Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip combines creamy layers of cream cheese and sour cream with savory sausage, mozzarella, and pepperoni, all topped with a zesty pizza sauce and a drizzle of spicy-sweet hot honey. Served warm with garlicky toasted baguette crostini, this crowd-pleasing appetizer is perfect for game days, parties, or cozy nights in.
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)
- 1/3 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, 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. If preparing the garlic bread crostini, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of each baguette slice generously with this garlic butter. Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: Heat a small frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausage meat, crumbling it into small pieces as it cooks. Cook until the sausage just begins to get crispy. Drain any excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside to cool slightly.
- Make Cream Cheese Base: In a small bowl, combine the room temperature cream cheese, sour cream, grated parmesan cheese, and dried oregano. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Layer the Dip: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Carefully spread the pizza sauce on top of the cream cheese layer without mixing the layers.
- Add Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the pizza sauce layer. Then scatter the cooked sausage crumbles evenly atop the cheese, followed by the mini pepperoni slices.
- Bake the Dip: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes or until the dip starts to bubble. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 1-2 minutes to crisp the pepperoni slightly.
- Bake Crostini: Place the baking sheet with the prepared garlic bread crostini into the oven 5 minutes after the dip has started baking. Toast the crostini for 4-5 minutes or until they are golden brown and slightly crispy, flipping them once halfway through the baking time.
- Remove from Oven: Take both the pizza dip and crostini out of the oven once finished baking.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, sprinkle the thinly sliced fresh basil leaves and additional grated parmesan cheese over the hot dip. Drizzle hot honey generously on top for a perfect sweet and spicy finish.
- Enjoy: Serve the warm dip alongside the crispy garlic crostini, perfect for dipping and sharing with friends or family.
Notes
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream for a tangier and healthier alternative.
- If mini pepperoni isn’t available, regular pepperoni sliced into quarters works well.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey to your preferred spice and sweetness level.
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature to ensure it mixes smoothly.
- Use a sturdy baguette for the crostini to hold up well when dipped into the hot cheese mixture.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage and pepperoni and add extra cheese or vegetables like mushrooms and olives.
