Game Day Pepperoni Dip (Printable)
Cheesy dip loaded with beef pepperoni and pizza-inspired flavors, ideal for sharing on game day.
# 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
# Directions:
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 Hints:
01 -
- It captures everything everyone loves about pizza but requires zero dough rising time or pizza stone drama
- The layered structure means every dip gets all three components, creamy base, tangy sauce, and salty toppings
02 -
- The five minute rest period is mandatory because cutting into this immediately will cause the layers to slide into a muddy mess on your serving plate
- This dip continues to thicken as it cools, so serve it piping hot from the oven for the ideal texture
03 -
- Grate your own cheese from blocks rather than buying pre-shredded bags for dramatically better melting
- Run your knife under hot water before slicing the pepperoni to get perfect thin slices without dragging