This Pizza Dip recipe is the perfect easy appetizer for game day or your next party. This cheesy dip only takes 35 minutes to make, and best of all, you can make your own garlic knot dippers to go with it!
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Why this Pizza Dip Recipe is a Keeper
This easy party dip is full of cheesy goodness and will keep your guests coming back every time. Here are some reasons why you’ll love this hot dip:
- 35 Minute Appetizer: Pizza dip only takes 35 minutes to make.
- Easy Ingredients: All the ingredients for this easy pizza dip recipe can likely be found in your pantry or kitchen.
- Family Friendly: There’s nothing your whole family will love more than delicious, cheesy garlic bread and marinara dip.
- Makes Great Leftovers: There are lots of pizza dippers you can use this dip for, including crackers, baguette slices, pita chips, pizza crusts, and French bread.
- Easy to Customize: If you love pizza, this is the perfect appetizer for all your favorite pizza toppings. Make a Hawaiian pizza dip with ham and pineapple, or feel free to add black olives, onions, peppers, extra cheese, and more for a supreme pizza dip.
If you’re looking for more dip recipes, try these: Boat Dip, Cowboy Crack Dip, and White Queso Dip.
Which Delicious Dips are Popular for Parties?
If you’re hosting a party, it’s a clever idea to have a few various kinds of dips so your guests can enjoy a range of choices. You can try cheesy dips, like this one or Andy’s Pizza Dip, salsa and spicy dips, or even dessert dips for things like fruit or cookies.
Ingredient Notes to Make this Pizza Dip
- Pizza Dough: Use premade pizza dough to make easy garlic knots, which will go great with pizza dip.
- Cheese: This recipe uses a few different kinds of cheese: Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
- Pepperonis: Use mini pepperoni or regular sized pepperoni to make this delicious dip. You can find mini pepperoni in the deli section of the grocery store.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
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Variations and Substitutions for Cheesy Pizza Dip
- Meat: Try adding some meat to your pizza dip, like ground Italian sausage or beef.
- Vegetables: Use mushrooms, onion dip, peppers or other veggies.
Special Equipment Needed for Hot Pizza Dip
- Cast Iron Skillet: Arrange the pizza dough balls in a cast iron skillet to make garlic knots. You can even bake the pan in the oven after you’ve made the dip.
Fun Fact
Brush some garlic butter on the garlic knots to make them even more flavorful.
How to Make Pepperoni Cheesy Dip
You can make this pizza dip in just a few easy steps. This easy dip is loaded with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni, and the recipe also includes some buttery garlic knots along with the cheese and sauce. You’ll want this homemade pizza dip at all your parties, and it’s sure to become one of your new favorites! If you can’t wait to make this hot pizza dip recipe, just follow the simple steps below.
These are the basic steps for making pizza dip. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Make Garlic Knots
Break off pieces of the pizza dough to create garlic knots and place them around the edge of the inside of the cast iron pan. Each ball of dough should be about 1 ½ inch in diameter. Place the pizza dough balls in the skillet with a small amount of space in between, then set aside and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine the Cream Cheese and Other Types of Cheese
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, parmesan, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, and the cheddar cheese. Blend the cream cheese layer together with a hand mixer until completely combined. Then, add the oregano, basil, and blend again. Spread the cream cheese mixture into the center of the cast iron pan. Once the mixture is touching the edges of the pizza dough balls, pour the pizza sauce on top of the cream cheese mixture. Spread pizza sauce with a spoon.
3. Cook the Pepperoni Pizza Dip
Add the rest of the mozzarella cheese and top with pepperoni slices. Mix the melted butter and garlic salt and baste the pizza dough balls with the garlic mixture. Save ½ for after baking. Bake the pizza dip in the oven to broil for 20 minutes, or until the garlic knots and layer of cheese have browned nicely and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and serve and enjoy while the dip is warm so it stays hot.
Baked Pizza Dip Appetizer FAQs
Expert Tips for Making Pizza Dip with Pizza Toppings
- Softened Cream Cheese: Make sure to soften the cream cheese before mixing. You can also thicken the dip with sour cream.
- Hand Mixer: To make the dip easier to scoop, use a hand mixer.
- Basil: Top the best pizza dip with fresh basil after baking. You can also sprinkle on some Italian seasoning or garlic powder.
- Crock Pot Pizza Dip: You can also try this recipe in the crock pot or slow cooker. Crockpot pepperoni pizza dip is an excellent choice if you don’t have a cast iron pan. You can make this crock pot dip in a mini crock pot too.
What to Serve with Pizza Dip
Pizza Dip
Equipment
- 1 10 inch Cast Iron Pan
Ingredients
- 13.8 ounces Pizza Dough
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Cheddar Cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
- ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 cup Pizza Sauce
- ½ cup Butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Salt
- ½ cup Pepperoni Slices
Instructions
- Break off pieces of the pizza dough to create garlic knots, and place around the edge of the inside of the cast iron pan. Each should be about 1 ½ inch in diameter, with a small amount of space in between.
- Set aside and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, parmesan, 1 cup of the mozzarella and the cheddar cheese. Blend together with a hand mixer until completely combined.
- Add the oregano and basil and blend again. Spread into the center of the cast iron pan until the mixture is touching the edges of the pizza dough balls.
- Pour the pizza sauce on top of the cream cheese mixture and spread with a spoon.
- Add the rest of the mozzarella cheese on top of the pizza sauce, then top with pepperoni slices.
- Mix the melted butter and garlic salt and baste the pizza dough balls with the garlic mixture. Save ½ for after baking.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the garlic knots and cheese have browned nicely.
- Remove from the oven, serve, and enjoy while warm!
Expert Tips
- Softened Cream Cheese: Make sure to soften the cream cheese before mixing. You can also thicken the dip with sour cream.
- Hand Mixer: To make the dip easier to scoop, use a hand mixer.
- Basil: Top the dip with fresh basil after baking. You can also sprinkle on some Italian seasoning or garlic powder.
- Crockpot Pepperoni Pizza Dip: You can also try this recipe in the crock pot or slow cooker. Crockpot pizza dip is a great choice if you don’t have a cast iron pan.