Description
Thisย hot and cheesy pizza dipย is loaded with cream cheese, marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and crispy pepperoni. Serve it with toasted bread, crackers, or veggies for the ultimate party appetizer!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup marinara sauce (or pizza sauce)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup sliced pepperoni
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil (optional, for garnish)
- Breadsticks, crackers, or veggies for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat ovenย to 375ยฐF (190ยฐC). Lightly grease an 8-inch baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, beat theย cream cheeseย until smooth. Stir inย garlic powder, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Pour theย marinara sauceย over the cream cheese layer.
- Sprinkleย 1 cup of mozzarellaย and all of theย Parmesan cheeseย over the sauce.
- Arrangeย pepperoni slicesย evenly on top. Sprinkle with the remainingย ยฝ cup of mozzarella.
- Bake forย 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and garnish withย fresh basilย if desired.
- Serve hot withย breadsticks, crackers, or veggiesย for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Swapย pepperoniย forย cooked sausage, bacon, or mushroomsย for variety.
- Useย low-fat cream cheese and part-skim mozzarellaย for a lighter version.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave or oven.