Description
This Pizza Dip is a warm, cheesy appetizer that combines cream cheese, sour cream, marinara sauce, and a blend of Italian herbs topped with mozzarella, parmesan, and pepperoni. Baked until bubbly and golden, it’s perfect for dipping with crusty bread, chips, or veggies and makes a delicious crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more for topping
Layer
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 1/4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 15 slices pepperoni
To Serve
- Crusty bread, pita, tortilla chips, bagel chips, or vegetables
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the dip.
- Mix base ingredients: In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Make sure the sour cream is not cold to ensure a smooth consistency when baked.
- Spread base layer: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan, baking dish, or cast iron skillet.
- Add marinara sauce: Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer.
- Top with cheeses: Sprinkle the finely grated parmesan cheese first, then evenly distribute the shredded mozzarella cheese over the marinara sauce.
- Add pepperoni: Arrange 15 slices of pepperoni on top of the cheese layer, or add your choice of pizza toppings.
- Bake the dip: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes until the top is bubbly and begins to brown.
- Garnish and serve: If desired, garnish with additional red pepper flakes, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped parsley. Serve warm alongside crusty bread, pita chips, tortilla chips, bagel chips, or fresh vegetables for dipping.
Notes
- Make-Ahead Method: Assemble the dip as described and refrigerate covered for up to 3 days. Before baking, let it sit at room temperature for 20-25 minutes, then bake as usual.
- For best flavor and texture, grate parmesan cheese and shred mozzarella cheese from blocks rather than using pre-shredded cheese.
- Use a quality marinara sauce like Rao’s or homemade marinara for the best taste.
- Additional topping options include sausage, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, onions, sliced tomatoes, beef, ham, pineapple, feta, and more.
- Sour cream can be substituted with mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese if preferred.
- Serve with crusty bread such as no-knead bread, pita, tortilla chips, bagel chips, or fresh vegetables.
- This dip pairs wonderfully with other recipes like homemade pizza, buffalo chicken pizza, Hawaiian pizza, and French bread pizza.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
