Description
This irresistible baked pizza dip is a crowd-pleasing appetizer perfect for any party or game day gathering. Creamy layers of seasoned cream cheese blend with tangy pizza sauce, melty mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses, topped with classic pizza ingredients like pepperoni, olives, bell peppers, and onions. Served warm with your choice of dippers, it’s an easy, flavorful dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Layer
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Pizza Toppings
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
Garnish & Serving
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- Assorted dippers such as toasted baguette slices, tortilla chips, breadsticks, or crackers
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s at the correct temperature for baking your dip evenly.
- Prepare Base Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Mix until completely smooth and well blended.
- Layer the Dip: Grease a 9-inch pie dish or shallow baking dish. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly across the bottom as your base layer.
- Add Pizza Sauce: Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the cream cheese base to create the classic pizza flavor foundation.
- Cheese Layer: Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the pizza sauce layer.
- Add Toppings: Distribute the mini pepperoni slices, sliced black olives, chopped green bell pepper, and chopped onion evenly over the cheese layer.
- Top with Cheese: Add the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly on top to cover the toppings.
- Bake: Place the dish uncovered into the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starts to turn golden brown around the edges.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove from the oven and let the dip rest for about 5 minutes to set slightly before serving. Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil for a burst of fresh flavor.
- Serve: Serve warm with your choice of toasted baguette slices, tortilla chips, breadsticks, or crackers for dipping.
Notes
- Customize the toppings to your favorite pizza flavors like mushrooms, sausage, or jalapeños.
- Make it vegetarian by omitting the pepperoni.
- This dip reheats well in the oven or microwave for easy leftovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
