Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce, plus extra for topping
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup pepperoni slices (about 40-50 mini pepperonis or 25-30 regular slices)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
- Baguette slices, crackers, pita chips, or tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dish
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish or an 8-inch cast iron skillet with cooking spray or a thin layer of olive oil to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Create the Creamy Base
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream. Using a hand mixer or sturdy spatula, beat the mixture until completely smooth and creamy with no lumps remaining. This creates the perfect velvety base for your dip.
Step 3: Add Flavors and Cheese
To the cream cheese mixture, add 1/4 cup of pizza sauce, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined and the cheese is evenly distributed throughout.
Step 4: Layer the Dip
Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula. Spread the remaining 1/4 cup of pizza sauce over the cream cheese layer, creating a nice red sauce layer just like on pizza.
Step 5: Add Cheese and Pepperoni
Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the sauce layer. Arrange the pepperoni slices on top in a single layer or slightly overlapping, covering the entire surface. Reserve a few pepperonis if you want to add them during the last few minutes for extra-crispy edges.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Place the baking dish in your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and just starting to turn golden brown around the edges. If you want extra-crispy pepperoni, switch your oven to broil for the final 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Step 7: Garnish and Serve
Remove the dip from the oven and let it cool for 3-5 minutes before serving (the dip will be extremely hot!). Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley if desired. Serve immediately with your choice of dippers—toasted baguette slices, crackers, pita chips, or tortilla chips all work beautifully.
Notes
- Make it Ahead: Assemble the entire dip up to 24 hours in advance, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, then bake as directed, adding 5-10 extra minutes to the baking time if needed.
- Customize Your Toppings: Feel free to add other pizza favorites like sliced black olives, diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or cooked Italian sausage between the cheese layers.
- Thickness Matters: If your dip seems too thick after mixing, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to reach your desired consistency.
- Serving Size: This recipe serves 8-10 people as an appetizer with other dishes, or 4-6 people if it’s the main snack.
- Double the Recipe: This dip is so popular it often disappears quickly! Feel free to double the recipe and bake in a 9×13-inch dish for larger gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup (approximately 1/10 of recipe)
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 10g
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 25mg