet red bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)

Cooking Instructions

  1. Step 1: Beat the cream cheese, salsa, sour cream, colby and green onions in a large bowl until blended. Spread colby mixture into the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
  2. Step 2: Measure 1 cup crushed tortilla chips; set aside the remaining chips for serving. Arrange the crushed tortilla chips in a rectangle on top of colby mixture, about 5 x 4-inches.
  3. Step 3: Cut 1 block (8 ounces) monterey jack in half into two blocks, each about 1/2-inch thick. Cut slices with a 1 1/2-inch star cookie cutter, using the handle of a small spoon to press and release cheese from cutter at star points. Place stars on chips. Shred 2 cups (8 ounces) from the remaining monterey jack.
  4. Step 4: Combine tomatoes and red bell pepper in a bowl. For stripes, arrange tomato mixture and shredded monterey jack in alternating rows, each about 1-inch.
  5. Step 5: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until serving. Serve with the reserved tortilla chips.

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On January 1, 2022, the torch was passed to Nathan Neil and his firm, Neil Publishing, LLC. Neil, a local entrepreneur with multiple thriving businesses in Chambersburg, shares Vicky's fervent commitment to both the community and the world of local journalism.

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