Description
A crowd-pleasing, creamy and savory Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip featuring layers of cream cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella, cooked sausage, and pepperoni, baked to bubbly perfection and drizzled with sweet and spicy hot honey. Served warm with crispy garlic bread crostini, this dip is perfect for game day, parties, or any casual gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip Ingredients
- ½ cup sausage meat (honey garlic, mild or hot Italian, or 2 sausages with casing removed)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature, 1 brick, 250 grams)
- ½ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 cup pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- 1 cup mini pepperoni (or regular size cut into quarters)
- 4 leaves fresh basil (sliced)
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated)
- Hot honey (to drizzle)
Garlic Bread Crostini
- 1 baguette (cut into ½ inch thick slices, cut diagonally on an angle)
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375℉. Grease an oven-safe baking dish or skillet with cooking spray. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil sprayed with cooking spray if making garlic bread crostini.
- Prepare Garlic Bread Crostini: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with the garlic butter and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a small frying pan over medium heat, cook the sausage meat, crumbling it into small pieces as it browns until it starts to get crispy. Drain excess fat and let cool.
- Mix Cream Cheese Base: In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan cheese, and dried oregano. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Layer Cream Cheese Mixture: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Layer Sauce: Carefully spread the pizza or marinara sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer without mixing.
- Add Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top of the sauce. Scatter the cooked sausage crumbles and mini pepperoni evenly over the cheese layer.
- Bake the Dip: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 6-8 minutes or until the dip begins to bubble. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 1-2 minutes until the pepperoni crisps up.
- Bake Crostini: About 5 minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the baking sheet with crostini in the oven. Bake for 4-5 minutes until slices are toasted and golden, flipping halfway through.
- Remove and Garnish: Take the dip and crostini out of the oven. Optionally, garnish the dip with sliced fresh basil and additional grated parmesan cheese.
- Drizzle and Serve: Drizzle hot honey over the warm dip. Serve immediately with the warm garlic bread crostini for dipping and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a tangier flavor and extra protein.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey based on your spice and sweetness preference.
- For a spicier version, use hot Italian sausage and spicy pepperoni.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easier mixing.
- The garlic crostini can be toasted in advance and reheated before serving.
