Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a deliciously creamy and savory appetizer featuring layers of cream cheese, sour cream, parmesan, tangy pizza sauce, mozzarella, crispy sausage, and pepperoni, baked to bubbly perfection. Served warm with crispy garlic butter baguette crostini and drizzled with spicy-sweet hot honey, it’s perfect for parties or game day snacking.
Ingredients
Scale
Dip
- 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)
- 4 leaves fresh basil (sliced)
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated)
- Hot honey (for drizzling)
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 Oven: Preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃). Grease an oven-safe baking dish or skillet with cooking spray. If making the garlic bread crostini, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil sprayed with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with this garlic butter, then arrange 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 cooks until it just starts to get crispy. Drain excess fat and let cool slightly.
- Mix Cream Cheese Base: In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan, and dried oregano. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Layer Cream Cheese Mixture: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating the base layer of the dip.
- Add Pizza Sauce: Carefully spread the pizza sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer, taking care not to mix the layers.
- Top with Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella across the sauce, then scatter the cooked sausage crumbles and mini pepperoni evenly over the top.
- Bake Dip: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes until the dip starts to bubble. Remove the foil and bake an additional 1-2 minutes until the pepperoni crisps up.
- Bake Crostini: About 5 minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the garlic bread crostini in the oven. Bake for 4-5 minutes or until toasted and golden, flipping each slice halfway through.
- Remove and Garnish: Take the dip and crostini out of the oven. Optionally garnish the dip with sliced fresh basil leaves and extra grated parmesan cheese.
- Serve: Drizzle hot honey over the warm dip and serve immediately with the warm garlic bread crostini for dipping. Enjoy this spicy, savory treat!
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth mixing.
- For a milder flavor, use mild Italian sausage; hot sausage adds extra spice.
- Baguette slices can be toasted ahead of time and reheated before serving.
- Hot honey can be found in specialty stores or made by infusing honey with chili flakes at home.
- Make sure to drain excess fat from the cooked sausage to avoid a greasy dip.
- The dip is best served warm and fresh for optimal flavor and texture.
