Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a deliciously cheesy and savory appetizer featuring layers of cream cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella, sausage, and mini pepperoni, baked until bubbly and topped with a drizzle of sweet and spicy hot honey. Served warm with crispy garlic bread crostini, it’s perfect for parties, game days, or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- ½ cup sausage meat (honey garlic, mild or hot Italian, or 2 sausages with casing removed)
- 1 cup mini pepperoni (or regular size cut into quarters)
Dairy
- 8 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature, 1 brick, 250 grams)
- ½ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- 4 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated, for garnish)
Other
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 cup pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
- Hot honey (for drizzling)
- 1 baguette (cut into ½ inch thick slices, diagonally on an angle)
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 4 leaves fresh basil (sliced, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375℉ and grease an oven-safe baking dish or skillet with cooking spray. Prepare a baking sheet for the garlic bread crostini by lining it with parchment paper or foil and spraying it with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Butter and Bread: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with the garlic butter. Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a small frying pan, cook the sausage meat, crumbling it into small pieces as it cooks until it just begins to get crispy. Drain any excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside to cool.
- Mix Cream Cheese Layer: In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan cheese, and dried oregano. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Dip – Cream Cheese Layer: Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish to form the first layer.
- Layer Pizza Sauce: Gently spread the pizza sauce over the cream cheese layer without mixing, creating a separate layer on top.
- Add Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the pizza sauce. Scatter the cooked sausage crumbles and mini pepperoni evenly on top of the mozzarella layer.
- Bake Dip Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes, until the dip starts to bubble.
- Crisp Pepperoni: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 1-2 minutes to crisp the pepperoni.
- Bake Crostini: Approximately 5 minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the baking sheet with the baguette slices into the oven. Bake for 4-5 minutes, flipping each piece halfway through, until golden and slightly toasted.
- Remove from Oven: Take both the dip and crostini out of the oven carefully.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally sprinkle the dip with sliced fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese. Drizzle hot honey generously over the warm dip. Serve immediately with the warm garlic bread crostini for dipping and enjoy!
Notes
- Use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a tangier flavor and slightly healthier option.
- Adjust the type of sausage and pepperoni based on your spice preference—use mild for less heat or hot for more kick.
- Hot honey adds a perfect balance of sweetness and spice but can be omitted or substituted with regular honey if preferred.
- Serve the dip immediately to enjoy the warm, melty texture and crispy crostini.
- For an easier cleanup, use an oven-safe skillet that can go from stovetop to oven if you want to cook sausage directly in it.
