My creamy pizza dip is topped with smooth red sauce and savory pepperoni for the best flavor and texture. I use cream cheese, sour cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan to make the ultimate comforting recipe!
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My Delicious Pizza Dip Recipe
Pizza dip is a fun twist on classic pepperoni pizza! My two kids, Connor and Leah, have been huge fans of pizza since they were toddlers, but somewhere along the way, pizza stopped being exciting to them.
The idea to create my pizza dip recipe came from seeing both of them gravitate toward the appetizer table at the last party I hosted. I even remembered that they preferred pizza with dip (usually ranch), so it made me think: why not create a pizza-inspired dip to bring back the fun?
When Leah first tried the dip, her face lit up. She immediately called Connor over and had him try it too! With the smiles I saw, I think it’s safe to say that this dip has helped pizza earn its spot back on the list of kid-approved recipes!
Looking for more hot dip recipes? Try my sausage cream cheese dip, 7 layer taco dip, spinach artichoke dip, or crock pot buffalo chicken dip. Or for a sweet dip to serve as a snack or dessert, try my Cool Whip fruit dip!
Pizza with Dip Ingredients
- Cream cheese – Serves as the rich, creamy base of the dip. I let my cream cheese block soften before starting the recipe so that it can easily be mixed.
- Sour cream – Adds even more creamy, tangy flavor to the recipe, balancing out the other savory ingredients.
- Pizza sauce – A good-quality jar of sauce is essential. My personal favorite is Classico!
- Mozzarella cheese – I spread half of the freshly grated cheese over the bottom layer of the dip, then save the other half to go on top of the tomato sauce.
- Parmesan cheese – Infuses salty, cheesy flavor into every bite of the dip.
- Dried minced onion – For a satisfying texture and a hint of natural sweetness.
- Oregano – A classic herb for any pizza-inspired recipe. I’ve always got a jar of this dried herb in the pantry.
- Pepperoni slices – Top it all off with the perfect amount of saltiness and capture that fun pizza feel!
How to Make Pizza Dip
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. While it preheats, lightly grease a cast-iron skillet.
STEP TWO: In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, oregano, and minced onion until it’s smooth.
STEP THREE: Spread the mixture in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared cast-iron skillet.
STEP FOUR: Top it with half of the mozzarella cheese and all of the Parmesan cheese.
STEP FIVE: Carefully pour the pizza sauce over the cheese, spreading it into an even layer.
STEP SIX: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the tomato sauce and top with pepperoni slices.
STEP SEVEN: Place the skillet in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling. Then, broil on high until the cheese has browned and the pepperoni starts to get crispy around the edges.
STEP EIGHT: Let the dip sit for 5 minutes, then serve directly from the skillet with dippers of choice. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Pepperoni Pizza Dip
- Full-fat dairy ingredients are best for my recipe. I use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream because of their rich flavor.
- Don’t mistake marinara sauce for pizza sauce! Pizza sauce is thicker and has more seasonings than marinara. In my opinion, it has a far better taste too.
- I use freshly shredded cheese, as it melts so much better than pre-shredded cheese. It takes a few extra minutes to prepare but is worth the effort!
- Adjust the amount of cheese used based on the size of the skillet. Larger skillets will have more area to cover, but smaller skillets require less cheese.
- I keep a close watch when broiling. Cheesy dips can turn from golden to burnt in a minute. I recommend setting a quick timer if you can’t monitor it constantly.
Pizza Dip Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- If I don’t have dried minced onion on hand, I’ll toss in ½ teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
- To add some extra heat, I sprinkle on some red pepper flakes before baking. My husband always puts red pepper flakes on his pizza, so he never skips this variation either!
- I love personalizing the recipe with different toppings. Some of my favorites are sliced mushrooms, chopped bell peppers, or even crumbled pre-cooked sausage.
- For a creamier pizza, swap the red sauce with alfredo sauce. Both of my kids love this white pizza, especially with different toppings like chicken or bacon.
- Instead of dried oregano, I’ll sometimes sprinkle on some fresh herbs. It’s best to add them right before serving so they don’t burn in the oven.
What to Serve With This Dip
No dip recipe would be complete without the perfect dippers! My husband, Ben, loves this dip recipe with fresh bread. When I’ve got the time, or if we have guests, I’ll make some garlic-rubbed crostini for extra flavor.
Connor’s dipper of choice is pita chips, while Leah prefers bagel chips. However, I like to opt for a classic dipping experience with homemade air fryer tortilla chips!
Pizza Dip FAQs
Can I make pizza dip in the crock pot?
Yes! I prefer making this dip in the oven to get that beautiful, broiled finish, but the slow cooker method turns out fantastic as well. Layer everything the same way, then set the slow cooker to Low for 2-3 hours, until everything is melty and bubbly.
Crockpot pizza dip is easy to just set-and-forget, and best of all, it will stay warm for serving!
How should I store leftover pepperoni pizza dip?
Leftover pizza-inspired dip can be stored in the skillet. I cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How do I reheat leftovers?
My favorite way to reheat this recipe is on the stovetop over low heat. And since I store leftovers in the skillet, it makes it even easier! Simply heat until the cheese is melted and gooey and the dip is warmed through.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Baked chicken wings
- Loaded tater tots
- Cream cheese fruit dip
- Air fryer chicken wings
- BBQ grape jelly meatballs
Easy Pizza Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese softened
- ½ cup full-fat sour cream
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded and divided
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese finely grated
- 14 ounces pizza sauce like Classico
- 12-15 slices pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a cast-iron skillet.
- In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, oregano, and minced onion until smooth.
- Spread the mixture in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared cast-iron skillet.
- Top with half of the mozzarella cheese and all the Parmesan cheese.
- Pour the pizza sauce over the cheese, spreading it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the tomato sauce and top with pepperoni slices.
- Place the skillet in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling. Then broil on high until the cheese has browned and the pepperoni starts to get crispy around the edges.
- Let the dip sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Full-fat dairy ingredients are best for this recipe.
- Don’t mistake marinara sauce for pizza sauce! Pizza sauce is thicker and has more seasonings than marinara.
- Use freshly shredded cheese, as it melts so much better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Adjust the amount of cheese used based on the size of the skillet. Larger skillets will have more area to cover, but smaller skillets require less cheese. I used a 10 1/4 inch cast iron skillet.
- Keep a close watch when broiling. It can turn from golden to burnt in a minute.
- Store leftovers inside the same skillet it’s cooked in wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To reheat leftovers, heat it on the stove over low heat until it’s warm and melted again.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
