Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a savory and spicy appetizer perfect for gatherings. Layered with creamy cheese, tangy pizza sauce, savory sausage, and crispy pepperoni, then baked until bubbly and topped with a drizzle of sweet hot honey, it pairs perfectly with garlic butter crostini for dipping.
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)
- â…“ 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)
Garnish
- 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 oven to 375°F. 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 with cooking spray.
- Prepare garlic bread crostini: In a small bowl, combine melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of baguette slices with garlic butter and arrange on prepared baking sheet. Set aside.
- Cook sausage: In a small frying pan, cook the sausage meat, crumbling into small pieces as it cooks until just starting to get crispy. Drain excess fat and let cool.
- Mix cheese base: In a small bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and dried oregano until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble dip layers: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Top with an even layer of pizza sauce, then sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce layer.
- Add sausage and pepperoni: Scatter cooled cooked sausage crumbles evenly over the mozzarella, then scatter mini pepperoni on top.
- Bake the dip: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in preheated oven for 6-8 minutes until the dip starts to bubble. Remove foil and bake an additional 1-2 minutes until the pepperoni is crispy.
- Bake crostini: Five minutes after putting the dip in the oven, place the crostini baking sheet in the oven. Bake crostini for 4-5 minutes until slightly toasted and golden brown, flipping each piece halfway through.
- Finish and serve: Remove dip and crostini from oven. Optionally garnish dip with sliced basil and grated parmesan cheese. Drizzle hot honey over the dip, serve warm with garlic bread crostini, and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a tangier flavor and healthier option.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey drizzle according to your preferred spice level.
- Use freshly grated cheeses for best melting and flavor.
- For a milder dip, use mild Italian sausage and reduce or omit hot honey.
- Garlic bread crostini can be toasted longer if you prefer crispier texture.
