Packed with flavorful ingredients like pepperoni, Italian sausage, and gooey melted cheese, this easy Pepperoni Pizza Dip with ricotta is perfect for any gathering or game night. With just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can whip up a delicious, cheesy dip that will have everyone reaching for seconds!
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If you're a fan of pizza, then you know that the combination of flavors found in a classic slice can't be beat! This pizza dip appetizer brings all the flavors together in a dip that's easy to make and simple to share!
It's great served up with crispy breadsticks, toasted sourdough slices, or even tortilla chips for everyone to scoop up and enjoy! You will love serving it for your next game day event, movie watching night, or even at a backyard cookout for everyone to snack on!
For more party dip recipes, you've got to try this Rotel Dip and Ranch Cottage Cheese Dip next!
Why You’ll Love This Pizza Dip Recipe
- Classic Pizza Flavors in a Dip. From the marinara sauce, traditional pizza toppings, mounds of cheese, and tangy tomato flavor, this pizza dip is so good!
- Easy Party Recipe. Made with simple ingredients that are readily available at your local grocery store, you can whip up this appetizer in no time.
- Works Great for All Occasions. From game nights to family gatherings and casual movie nights, this dip works great for just about any occasion. It's versatile and also easy to double when you're expecting a large group.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pepperoni: The classic pizza topping with that salty, smoky, and slightly spicy flavor to the dip. It's layered with the cheese for the finishing layers of the dip.
- Italian Sausage: Mixed with the marinara sauce to create the dip giving it a meaty texture and making it flavorful. You can use hot or mild Italian sausage depending on your preference.
- Cheese: Ricotta cheese gives the dip a a luscious texture and extra richness with hints of tanginess while mozzarella cheese makes it gooey and delicious. Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese to create different flavor combinations.
- Minced Garlic and Seasonings: The garlic brings a fragrant and aromatic element to the dip, while Italian seasoning gives it those distinct Italian flavors.
- Marinara Sauce: Mixed with the cheese, it serves as the base of the dip, providing a tangy tomato flavor that brings the elements of a classic pizza sauce and makes it deliciously dippable.
- For Serving: For scooping up the dip serve with your favorite bread. You cna use whatever you prefer but sourdough bread slices, sliced homemade no-knead bread, and fresh breadsticks serve are a few of our favorites for scooping up the dip.
Variations
- Veggie Pizza Dip: Skip the Italian sausage and pepperoni for a vegetarian twist. Add a variety of sautéed vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms to the marinara sauce and cook to tenderize the veggies a bit.
- Hawaiian Pizza Twist. For some tropical flavors, replace the sausage and pepperoni with diced ham and pineapple.
- Skip the Pork. Use ground beef instead of sausage. You may want to add a bit more Italian seasoning for some additional flavor. You can also use a turkey or chicken Italian sausage for a leaner option.
- Add More Ingredients. Feel free to add any other pizza toppings you love to create combinations you love. Chopped black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, veggies, or cheddar cheese are just a few ideas.
- Make It Spicy. Use spicy pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, a pinch of crushed red pepper, or even add some sliced jalapenos to the mix to give it a spicy kick.
How To Make Pizza Dip On The Stovetop
To get started, gather all your ingredients together, preheat the oven to 400℉, and get out an oven-safe skillet.
- Step 1: Mix the cheese layer. Add the ricotta cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, and black pepper to a medium bowl. Mix until well combined and set aside.
- Step 2: Brown the sausage. Cook the sausage until completely browned in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. When it's cooked drain off all the excess grease.
- Step 3: Cook. Reduce the heat to low, add the marinara sauce to the skillet with the sausage, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Step 4: Add the toppings. Add dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture on the top of the sausage and marinara mixture. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese over the sauce and top with half of the pepperoni. Repeat with the rest of the cheese and then finish off with the remaining pepperoni.
- Step 5: Bake and serve. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve with breadsticks, tortilla chips, or sliced sourdough pieces, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use an oven-safe skillet. This way you can use the skillet to prep, bake, and serve the dip so there's less to clean up! A cast-iron skillet or stainless steel skillet are great options.
- Drain the sausage. The Italian sausage is quite greasy so make sure you drain it very well before moving on with the rest of the recipe. I prefer to pour it into a strainer and let it sit until there's no more dripping.
- Finish with a Broil. This is optional but is the easiest way to achieve a beautifully browned and bubbly cheese topping. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning, as broiling can quickly turn the cheese golden and gooey.
- Use Block Cheese. For the best texture, buy a block of cheese and grate your own!
Storing & Reheating
- Storing: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing is not recommended, as the ricotta cheese will separate and become watery.
- Reheating: Place the desired portion in an oven-safe dish and reheat it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through, usually about 15-20 minutes. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave, using short bursts of 30 seconds and stirring in between until it's heated to your liking.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the dip in advance all the way up until the baking step. Once you've layered the dip, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to serve, remove it from the fridge, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, and then bake it as directed in the recipe. You may need to add on a bit of extra time since it will be cold.
More Easy Party Appetizer Recipes
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Hot Pizza Dip
Packed with flavorful ingredients like pepperoni, Italian sausage, and gooey melted cheese, this easy Pizza Dip is perfect for any gathering or game night. With just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can whip up a delicious, cheesy dip that will have everyone reaching for seconds!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 oz pepperoni
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- 1 tsp garlic (minced)
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 2½ cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- Breadsticks or sourdough bread slices for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Add ricotta cheese, garlic, Italian seasoning, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Mix until well combined and set aside.
- Over medium-high heat in an oven-safe skillet. Cook the sausage until completely browned. Drain off excess grease.
- Reduce heat to low and add marinara sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes and then top with dollops of ricotta cheese mixture. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the sauce. Then top with half of the pepperoni and repeat.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve with breadsticks, tortilla chips, or sliced sourdough pieces, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet. This way you can use the skillet to prep, bake, and serve the dip so there's less to clean up! A cast-iron skillet or stainless steel skillet are great options.
- Drain the sausage. The Italian sausage is quite greasy so make sure you drain it very well before moving on with the rest of the recipe. I prefer to pour it into a strainer and let it sit until there's no more dripping.
- Finish with a Broil. This is optional but is the easiest way to achieve a beautifully browned and bubbly cheese topping. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning, as broiling can quickly turn the cheese golden and gooey.
- Use Block Cheese. For the best texture, buy a block of cheese and grate your own!
Nutrition
Calories: 403kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 21gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 1218mgPotassium: 472mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 676IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 236mgIron: 2mg
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
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