Pizza Dip
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Pizza Dip
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Pizza Dip is a crowd-pleasing creamy, cheesy party dip for birthdays, game day, holidays, and potlucks! This recipe is 100% prep ahead friendly and can be made in oven or slow cooker. The base of this recipe is made with herby cream cheese for luxurious creaminess, mozzarella for the buttery cheese pull and cheddar for flavor, topped with vibrant marinara sauce or pizza sauce, more cheese, then YOUR choice of toppings. Serve this baked and broiled Pizza Dip with toasted baguette slices, pita chips or even vegetables. Best of all, I’ve included all sorts of recipe variations in the notes!
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Ingredients
CREAMY BASE
- 12 ounces block cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp EACH garlic powder, dried basil
- 1/2 tsp EACH salt, pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
TOPPING Suggestions (pick your favs!)
- 1 cup Pizza Sauce or marinara (I use Rao's brand marinara)
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup mini pepperoni or cooked crumbled sausage
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (patted dry)
- 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper (patted dry)
- 2 tablespoons diced red onion
- fresh basil and/or parsley (add after baking)
Dippers for serving (pick your favs!)
- Baguette slices (see notes for toasting)
- crusty bread
- breadsticks
- crackers
- Pita chips
- vegetables
Instructions
Oven
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix the cream cheese, sour cream and seasonings together in a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese.
- Spoon the mixture into an ungreased 2-qt. baking dish, deep dish 9-inch pie plate, or 9-inch cast-iron skillet.
- Evenly spread the marinara sauce over top, then sprinkle with the Parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- If using pepperoni, place it in a single layer on a paper towel lined plate and microwave for 45 seconds. Blot the tops of pepperoni with a paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Evenly top the cheeses with the pepperoni and/or other desired toppings.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and the top begins to brown. Broil if desired for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and blot excess moisture with paper towels (the veggies weep a little). If desired, garnish with additional red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, fresh basil and/or parsley. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving with desired dippers.
Slow Cooker
- Lightly grease slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray (optional: use a crock pot liner for easy clean up).
- Mix the cream cheese, sour cream and seasonings together in the slow cooker. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours, or until the cheeses are melted and dip is hot and bubbly, stirring occasionally.
- Evenly spread the marinara sauce over top, then sprinkle with the Parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- If using pepperoni, place it in a single layer on a paper towel lined plate and microwave for 45 seconds. Blot the tops of pepperoni with a paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Evenly top the cheeses with the pepperoni and/or other desired toppings.
- Cover and cook until the cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.
- Blot excess moisture with paper towels (the veggies weep a little). If desired, garnish with additional red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, fresh basil and/or parsley. Keep on low until ready to serve.
Notes
- Choose your sauce, cheeses and toppings to make this Pizza Dip different every time! Keep the cheeses the same as the original recipe (mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan) unless specified otherwise. Here are a few ideas:
- Crockpot Pizza Dip: Follow the instructions up to baking. Add the ingredients to a lightly greased slow cooker, cover and cook on low for low for 2-3 hours, until warmed through and the cheese is melted.
- Recipe Variations: Change the sauce, protein, veggies, and cheeses. See the post for lots of ideas!
- Barbecue Chicken Pizza Dip: Use barbecue sauce, Gouda and mozzarella cheese and top with shredded chicken tossed in barbecue sauce, thinly sliced red onions, jalapenos and cilantro. Bell peppers and pineapple would also be tasty. Refer to my BBQ Chicken Pizza for the spices I use on my chicken.
- Alfredo Chicken Pizza Dip: Use Alfredo sauce, all mozzarella and Parmesan, and top with blackened chicken and thinly sliced red onions.
- White chicken Pizza Dip: Same as above, but add any additional toppings such as roasted corn, tomatoes, bacon, etc.
- Thai Chicken Pizza Dip: Use this peanut sauce from my Thai Chicken Flatbread, mozzarella, and top with crisp bean sprouts, julienned carrots, slivered scallions and fresh cilantro.
- Hawaiian Pizza Dip: Use barbecue sauce and top with fresh pineapple, Applewood smoked ham or Canadian bacon, thinly sliced jalapenos and chopped green onions.
- Taco Pizza Dip: Top with salsa or enchilada sauce, taco meat (I recommend this recipe), olives and black beans and bake, then finish with chopped tomatoes, chopped lettuce, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips and drizzle with avocado crema.
- Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pizza Dip: Top with enchilada sauce, chopped chipotle chicken, bell peppers, roasted corn, black beans and bake, then finish with chopped tomatoes, chopped lettuce, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips and drizzle with either 1) avocado crema, 2) cilantro lime dressing or 3) avocado ranch.
- Carne Asada Pizza Dip: Top with a thin layer of chipotle sauce, chopped carne asada, roasted corn, black beans, red bell peppers and bake, then finish with chopped tomatoes, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips and drizzle with either 1) avocado crema, 2) cilantro lime dressing or 3) avocado ranch.
- Buffalo Chicken Pizza Dip: Top with blue cheese dressing, chopped buffalo chicken or shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, thinly sliced red onions, and fresh cilantro.
- Greek Chicken Pizza Dip: Top with roasted red pepper sauce, chopped Greek chicken, thinly sliced red onions, Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes and crumbled feta; bake, then finish with baby arugula and a drizzle of tzatziki.
- California Club Pizza Dip: Top with roasted red pepper sauce, Applewood smoked bacon, charred corn and grilled chicken, bake; then finish with sliced avocado, baby arugula, fresh tomatoes, torn basil.
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