Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza Dip is the ultimate party appetizer, combining creamy layers of cream cheese and mozzarella with spicy pepperoni, tangy pizza sauce, and a sweet drizzle of hot honey. Perfect for game day or any gathering, it’s easy to prepare, baked to bubbly perfection, and best served warm with crackers, crostini, or breadsticks.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
Cheese & Seasoning
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Toppings
- 15–20 mini pepperoni slices
- 1 tablespoon hot honey (plus more for drizzling)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Serving
- Crackers, crostini, or breadsticks for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Base: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread the softened cream cheese evenly across the bottom of a small oven-safe baking dish to create a smooth base layer for the dip.
- Add Sauce Layer: Spoon the pizza sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer, ensuring full coverage to blend flavors and moisture throughout the dip.
- Top with Cheese and Seasoning: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes uniformly over the sauce layer to infuse richness and subtly spicy notes.
- Add Pepperoni Slices: Arrange 15–20 mini pepperoni slices on top of the cheese layer, distributing them evenly to balance flavor in every bite.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden at the edges.
- Drizzle with Hot Honey: Remove from oven and while still warm, drizzle the dip with hot honey to add a delightful sweet-heat contrast.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley for a pop of color and freshness. Serve immediately with crackers, crostini, or breadsticks for dipping.
Notes
- For extra heat, add sliced jalapeños or increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
- You can prepare the dip ahead of time and refrigerate; bake for a few extra minutes when baking straight from the fridge.
- To make this dip gluten-free, serve with gluten-free crackers or breadsticks.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey drizzled to suit your preferred balance between sweet and spicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of dip
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 440mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
