Looking for an easy baked appetizer for your next gathering? Your friends and family will flip over this Hot and Creamy Pizza Dip that's made with cream cheese, pepperoni, and sausage and ready in a flash.
1 small green bell pepper, seeds and membranes removed, diced
1/2lb.ground sausage (may use ground Italian sausagbrowned and fats drained
1/2lb.lean ground beef, browned and fats drained
1tsp.Italian seasonings
2clovesgarlic, crushed (may substitute 1 tsp. granulated garlic, if preferred)
1/2cupmini pepperoni, divided use
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2tsp.red pepper flakes optional
1/4tsp.seasoned salt
1cuppizza sauce
1cupshredded mozzarella cheese
1/4cupgrated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mini pepperoni, for garnishing the top of the pizza dip
Italian seasonings, to garnish the top of the pizza dip before baking
Toasted baguette slices or your favorite crackers, for serving
Toasted Baguette Slices
1baguette
vegetable or canola oil
Instructions
To Make the Easy Cheesy Pizza Dip
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese with the sour cream until nicely blended; stir in the green bell pepper, cooked sausage, cooked ground beef, Italian seasonings, garlic, red pepper flakes, and seasoned salt.
Spread the prepared dip mixture into a greased 9" pie plate or casserole dish. Top the dip with the pizza sauce, shredded cheese, Parmesan, a few more pepperoni; lastly, sprinkle a bit of Italian seasoning over the top.
Bake the dip, uncovered, on the center rack of the oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top, and hot and bubbly throughout. Serve the dip warm with toasted baguette slices or your favorite pita chips and crackers.
To Make the Baguette Slices
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a serrated knife, slice the baguette into 1/4-inch thick slices, placing each one onto a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Using a silicone basting brush, lightly brush each slice on both sides with a bit of oil. Bake, uncovered, on the center rack of the oven for 4-5 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Notes
This dip can be served with toasted baguette slices or crackers as preferred. Or, serve the dip on fat slices of warm French bread as a mini sub sandwich. This dip can be assembled ahead of time and then baked when it's needed for serving guests.