Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a delicious, crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring layers of creamy cream cheese, tangy pizza sauce, melted mozzarella, spicy sausage, and crispy pepperoni. Baked to bubbly perfection and topped with a drizzle of sweet and spicy hot honey, it’s served warm alongside garlic butter crostini made from toasted baguette slices. Perfect for game days, parties, or casual gatherings.
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, optional garnish)
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated, optional 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 and Prepare Bakeware: 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 it lightly with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Butter for Crostini: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with the minced garlic. Brush both sides of each baguette slice generously with the garlic butter. Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a small frying pan over medium heat, cook the sausage meat. Use a spoon or spatula to crumble the meat as it cooks until it just starts to get crispy. Drain any excess fat and remove from heat to cool slightly.
- Mix Cream Cheese Base: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan, and dried oregano. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Layer the Dip: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, forming the base layer. Then spread the pizza sauce evenly over the cream cheese without mixing the layers.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the pizza sauce layer. Scatter the cooked crumbled sausage over the cheese, then evenly distribute the mini pepperoni on top.
- Bake the Dip: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes, or until the dip starts to bubble. Remove the foil and bake for another 1-2 minutes to crisp the pepperoni.
- Bake Crostini: Five minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the baking sheet with the garlic bread crostini in the oven. Bake for 4-5 minutes until the crostini are golden and slightly toasted, flipping halfway through for even browning.
- Remove from Oven: Take both the dip and crostini out of the oven once done.
- Garnish the Dip: Optionally, sprinkle the top of the dip with the thinly sliced fresh basil leaves and the extra grated parmesan cheese for added flavor and presentation.
- Serve: Drizzle hot honey generously over the warm dip. Serve immediately with the warm garlic bread crostini for dipping. Enjoy your flavorful, spicy-sweet pizza dip!
Notes
- You can substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a tangier flavor and added protein.
- The hot honey drizzle adds a delightful sweet heat, but adjust the amount to your heat preference.
- For a milder dip, use mild Italian sausage and reduce or omit hot honey.
- Ensure cream cheese is at room temperature for easier mixing and a smoother base.
- Use mini pepperoni for even distribution and crispiness; if using larger pepperoni, cut into quarters.
- Leftover dip can be refrigerated and reheated gently; however, crostini are best served fresh and crispy.
