This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I absolutely adore the fall season for the cozy clothes and cozy food it brings! I’ve been waiting all year for this moment. This Meat Lover’s Pizza Dip is the answer to a quick homemade meal, an appetizer for a party or game day.
My husband and I were grocery shopping and trying to figure out something easy and hearty I could throw together for dinner that would also pair well with a good red wine (we are trying really hard to be more sophisticated HAHA that’s the biggest joke going).
He was craving pizza, I was craving buffalo chicken dip. Then the idea hit me! Let’s make Pizza Dip! Of course, it had to be meat lover’s because my husband has no interest unless meat is the first ingredient. Me on the other hand, I could’ve gone for a white pizza dip with a pesto drizzle and fresh tomatoes (idea for next time!).
Common questions about making Pizza Dip
What’s in pizza dip?
Well, anything you would like based on the type of pizza you are recreating. In this case, I use a classic tomato sauce base, spicy Italian sauce, cupping pepperoni, shredded mozzarella cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese, parm and oregano. Then I served it with buttery, salty breadsticks.
You could do a Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple, a white pizza with a variety of cheese and pesto, margherita pizza, classic pepperoni, etc. You can get super creative!
Can pizza dip be made ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble the whole dip ahead of time and bake it right before you serve it. This is a great way to have all of the work done early so you don’t have to do anything past pulling it out of the refrigerator and baking it right before a gathering.
Tips and tricks on this pizza dip recipe
- Cupping pepperoni – I absolutely ADORE cupping pepperoni. It’s a NY staple and it’s what I prefer on all my pizzas, so of course I had to add it to my pizza dip. Not only do the curly edges make the pizza/pizza dip more appealing and dynamic, but it adds depth to the pizza. The cup shape holds all the flavorful oil that just oozes in your mouth with each bite.
- Broiling the dip – hitting this under the broil on high for 3-5 minutes after it’s finished baking, will result in a super bubbly, browned cheese layer on top.
- Some other things you can serve this lasagna dip include:
- garlic bread slices
- bread sticks
- pasta chips
- garlic knots
- pita chips
How to make Pizza Dip
- Cook the sausage: Add the Italian sausage to a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the sausage is no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces with a spatula.
- Simmer the dip: Add a 16 oz. jar of good quality marinara sauce, stir well, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Top with dollops of ricotta cheese then add half of the pepperoni, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and parmesan evenly to cover the entire surface. Add more pepperoni, the fresh mozzarella and a little more parm.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the 400 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil for 3-5 minutes. Garnish with basil and serve.
Dietary substitutions
- If you do not eat pork: ground chicken or beef are great substitutes.
- Looking for non-dairy: sub all of the cheeses for dairy free, the best brand I found for pizza was Miyokos Creamery VeganMozz.
- To make this low-carb: sub the breadsticks for red and green pepper spears, cucumber slices, zucchini spears, etc. or you can skip the dippers altogether and just eat it by the scoopful.
- To make this recipe vegetarian: you can skip the Italian sausage and pepperoni and let’s make this a veggie lover’s pizza dip. Add veggies like sauteed peppers, onions, olives, mushrooms.
Looking for other great party foods & dips?
- Chicken Egg Rolls with Sweet & Sour Sauce Recipe
- Grilled Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Rib-Eye Sliders with Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce Recipe
- BBQ Brisket Sliders with Jalapeno Mac & Cheese Recipe
- Chicken Alfredo Fritta Olive Garden Copycat Recipe
- Nashville Hot Chicken Nuggets – Cheesecake Factory Copycat Recipe
I hope you enjoy this Meat Lover’s Pizza Dip recipe. Be sure to comment below with any questions or feedback! If you make these or any other recipes, don’t forget to tag me on IG @BadBatchBaking to be featured on my story. Seeing your recreations makes my day!
Meat Lovers Pizza Dip
Ingredients
- 1 lb. spicy italian sausage
- 24 oz marinara sauce quality brand like Rao's Homemade or similar
- 3 oz pepperoni I used cupping pepperoni
- 1/2 cup fresh ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella
- 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 tsp each dried oregano, salt, and pepper
- fresh basil for garnish
- Breadsticks, garlic bread, etc for serving I used frozen garlic breadsticks and texas toast
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degreesAdd the Italian sausage to a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the sausage is no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces with a spatula. Remove all excess grease from the pan.
- Add a 24 oz. jar of marinara sauce, stir well, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes to allow it to warm through. Top with dollops of ricotta cheese then add sprinkle seasonings in. Place on half of the pepperoni then top it with the shredded mozzarella and parmesan evenly to cover the entire surface. Add more pepperoni then finish off with the fresh mozzarella.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil for 3-5 minutes. Garnish with basil and serve.
