Pepperoni Pizza Dip Beef (Print version)

Layers of melty cheese, beef pepperoni, and tangy pizza sauce create a crowd-pleasing warm dip.

# What you'll need:

→ Dairy

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
03 - 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

→ Meats

04 - 3.5 oz beef pepperoni, thinly sliced

→ Sauces

05 - 1 cup pizza sauce

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 small green bell pepper, diced
07 - 2 tbsp sliced black olives

→ Herbs & Spices

08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
10 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
11 - Fresh basil, chopped for garnish

→ For Serving

12 - Sliced baguette, breadsticks, or crackers

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - Combine softened cream cheese, half the mozzarella, and half the Parmesan in a medium bowl until smooth.
03 - Spread cheese mixture evenly into the bottom of an 8-inch ovenproof baking dish.
04 - Pour pizza sauce evenly over the cheese layer.
05 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
06 - Arrange beef pepperoni slices over the top. Add diced bell pepper and olives if desired.
07 - Sprinkle with oregano, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
08 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden at edges.
09 - Let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
10 - Serve warm with sliced baguette, breadsticks, or crackers for dipping.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • The cream cheese layer keeps everything rich and dippable without that greasy heaviness of regular pizza
  • It comes together in under ten minutes and bakes up into something that looks like you tried all day
02 -
  • Cold cream cheese will never blend properly no matter how long you mix it so take it out of the fridge at least an hour before you start
  • The dish needs to be oven safe because some pretty serving dishes cannot handle the heat and will crack when you least expect it
03 -
  • Spray your baking dish with a little oil before adding the cheese layer to make cleanup so much easier
  • Double the recipe and bake it in a 9x13 pan for a crowd because the leftovers reheat surprisingly well

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