Description
A deliciously indulgent Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip featuring layers of creamy cheese, savory sausage, spicy mini pepperoni, and pizza sauce, baked to bubbly perfection. Served warm with crispy garlic butter crostini baguette slices and drizzled with sweet-hot honey for the perfect balance of flavors, this dip is ideal for parties or cozy gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- ½ cup sausage meat (honey garlic, mild or hot Italian, or 2 sausages with casing removed)
- 1 cup mini pepperoni (or regular size cut into quarters)
Dairy & Cheese
- 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)
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated, for garnish)
Other
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 cup pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
- 4 leaves fresh basil (sliced, for garnish)
- 1 baguette (cut into ½ inch thick slices, cut diagonally on an angle)
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- Hot honey (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃). Grease an oven-safe baking dish or skillet with cooking spray. For the garlic bread crostini, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and spray it with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted 3 tablespoons of butter with the minced garlic. Brush both sides of the baguette slices generously with the garlic butter mixture. Place the slices on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a small frying pan over medium heat, cook the sausage meat, crumbling with a spoon until it is just starting to get crispy. Drain excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside to cool.
- Mix Cheese Layer: In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan cheese, and dried oregano. Mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Layer Cheese Mixture: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the greased baking dish, creating the base layer of the dip.
- Add Pizza Sauce Layer: Carefully spread the pizza sauce over the cream cheese layer evenly without mixing the two layers together.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly on top of the pizza sauce. Scatter the cooked sausage crumbles and the mini pepperoni pieces evenly over the cheese.
- Bake Dip Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes or until the dip starts to bubble.
- Toast Crostini: After placing the dip in the oven, put the prepared baking sheet with garlic bread slices into the oven. Bake the crostini for 4-5 minutes, flipping each slice halfway through baking until they are golden brown and slightly toasted.
- Finish Baking Dip: Remove the foil from the dip and bake for another 1-2 minutes to crisp up the pepperoni on top.
- Final Touches: Remove both the dip and crostini from the oven. Optionally, garnish the dip with thinly sliced fresh basil leaves and grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor and presentation.
- Serve: Drizzle hot honey generously over the top of the dip. Serve the warm dip immediately alongside the warm garlic bread crostini for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Sausage options can range from honey garlic to mild or hot Italian for different flavor profiles.
- Cream cheese should be at room temperature to mix smoothly.
- Using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream will add a slight tang but is a healthy substitute.
- Be careful not to mix the pizza sauce into the cream cheese layer to keep clear, distinct layers.
- Cutting regular sized pepperoni into quarters is a good alternative if mini pepperoni is unavailable.
- Use hot honey for a sweet-spicy kick, or substitute with honey if you prefer less heat.
- Garlic butter crostini can be made ahead and reheated before serving.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated in the oven for best texture.
