Description
Warm Pizza Dip is a cheesy, flavorful appetizer perfect for parties or cozy nights in. Layers of cream cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, and zesty pizza sauce are topped with vibrant veggies and pepperoni, then baked to bubbly, melty perfection. Serve with baguette slices or tortilla chips for a crowd-pleasing snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Other Toppings
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 3 tablespoons green bell pepper, diced
- 8 slices pepperoni
- 2 tablespoons black olives, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate lightly with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Make the Cream Cheese Base: In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese with garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried basil until well combined. Spread this mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared pie plate as the creamy base layer.
- Add Cheese Layers and Sauce: Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and half of the parmesan cheese evenly over the cream cheese base. Then, spread the entire cup of pizza sauce evenly over the cheese.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Toppings: Evenly sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the pizza sauce. Top with diced green bell peppers, pepperoni slices, and sliced black olives to add flavor and texture.
- Bake the Dip: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the dip is warmed through and the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately while warm. This dip is perfect with baguette slices or tortilla chips for dipping.
Notes
- You can substitute pepperoni with cooked sausage or keep it vegetarian by omitting the meat.
- Use fresh herbs if available for an even brighter flavor.
- Adjust the amount of pizza sauce based on your preference for sauciness.
- For a spicier kick, add crushed red pepper flakes to the cream cheese mixture.
- This dip can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
