Ready in just 20 minutes and truly easy to make, this delicious pizza dip gives you the perfect pizza experience without a crust.
To keep it low-carb, I like to use fresh-cut veggies and pork rinds (homemade or store-bought) for dipping.
When it comes to party appetizers, I'm sure you'll agree with me that easy is the way to go. And this recipe is so easy it's funny. (Another good one is this spinach artichoke dip).
Can I even call it a recipe? Layering cheeses, tomato sauce, and toppings, then melting everything in the oven is hardly a recipe. And indeed, it's very forgiving. You can mix it up and change the ingredients according to what you happen to have on hand.
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty pizza dip. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Cream cheese: It's best to use full-fat cream cheese in this recipe.
Spices: I use oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes.
Pizza sauce: My favorite brand is Rao's. It has no added sugar and it's delicious. I usually get it at Whole Foods, although lately, I've been spotting it at my local supermarket as well.
Shredded mozzarella cheese: Another cheese that works well in this recipe is provolone. But I almost always use mozzarella.
Toppings: I like to use pepperoni.
Instructions
Making this hot pizza dip is truly easy. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
Your first step is to soften the cream cheese in the microwave. Once it's soft, you can mix in the spices. Mix them well so that that they are evenly distributed.
Now, transfer the cream cheese mixture to a baking dish. Top it with pizza sauce, then with mozzarella, and finally with your choice of toppings.
Bake the dip until heated through and the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes in a 350°F oven. That's it! I told you this was easy.
Expert tip
Any 1-quart ceramic or glass baking dish will work in this recipe, but I almost always use a ceramic 9-inch pie plate. There's no need to grease the pan.
Frequently asked questions
You can use whatever cheese you like! So for example, you can use mascarpone instead of cream cheese. And I dare say whole milk ricotta would also work well.
As for the shredded cheese, mozzarella works well of course, and that's what I normally use. But provolone and fontina are two other excellent options. Or you could use a store-bought mix of shredded Italian cheeses.
Obviously, the toppings can be whatever you want them to be. Pepperoni is a classic, but I often use Spanish chorizo instead.
Olives, sauteed mushrooms and sliced bell peppers are all delicious and work well as toppings.
Yes. Although marinara sauce intended for pasta is a bit thinner than pizza sauce, you can use it in this recipe, especially if you use Rao's sauce which tends to be fairly thick.
Variations
As mentioned above, you can use different cheese and different toppings.
Two other nice additions that I sometimes use are torn basil leaves, scattered on top of the dip after it emerges from the oven. And when I'm in the mood for something spicy, I like to sprinkle the finished dip with red pepper flakes.
Serving suggestions
A perfect party appetizer, this dip is a crowd-pleaser even when served with fresh-cut veggies rather than with bread or crackers.
So I usually serve it with vegetables for scooping. Mini peppers, celery, cauliflower and broccoli florets are especially good. Other tasty options include plain pork rinds and almond flour crackers.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers tightly covered, in the fridge, for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave at 50% power until the cheese is fully melted.
Related recipes
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Recipe card
20-Minute Pizza Dip
INGREDIENTS
- 8 oz cream cheese cubed
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup pizza sauce (Rao's is a good choice)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)
Toppings:
- 1 oz pepperoni slices
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the cream cheese in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds to soften. Mix in the oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes.
- Transfer the mixture to a ceramic or glass 1-quart baking dish (such as a 9-inch pie plate). Spread evenly with a spatula.
- Spread the pizza sauce on top of the cream cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella on top, then add your toppings.
- Bake the dip until the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.
- Serve with fresh-cut veggies and pork rinds or almond flour crackers for dipping.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
NOTES
ADD YOUR OWN NOTES
NUTRITION PER SERVING
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 