The Easy 2-Ingredient Sour Cream Dip I Make Every 4th of July (It’s So Good)

I love a creamy dip. Any and every gathering is merely an excuse to eat a variety of dips in my opinion. (I’m a regular Oliver Putnam.) Now, while I love nothing better than arriving to a dinner party or cookout and seeing a vat of Buffalo chicken dip or a big bowl of creamy esquites dip for me to dig into, when it’s my turn to provide, my tastes run decidedly more …simple. 

My go-to move is a tried-and-true fave, the OG two ingredient dip: Lipton onion soup mix and sour cream. No need to mess with perfection. However, ever since I discovered that I could mimic a similar flavor to that classic dip by adding a bit of the seasoning packet from a package of instant ramen, I’ve been on the lookout for other flavorful additions to sour cream that would make a tasty, umami-packed dip. My newest dip triumph makes use of a ubiquitous seasoning blend I often have in my pantry: taco seasoning. 

Taco seasoning is the perfect dip base because it’s a premixed combination of a whole bunch of spices — chili powder, oregano, cumin, garlic, and onion, is only a partial list. While you can raid your spice cabinet to make your own, the premixed stuff from the grocery store is not only really tasty, it also drums up taco night nostalgia for me. Taco seasoning mixed with sour cream brings together two classic taco-night flavors to make a creamy, savory, tangy dip that is way easier to make than classic taco dip. 

Different brands of taco seasoning have different spice levels, so it’s best to start with less and add additional seasoning only after stirring well and tasting. You can always add for a more concentrated flavor, but you can never take away.

• To make taco dip for a crowd. Combine a 16-ounce container of sour cream with 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning. 
• To make taco dip for one. Combine 1/2 cup sour cream with 1 1/2 teaspoons of taco seasoning. 

• Use what you’ve got for the base. I like to make this dip with sour cream, but you could just as easily mix it up with some Greek yogurt or softened cream cheese.
• Add toppings. If you want to get fancy, this dip is a great base for taco-adjacent toppings like salsa, cheese, crispy onions, and sliced black olives.
• It’s also great on tacos. Not tacos that already have taco seasoning in the filling, but I like spreading a layer of this dip on a flour tortilla and then topping with simple grilled chicken or steak and a little slaw for a quick weeknight meal. Yum!

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: The 2-Ingredient Sour Cream Dip I Make Every Fourth of July (It Takes Zero Effort)