🍅 Cheesy Baked Pizza Dip 🍕

All the incredible flavors of a supreme pepperoni pizza packed into a warm, bubbly, and gooey dip! Layers of rich cream cheese, savory marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and crispy pepperoni slices baked to absolute perfection. Serve it hot with toasted baguette slices or garlic bread chips! 🥖✨

• ⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes

• 🍳 Cook Time: 20 minutes

• 🍽️ Servings: 6-8 servings

🛒 Ingredients

• 1 package (200g) cream cheese (softened at room temperature) 🧀

• 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt 🥛

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 🌿

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 🧄

• 1.5 cups marinara or pizza sauce 🍅

• 2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded and divided) 🧀

• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated) 🧀

• 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (mini slices work best!) 🍕

• 2 tablespoons green bell pepper (finely diced) 🫑

• 2 tablespoons black olives (sliced) 🫒

👩‍🍳 Detailed Instructions

1. Prepare the Base Layer: 🥣 Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and 1/4 cup of the grated parmesan cheese. Spread this smooth mixture evenly across the bottom of a 9-inch pie dish or cast-iron skillet.

2. Add the Sauce and Cheese: 🍅 Spoon the marinara sauce gently over the cream cheese layer, spreading it out carefully so you don’t disturb the base. Sprinkle 1.5 cups of the shredded mozzarella cheese and the remaining parmesan cheese completely over the sauce.

3. Add Your Toppings: 🍕 Arrange the pepperoni slices, diced green peppers, and sliced black olives evenly over the cheese layer to mimic a classic pizza layout. Top with the final 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese to lock everything in.

4. Bake and Broil: 🔥 Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the dip is hot, bubbling around the edges, and the cheese is fully melted. Turn on the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes to get those beautiful, golden-brown pizza spots on top.

5. Rest and Serve: 🍽️ Let the dip cool for 5 minutes before serving (this helps the layers set so it’s easier to scoop). Serve warm alongside plenty of crispy tortilla chips, crackers, or toasted garlic bread.