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This creamy, cheesy pizza dip is the kind of appetizer people rave about. A rich base is layered with pizza sauce, melty mozzarella, and your favorite pizza toppings, then baked until warm and bubbly. Served with toasted baguette slices, it scoops like a dream and disappears fast.
If you love creative spins on pizza, you don't want to miss my recipes for Pizza Bread, Pizza Pasta, Pizza Grilled Cheese, and Pizza Meatloaf.
Kristen's Keys for Pizza Dip (Start Here!)
There is nothing complicated or really that sophisticated about this recipe. But in order to have the very best flavor and consistency, I have a few tips you don't want to overlook.
- Cottage cheese is the difference maker. It is salty, cheesy, and gives the base so much more pizza flavor than using Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Use room temperature cream cheese. That will ensure your dip is creamy and lump free.
- Use a food processor. It will make quick work of creating a smooth and cohesive base for your pizza dip.
- A shallow baking dish is best. That allows for every dip to have ample cheese to sauce to dip ratio.
How to Make Pizza Dip
Think of this section as me walking you through the process giving you tips along the way.
Step One: Process Base
To form a smooth and creamy base, I find it is best to use a food processor to blend the cottage cheese, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and seasonings together.
Step Two: Layer Dip
Spread the processed cream cheese out in an thin, even layer in a pie plate. Top with an even layer of pizza sauce, and plenty of shredded mozzarella cheese.
At this point, you can add any pizza toppings you like or skip the toppings altogether. I typically just add pepperoni as that is the one pizza topping my family can agree upon. But sliced olives, mushrooms, or peppers and onions work here too.
Step Three: Bake
Pop in the oven and bake until the cheese has melted and begins to brown slightly. If you want the dip to brown further, you can broil for a minute or two, but you must watch closely, as it can go from bubbly to burnt in minutes.
While the dip is baking, I like to make crostini to serve alongside the dip. Slice a baguette into ½-inch slices, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with garlic powder, and bake for 5-7 minutes, to lightly toast.
Recipe Notes and Modifications
- Swap out Cottage Cheese: While I personally recommend cottage cheese, you can use plain Greek yogurt or full-fat sour cream in place of the cottage cheese. You will need to add a pinch of salt and additional parmesan cheese to the base match the salty, cheese flavor the cottage cheese adds to the dip.
- Additional Options for Toppings: In place, or in addition to the pepperoni, add cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, banana peppers, sliced olives, diced onion, chopped peppers, sauteed (or canned) sliced mushrooms, etc.
- For Serving: In place of the crostini, serve with crackers, pita chips, breadsticks, or fresh veggies.
- Leftover Dip: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Reheat as desired.
More Party-Favorite Dip Recipes
Looking for more creamy dips for for parties, game day, or watching movies at home? Check out a few favorites below.
Pizza Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- pizza toppings of choice
Toasted Crostini (Optional)
- 1 (12-ounce) baguette
- extra virgin olive oil, to drizzle
- garlic powder, to sprinkle
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- In a food processor fitted with an s-blade, combine 8 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup cottage cheese, ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried basil, and ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture out into an even layer in a 9-inch pie plate (or 9-inch square baking dish). Top with an even, thin layer of pizza sauce, cover with an even layer of mozzarella cheese. Add pizza toppings of choice.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and browned slightly.
For the Crostini
- Slice a baguette into ½-inch thick slices and place on baking sheet. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder. Bake at 400℉ for 5-7 minutes until lightly golden and serve with the pizza dip.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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