Pizza Dip
This easy pizza dip appetizer is the fun way to enjoy this party food classic. Ready faster than delivery and you can customize it with your favorite toppings!
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Table of Contents
- About Pizza Dip
- What can you serve with pepperoni pizza dip?
- What other toppings can you use?
- Should you grate your own cheese?
- How long can you leave out hot pizza dip?
- Can you make pizza dip in advance?
- Can you freeze pizza dip?
- Notes & tips for pepperoni pizza dip:
- More tasty dip recipes
- How do you make a pizza dip appetizer?
- Recipe Details
About Pizza Dip
If you’re looking for a way to spice up your Friday night pizza delivery, then this hot pizza dip is a must-try for your next movie night.
Perfect for a party of one or feeding a crowd, you just can’t beat a bowl of melty cheese, Italian flavor, and all of your favorite pizza toppings. Pair it with buttery breadsticks or crispy chips and this bowl will be empty before you know it.
What can you serve with pepperoni pizza dip?
Anything that would be delicious covered with cheese, of course! Here are a few of my go-to favorites:
- Tortilla chips, especially the scoops
- Toasted bread, especially breadsticks
- Celery
- Pretzels, from small and crunchy or large and soft
What other toppings can you use?
I used traditional pepperoni and a dash of green peppers and onion when I made this dip, but if you’d like to get creative, feel free to treat this dip like your favorite pizza. To give you some ideas, you could top this dip with:
- Meats such as pepperoni, Italian sausage, meatball, ham, bacon, grilled chicken, beef, pork, or even anchovies.
- Veggies like mushrooms, spinach, red onions, black olives, bell peppers, banana peppers, pineapple, jalapeno peppers, and tomatoes.
Should you grate your own cheese?
We all know buying pre-grated cheese is very convenient, but it contains some preservatives (such as potato starch) that help keep the grated cheese separated in the bag. And while this is great for grabbing a quick pinch of what you need, it will also cause the melted cheese to appear lumpy or harden as it cools much faster than it should.
So if you’re a cheese lover like me and what the cheesiest experience possible for your dip, I highly recommend grating a block of cheese. I know it’s more work, but the end result will more than make up for it.
How long can you leave out hot pizza dip?
Whenever you serve a party dip, you should always keep track of how long it sits at room temperature.
For most foods, the general rule of thumb is that a perishable item should not be in the “danger zone” for more than two hours. And by “danger zone”, this is usually at or just above room temperature.
Since this dip will be served warm, that should give you another 30-60 minutes before needing to keep track of the dip. So, in total, this dip can be left out for an absolute maximum of three hours, depending on the temperature of the room. However, be sure to still check the dip every now and then and make your best judgment.
Once you pass the recommended time, you can heat it up in the oven again.
For best results, I’d recommend using a warming tray so that this cheesy pizza dip stays toasty and above the “danger zone” temperature.
Can you make pizza dip in advance?
Yes, you can whip up this dip in advance and store it in the refrigerator until it’s ready to be baked.
Once assembled, this dip can be stored in the refrigerator for three to five days, depending on the freshness of the ingredients used. When ready to bake, let the dip warm up on the counter for about 30 minutes, then bake per the recipe instructions.
Once the dip is baked, it’s best to consume it all on the same day and toss out any excess. However, if you do want to save the leftovers, it can be stored in the refrigerator for two or three days.
Can you freeze pizza dip?
Yes, this dip can be prepared and frozen to be baked at a later date. For best results, the dip should be frozen before baking; I do not recommend freezing the baked dip.
To freeze this dip: Add dip to a bowl with a sealable lid. Secure lid and store in the freezer for one to three months. Before baking, let dip thaw in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to serve, transfer to a baking dish and follow the regular instructions for baking the dip.
Notes & tips for pepperoni pizza dip:
- As mentioned above, I highly recommend you use freshly grated cheese. A simple food grater will do the trick.
- Like the pie pan used in the photos? You can get a similar one here.
More tasty dip recipes
How do you make a pizza dip appetizer?
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – In a small bowl, toss together the Italian-style cheese and the mozzarella cheese, then set the bowl nearby.
Step 2 – Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer + large bowl), whip together the cream cheese and Italian seasoning, then set nearby.
Step 3 – Spray a 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray, then add the cream cheese mixture to the pan. Use a spatula to spread it out into a nice, even layer.
Step 4 – Sprinkle half of the mixed cheeses on top of the cream cheese layer.
Step 5 – Pour the tomato sauce on next, smoothing it out.
Step 6 – Top the sauce with the other half of the mixed cheese.
Step 7 – Add any toppings you like, such as pepperoni, veggies, etc.
Step 8 – Bake!
Step 9 – Serve with toasted bread or chips and enjoy!
Pizza Dip
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Italian style cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, (see recipe notes)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 ounces pizza sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper, or any pizza topping you'd like
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion, or any pizza topping you'd like
- 5-7 pepperoni slices, or any pizza topping you'd like
- chips or breadsticks, for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 inch pie plate (ideally microwave safe, so you can reheat the dip if needed) with cooking spray, then set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add Italian-style cheese and mozzarella cheese together, then set aside.1 1/2 cups shredded Italian style cheese, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Using a stand mixer (or a hand mixer + large bowl), whip together cream cheese and Italian seasoning seasoning until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes.8 ounces cream cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Add cream cheese to prepared pie dish and use a spatula to spread it out into a solid, even layer.
- Sprinkle about half of the cheese mixture on top of the cream cheese in an even layer.
- Pour pizza sauce on top of cheese, using the spatula to spread the sauce while leaving a 1/2 inch space along the side of the dish (just like a pizza).8 ounces pizza sauce
- Add the remaining 1/2 of the cheese on top of the pizza sauce, again making an even layer.
- Add toppings of your choice to the pizza (recommended: pepperoni, green onion, and green pepper).2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper, 2 tablespoons chopped green onion, 5-7 pepperoni slices
- Bake pizza dip for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately with chips or breadsticks for dipping.chips or breadsticks
Notes
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
