Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that layers creamy cheese, zesty pizza sauce, savory sausage, and pepperoni, all baked to bubbly perfection. Served warm with crispy garlic bread crostini and a drizzle of sweet-spicy hot honey, this dip combines the flavors of pizza in a fun and shareable form, perfect for parties or cozy nights in.
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)
- ⅓ 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 and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your 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 with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Bread Crostini: In a small bowl, combine melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with this garlic butter mixture. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Set aside until ready to bake.
- Cook Sausage: In a small frying pan, cook the sausage meat over medium heat. Crumble it into small pieces while cooking until it just starts to get crispy. Drain any excess fat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Mix Cream Cheese Base: In a small bowl, combine room temperature cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan, and dried oregano. Mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Layer the Dip: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the greased baking dish. Carefully layer the pizza sauce over the cream cheese without mixing the layers.
- Add Cheese and Meat: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the sauce layer. Scatter the cooked sausage crumbles on top followed by the mini pepperoni pieces.
- Bake Dip Covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes until the dip begins to bubble.
- Uncover and Crisp Pepperoni: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 1-2 minutes until the pepperoni crisps up nicely.
- Bake Crostini: Five minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the crostini baking sheet in the oven. Bake the crostini for 4-5 minutes, flipping each piece halfway through, until toasted and golden brown.
- Remove from Oven: Take both the dip and crostini out of the oven once done baking.
- Garnish the Dip: Optionally, top the dip with thinly sliced fresh basil leaves and sprinkle with additional grated parmesan cheese.
- Serve: Drizzle hot honey over the warm dip and serve immediately with garlic bread crostini for dipping. Enjoy the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors!
Notes
- Use cream cheese at room temperature to ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
- For a healthier option, substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey according to your preferred level of sweetness and spiciness.
- The garlic bread crostini can be toasted under the broiler for a faster alternative but watch closely to avoid burning.
- Leftover dip can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven until warm and bubbly.
