Cheesy Italian Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Dip Recipe
This delicious Pizza Dip combines classic Italian flavors with a creamy ricotta cheese blend, savory Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. Baked to bubbly perfection and topped with pepperoni, this dip is perfect for parties, game days, or casual snacking served alongside breadsticks or sourdough slices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Mixture
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 24 oz marinara sauce
Toppings
- 2½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 oz pepperoni
For Serving
- Breadsticks or sourdough bread slices
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ to prepare it for baking the dip later.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined and set aside to incorporate the flavors.
- Cook Sausage: Place an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mild Italian sausage and cook until fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease from the skillet to keep the dip from becoming greasy.
- Add Marinara and Ricotta: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld flavors. Then, add dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the sauce.
- Layer Cheese and Pepperoni: Sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce and ricotta layers. Add half of the pepperoni slices on top. Repeat the layering with the remaining mozzarella and pepperoni to build flavorful layers.
- Bake the Dip: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly, showing a golden, inviting top.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the hot pizza dip immediately with breadsticks, tortilla chips, or slices of sourdough bread for dipping and scooping.
Notes
- Make sure to use an oven-safe skillet for the stovetop to oven transfer.
- Drain the sausage well to prevent excess grease in the dip.
- You can substitute pepperoni with other favorite pizza toppings such as mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers.
- Serve the dip warm for best flavor and texture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
Keywords: pizza dip, cheesy dip, Italian appetizer, party dip, baked dip, sausage dip, ricotta dip, mozzarella pizza dip
