Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a crowd-pleasing appetizer combining creamy layers of cream cheese, tangy sour cream, and parmesan with savory sausage and pepperoni, topped with melty mozzarella and a drizzle of sweet and spicy hot honey. Served warm with garlic butter crostini, it’s perfect for parties or game day snacking.
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)
- 4 leaves fresh basil (sliced, optional for garnish)
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated, optional for garnish)
- 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. For the garlic bread crostini, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted 3 tablespoons butter with the minced garlic. Brush this garlic butter generously on both sides of the baguette slices. Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: Heat a small frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausage meat, breaking it up into small crumbles as it cooks. Cook until the sausage just starts to get crispy. Drain any excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside to cool slightly.
- Mix Cream Cheese Layer: In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan cheese, and dried oregano. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Dip – Cream Cheese Layer: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating a smooth base layer.
- Assemble Dip – Pizza Sauce Layer: Carefully spread the pizza sauce evenly on top of the cream cheese layer without mixing them together to maintain distinct layers.
- Add Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella uniformly over the sauce layer. Scatter the cooked sausage crumbles evenly on top of the mozzarella, then scatter the mini pepperoni slices over the sausage.
- Bake Dip Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning and bake in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes until the dip starts to bubble around the edges.
- Bake Crostini & Finish Dip: Five minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the garlic bread crostini baking sheet in the oven as well. Bake the crostini for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway until golden and toasted. Remove the foil from the dip and bake uncovered for an additional 1-2 minutes until the pepperoni crisps up.
- Remove from Oven: Take both the dip and crostini out of the oven carefully.
- Garnish Dip: Optionally, garnish the dip with thinly sliced fresh basil leaves and sprinkle the additional grated parmesan cheese over the top for extra flavor and color.
- Serve: Drizzle hot honey generously over the warm dip. Serve immediately with the warm garlic bread crostini for dipping and enjoy!
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth mixing and creamy texture.
- For a spicier dip, use hot Italian sausage and regular pepperoni cut into quarters for more surface area to crisp.
- If you prefer a tangier dip, substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.
- Hot honey can be store-bought or homemade by infusing honey with chili flakes.
- The garlic crostini can be made ahead and warmed just before serving.
- Make sure to drain excess fat from sausage to prevent a greasy dip.
- Fresh basil adds a fresh bright flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
