Description
This Hot Honey Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza Dip is a luscious, crowd-pleasing appetizer combining creamy cheese layers with spicy sausage, mini pepperoni, and a drizzle of sweet hot honey. Served warm with garlic butter crostini, it’s perfect for game day, parties, or cozy get-togethers.
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)
- 4 leaves fresh basil (sliced, for garnish)
- Hot honey (for drizzling)
- 1 baguette (cut into ½ inch thick slices, cut diagonally on an angle)
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Bakeware: Preheat your oven to 375℉. Grease an oven-safe baking dish or skillet with cooking spray. For the garlic bread crostini, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, also sprayed with cooking spray.
- Prepare Garlic Butter for Crostini: In a small bowl, mix melted butter and minced garlic. Brush both sides of the baguette slices with this garlic butter. Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheet and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a small frying pan, cook the sausage meat over medium heat. Crumble it into small pieces as it cooks until it starts to get crispy. Drain any excess fat and let the sausage cool.
- Mix Cream Cheese Layer: In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and dried oregano. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Dip – Cream Cheese Layer: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the greased baking dish.
- Layer Pizza Sauce: Spoon and evenly spread the pizza sauce on top of the cream cheese layer without mixing them together.
- Add Cheese and Meats: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the pizza sauce, then scatter the cooked sausage crumbles and mini pepperoni evenly on top.
- Bake the Dip: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 6-8 minutes, until the dip starts to bubble. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 1-2 minutes to crisp up the pepperoni.
- Bake Crostini: Five minutes after placing the dip in the oven, put the crostini baking sheet in the oven. Bake for 4-5 minutes, flipping the slices halfway, until toasted and golden brown.
- Remove from Oven: Take out both the dip and crostini once cooked.
- Garnish the Dip: Optionally, top the dip with sliced fresh basil leaves and the additional grated parmesan cheese.
- Serve: Drizzle hot honey generously over the dip and serve warm alongside the garlic bread crostini for dipping. Enjoy this spicy-sweet cheesy delight!
Notes
- Use mild or hot Italian sausage depending on your spice preference.
- For a tangier dip, substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.
- Mini pepperoni crisps up nicely under the foil; monitor closely to prevent burning.
- Garlic bread crostini can be toasted longer for extra crunch if desired.
- Hot honey adds a sweet, spicy contrast but can be omitted for a milder flavor.
- Leftover dip can be reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
