Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 8 oz sour cream
- 2 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp ranch seasoning
- 14 oz jar of pizza sauce
- 1 lb Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 4 cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 oz mini pepperonis
- 2 oz bacon bits
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This temperature ensures the dip cooks evenly and develops a beautifully melted cheese top without burning.
- Prepare the creamy base: In a bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, oregano, garlic powder, and ranch seasoning until smooth and well combined. This creates a flavorful foundation for your dip with the perfect balance of tanginess and herbaceous notes.
- Layer the base: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the bottom of an 11-inch pie pan or a 9×9 baking dish. Make sure to create a smooth, even layer as this will be the foundation of your dip.
- Add pizza sauce and meat: Top the cream cheese layer with the pizza sauce, spreading it evenly, then add the cooked Italian sausage. These layers bring the authentic pizza flavor to your dip.
- Add cheese and toppings: Spread the freshly grated mozzarella cheese over the sausage layer, then sprinkle mini pepperonis and bacon bits evenly across the top. The cheese will melt into a gooey layer while the pepperonis and bacon add texture and flavor.
- Bake to perfection: Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until the dip is heated through and the cheese is melted and slightly golden. Watch carefully to ensure the top doesn’t burn.
- Serve and enjoy: Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Serve hot with breadsticks, tortilla chips, or vegetable sticks for dipping.
Notes
- For best results, use freshly grated mozzarella rather than pre-packaged shredded cheese, as it melts better and has a superior flavor.
- You can customize this dip with your favorite pizza toppings like black olives, green peppers, mushrooms, or onions.
- The dip can be prepared ahead of time up to the baking step, refrigerated, and then baked when ready to serve.
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, omit the Italian sausage and bacon bits, and add more vegetables.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of recipe
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 90mg