Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a savory and spicy appetizer that combines creamy cheese, zesty pizza sauce, crispy sausage, and pepperoni, all baked to bubbling perfection. Served warm alongside garlic butter crostini and drizzled with sweet and spicy hot honey, this dip is perfect for game day, parties, or casual gatherings.
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)
- 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)
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated, 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℉. Grease an oven-safe baking dish or skillet with cooking spray. If making garlic bread crostini, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and spray it with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Butter for Crostini: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with the garlic butter and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a small frying pan, cook the sausage meat over medium heat, crumbling it into small pieces as it cooks until it starts to get crispy. Drain any excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside to cool slightly.
- Mix Cheese Base: In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan, and dried oregano. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Dip: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Layer the pizza sauce over the cream cheese without mixing them together.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the sauce layer, then evenly scatter the cooked sausage crumbles and mini pepperoni pieces on top.
- Bake with Foil: Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes, or until the dip begins to bubble.
- Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 1-2 minutes to crisp up the pepperoni.
- Bake Crostini: About 5 minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the prepared crostini baking sheet in the oven. Bake the crostini for 4-5 minutes until they are golden and slightly toasted, flipping halfway through.
- Remove from Oven: Take both the dip and crostini out of the oven once done.
- Garnish: Optionally garnish the hot dip with fresh sliced basil leaves and a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.
- Serve: Drizzle hot honey over the dip for a sweet and spicy finish. Serve the warm dip alongside the garlic bread crostini for dipping and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt for a tangier flavor.
- Adjust the level of heat by choosing mild, honey garlic, or hot Italian sausage.
- Use mini pepperoni or slice regular pepperoni into quarters for better coverage.
- Keep cream cheese at room temperature to ensure smooth mixing.
- Drizzle the hot honey sparingly; it adds sweetness and balances the spice.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
