Creamy Pizza Dip with Cream Cheese

If you ask me, cream cheese pizza dip is one of those game-changing party foods.

This warm, gooey appetizer takes everything we love about pizza and turns it into a super-easy dip that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. Melted cream cheese and pizza sauce create a smooth base, while pepperoni and Italian seasonings bring that classic pizza taste we all know and love.

It’s topped with plenty of melted mozzarella cheese and your favorite pizza toppings, then baked until hot and bubbly. A ring of crusty bread or crispy breadsticks around the bowl makes it impossible to resist.

It’s the kind of no-fuss appetizer that disappears fast at parties and always has people asking for the recipe.

What Kind of Cream Cheese Should I Use?

Regular full-fat cream cheese is your best bet for this dip since it creates the smoothest, creamiest texture and holds up well when heated. While you can use low-fat cream cheese in a pinch, it tends to become a bit watery when melted and doesn’t give you that rich, creamy base we’re looking for. The most important thing is making sure your cream cheese is properly softened before mixing – leave it out on the counter for about an hour, or unwrap it and microwave in short 10-second bursts if you’re in a hurry. Just avoid using whipped cream cheese, as its texture is too light and won’t give you the sturdy base this dip needs.

Options for Substitutions

This dip is pretty forgiving and you’ve got some wiggle room with the ingredients:

• Cream cheese: Since cream cheese is the base of this dip, you’ll want to stick with it, but you can use low-fat cream cheese if you’re watching calories. Just make sure it’s well softened to avoid lumps.
• Sour cream: Plain Greek yogurt works great as a substitute for sour cream – it gives the same tangy taste with extra protein. Regular plain yogurt works too, but strain it first to remove excess liquid.
• Pizza sauce: No pizza sauce? Regular marinara sauce works just fine. You can even use crushed tomatoes mixed with a bit of Italian seasoning in a pinch.
• Mozzarella cheese: Feel free to mix up the cheese – try a mix of mozzarella and cheddar, or swap in provolone or Italian cheese blend. Just avoid hard aged cheeses as they won’t melt as smoothly.
• Pepperoni: You can skip the pepperoni for a vegetarian version, or swap it with cooked Italian sausage, ham, or turkey pepperoni. For a veggie option, try topped with sautéed mushrooms or bell peppers.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making cream cheese pizza dip is using cold cream cheese straight from the fridge – this will result in lumpy dip that’s hard to mix, so make sure to let it soften at room temperature for at least an hour before starting. A common error is rushing the baking process at too high a temperature, which can cause the cheese to become rubbery and separate – instead, bake at 350°F until just bubbly around the edges, usually about 15-20 minutes. To prevent a watery dip, drain any excess liquid from your pizza sauce before adding it to the mixture, and if you’re using fresh mozzarella, pat it dry with paper towels first. For the best flavor and texture, let the dip cool for about 5 minutes after baking – this allows the cheese to set slightly while still maintaining that perfect, dippable consistency.

What to Serve With Pizza Dip?

This cheesy pizza dip is perfect for game day or parties, and there are so many fun ways to serve it! While the recipe mentions chips and crackers, I love putting out a variety of dippers like toasted baguette slices, breadsticks, or even fresh veggie sticks for those who want a lighter option. Since this is quite a rich dip, I usually balance it out with some lighter snacks on my party spread – think a fresh vegetable platter with bell peppers and cucumber, or a simple Italian-style chopped salad. For a complete game day spread, you could add some wings, meatballs, or a bowl of marinated olives to round things out.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover pizza dip? No problem! Just cover your dip with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. It’ll stay good for up to 3-4 days. The cheese might firm up a bit, but that’s totally normal.

Make Ahead: You can prep this dip a day before your party! Just assemble everything except the final layer of cheese and toppings, cover, and refrigerate. When you’re ready to serve, add the cheese and pepperoni, then bake it fresh. Your guests won’t even know you made it ahead!

Warm Up: To enjoy leftover dip, just pop it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until it’s warm and gooey. Or heat it in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes. Add a sprinkle of fresh cheese on top if you want to bring back that melty magic!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	20-30 minutes
Total Time	30-45 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 30-35 g
• Fat: 60-70 g
• Carbohydrates: 40-50 g

Ingredients

For the dip base:

• 1/4 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 block cream cheese (8 oz, softened to room temperature)
• 1/2 cup sour cream (full-fat for richness)

For the dip:

• pepperoni slices
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (part-skim works best)
• italian seasoning
• 1 can pizza sauce (I use Muir Glen organic pizza sauce)

For serving:

• pita chips
• chips
• crackers

Step 1: Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, oregano, and garlic salt.

Mix these ingredients well until you have a smooth, consistent mixture.

Spread the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan, creating the base layer for your dip.

Step 2: Add Pizza Sauce and Initial Toppings

Evenly spread pizza sauce over the cream cheese mixture.

Place a few pepperonis on top for some initial flavor and presentation.

Once arranged, place the pie pan into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.

This step ensures the flavors start to meld together, and the base layer begins to set.

Step 3: Add Cheese and Final Touches

Remove the pie pan from the oven and generously top with mozzarella cheese.

Add a few more pepperonis on top of the cheese for extra flavor and visual appeal.

Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 7-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and gooey.

Step 4: Broil for a Finishing Touch

Switch the oven to the broil setting and carefully broil the top of the dip for about a minute or two.

Watch this step closely to ensure the cheese turns nicely golden brown and the pepperonis become slightly crispy, without burning.

The broiling step will enhance the flavors and aromas, making it mouthwatering.

Step 5: Season and Serve

Once your dip is perfectly broiled, remove it from the oven and sprinkle the top with a dash of Italian seasoning for that classic pizza flavor.

Serve hot with crackers or pita chips.

Enjoy the cheesy, flavorful goodness of this pizza dip!