Pepperoni Cheese Dip (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Creamy Base
01 -
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning mix
02 -
1 teaspoon of powdered garlic
03 -
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (save the other cup for later)
04 -
12 ounces of cream cheese, softened at room temp
→ Toppings
05 -
1 cup of marinara pasta sauce
06 -
A cup of mini-sized pepperoni slices
07 -
The extra cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
→ For Serving (Optional)
08 -
Freshly sliced bell peppers or crunchy veggie sticks for dipping
09 -
Warm breadsticks or buttery garlic knots
10 -
Crispy baguette slices or Italian-style bread
11 -
Tortilla or pita chips for scooping
# Instructions:
01 -
Put your oven rack in the center position and heat to 350°F (175°C). If your cast iron skillet isn’t pre-seasoned, coat it lightly with oil, or use a similar-sized oven-safe dish.
02 -
Grab a medium bowl and throw in softened cream cheese, half of the mozzarella, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Stir until smooth and ready to spread. An electric mixer on low speed works too.
03 -
Take the creamy mixture and spread it evenly across the bottom of the dish. Use a spoon or spatula to make it nice and smooth.
04 -
Spoon the marinara over the cream cheese mixture carefully. Spread it out so it covers the layer, but try not to mix the two too much.
05 -
Scatter the leftover mozzarella on the marinara. Add the pepperoni slices, spreading them evenly. If you're going wild with extras like olives or bell peppers, toss those on now too.
06 -
Pop the skillet or dish into your preheated oven. Let it bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and starting to brown on the edges. If you like it extra toasty, broil it for 1-2 minutes at the end, but keep a close eye so it doesn’t burn.
07 -
Take the dish out of the oven, and give it about 5 minutes to cool before serving. This keeps the cheese from being way too hot and lets it settle up a bit. Serve warm with dippers of your choice around the dish.
# Notes:
01 -
You'll get the best results if you keep this dip warm and melty right out of the oven.
02 -
Switch it up with toppings like mushrooms, sausage, or bell pepper slices—whatever you like!
03 -
Want a flavor boost? Sprinkle Parmesan or a few red pepper flakes before baking.