Serves 8 to 10

This recipe is usually served in a clear dish so you can see the layers. For a crowd, double the recipe and serve in a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish. If you don’t have time to make fresh guacamole as called for, simply mash 3 avocados with 3 tablespoons lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
With bold Southwestern flavors and an appealing ingredient list, seven-layer dip recipes sound like a hit. But most versions of this party classic assume that guests won’t notice the messy layers and tired flavors. Canned black beans stood in for refried beans in our Ultimate Seven-Layer Dip recipe, while garlic, chili powder, and lime juice added flavor. We found that sour cream on its own quickly watered down our Ultimate Seven-Layer Dip recipe, but combining it with cheese gave its layer more structure.

Serves 12

In step 3, the oven rack should be 10 to 12 inches from the broiler element. Don’t wander off while the wings are in the oven.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups

Partial thawing of the spinach produces a cold dip that can be served without further chilling. If you don’t own a microwave, the frozen spinach can be thawed at room temperature for 1 1/2 hours then squeezed of excess liquid. The garlic must be minced or pressed before going into the food processor; otherwise the dip will contain large chunks of garlic.