Game Day Pepperoni Dip (Print version)
A cheesy, flavorful dip with beef pepperoni and pizza sauce, ideal for snacking and sharing with friends.
# What you'll need:
→ Dairy
01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
04 - ½ cup sour cream
→ Meats
05 - 3.5 oz beef pepperoni, thinly sliced, plus extra for garnish
→ Vegetables & Sauces
06 - 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper (optional)
08 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion (optional)
→ Spices & Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
10 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
11 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How to make it:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, black pepper, and half of the Italian herbs. Mix until smooth.
03 - Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch oven-safe baking dish.
04 - Pour the pizza sauce evenly over the cream cheese layer.
05 - Sprinkle chopped green bell pepper and red onion over the sauce, if using.
06 - Arrange most of the beef pepperoni slices over the sauce, reserving a few for topping.
07 - Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
08 - Add the reserved pepperoni slices and a final sprinkle of Italian herbs.
09 - Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
10 - Let cool for 5 minutes. Serve with toasted baguette slices, pita chips, or tortilla chips.
# Expert suggestions:
01 -
- It captures everything people love about pepperoni pizza but lets you focus on the game instead of waiting for delivery
- The cream cheese layer keeps every scoop incredibly smooth while the top gets perfectly golden and bubbly
02 -
- The cooling period isn't optional, I learned this the hard way when I burned the roof of my mouth and couldn't taste anything for three days
- Thinner pepperoni slices crisp up beautifully in the oven while thick ones stay chewy, choose based on your texture preference
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients blend together effortlessly and prevent that telltale speckled look of poorly mixed cream cheese
- Put your baking dish on a parchment-lined sheet pan in case it bubbles over, saves your oven floor and your sanity