Hot Honey & Basil Pepperoni Pizza Dip

Hot Honey & Basil Pepperoni Pizza Dip

HI. I made you a brand new appetizer for all of your fall game day and holiday needs that you’re seriously going to fall in love with. The team and I tested out this incredible pizza dip a couple of months back and could not stop scooping up every cheesy delicious bite.

If you can’t tell I’ve been trying to up my appetizer game (and my dip game) with everything from stuffed mushrooms to the best vegetarian buffalo dip, and this pepperoni pizza dip is the perfect addition to any party. This delicious, easy pizza dip has three types of cheese, creamy Greek yogurt, simple seasonings, and savory pepperoni in every bite. You know by now that I like things a little extra, so we’re topping this dip with some fresh basil and a drizzle of hot honey. OBSESSED.

Just like with your favorite pizza combo, you can have fun mixing in unique toppings to really make this dip your own. The options are endless! I’ve included a few of our favorites, plus plenty of ways to serve it all up. You’re going to love this one!

scooping pizza dip with bread

Everything you’ll need to make the best pizza dip

This hot, bubbly pepperoni pizza dip couldn’t be easier to make with super simple ingredients you might even already have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • For the bread: I like to slice up a French baguette and bake the slices with a little olive oil, garlic powder and salt.
  • Cheese: the essential part of pizza dip? CHEESE of course. You’ll need cream cheese, shredded mozzarella or an Italian cheese blend, plus some grated parmesan or pecorino romano.
  • Sauce: use your favorite homemade or store-bought pizza sauce.
  • Seasonings: you’ll just need oregano, garlic powder, and salt to season the dip.
  • Pepperoni: it’s a true pizza dip with slices of pepperoni on every bite.
  • For topping: I like to add fresh basil ribbons and a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet, spicy, savory flavor.

mixing cheese to make homemade pizza dip

Make your own hot honey

I love using Mike’s Hot Honey for ease, but you can also make your own hot honey right at home! Simply add 2 tablespoons honey and ½ teaspoon hot sauce (or a pinch of cayenne pepper) to a small bowl and microwave for 10-15 seconds. Then drizzle it on up!

unbaked pepperoni pizza dip in a skillet

Can I make it vegetarian?

Absolutely! Simply leave off the pepperoni and enjoy a regular cheese pizza dip. See below for even more delicious ways to customize this dip.

pizza dip in a skillet topped with pepperoni

Homemade pizza dip in 4 steps

  1. Make the crostini. Start by brushing your baguette slices with the olive oil or butter, garlic powder, and salt. Bake them until slightly golden.
  2. Mix the cream cheese layer. While the baguette slices are baking, mix together the cream cheese, greek yogurt, garlic powder, oregano & salt.
  3. Assemble the dip & bake. Spread the cream cheese layer on the bottom of a 9 inch skillet, add your pizza sauce, sprinkle on the cheeses, and then evenly layer the pepperoni. Then bake it up until it’s nice and bubbly! I like to put it under the broiler for 1-2 minutes as well.
  4. Top & serve. Garnish with fresh basil ribbons and drizzle on the hot honey. Then serve with the crostini or anything your heart desires!

dipping bread in homemade pizza dip

More delicious pizza dip flavors

You can’t go wrong with pepperoni, but this pizza dip is great for adding your fav pizza toppings, too! Try mixing in and/or adding any of the following to the dip for a unique twist:

  • The Monique: jalapeño, pineapple, black olives and mushrooms
  • The Abra: pesto, bacon or sausage, and pineapple
  • The Rebecca: red onion, goat cheese and chopped pistachios

crostini in a skillet with pepperoni pizza dip

Our favorite ways to serve this pizza dip

This pizza dip is delicious with the toasted baguette slices from the recipe, but feel free to mix it up! We love serving it with:

  • Toasted pita
  • Crostini
  • Pita chips
  • Crackers
  • Naan bread
  • Pretzels

Storing & reheating tips

If you have any pizza dip left over, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat the portion you want to eat in a microwave safe dish until it’s heated through.

pizza dip in a skillet with a crostini and a spoon

More delicious appetizers to try

Get all of my appetizer recipes here!

I hope you love this pepperoni pizza dip! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!

Hot Honey & Basil Pepperoni Pizza Dip

dipping a crostini in pizza dip

Bubbly hot pepperoni pizza dip layered up with 3 types of cheese, fresh basil, and a drizzle of hot honey. This easy pizza dip recipe has the perfect blend of seasonings and is delicious with toasty bread, pita, crackers and more. Great for parties, holidays, and game days!

Ingredients

  • For the baguette:
  • 1
    french baguette, cut into ½ inch diagonal slices
  • 1-2
    tablespoons
    olive oil or melted butter
  • ½
    teaspoon
    garlic powder
  • Salt for sprinkling
  • For the cream cheese & yogurt layer:
  • 8
    ounces
    plain cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2
    cup
    plain greek yogurt
  • 1/2
    teaspoon
    salt, plus more to taste
  • ½
    teaspoon
    garlic powder
  • ½
    teaspoon
    dried oregano
  • For the sauce layer:
  • 1
    cup
    (8 ounces) pizza sauce
  • For the cheese layer:
  • 1
    cup
    shredded mozzarella or italian cheese blend
  • ¼
    cup
    grated parmesan or pecorino romano cheese
  • ¼
    teaspoon
    dried oregano
  • 18-20
    pepperoni slices
  • For topping:
  • 6
    basil leaves, cut into ribbons
  • Hot honey* (I use Mike’s Hot Honey)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

  2. In a small bowl, mix together olive oil/melted butter with garlic powder and salt; brush both sides of the baguette with the mixture. Add baguette slices to a large baking sheet and bake for 8-10 min until slightly golden around the edges. Keep heat in the oven.

  3. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, greek yogurt, salt, garlic powder and dried oregano until well combined, smooth and creamy.

  4. Spread cream cheese yogurt mixture on the bottom of a greased 9 inch skillet or an 8×8 pan. Spread 1 cup pizza sauce on top, then sprinkle both mozzarella/italian and parmesan cheese on top. Finally top with pepperoni slices. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is just SLIGHTLY golden on the edges; make sure you watch VERY carefully as pepperoni can easily burn!

  5. Remove from the oven and drizzle with a little hot honey and then top with basil ribbons. Use your crostini for dipping and enjoy! Serves 6-8.

Recipe Notes

*To make hot honey at home (if you don’t have store-bought): add 2 tablespoons honey and ½ teaspoon hot sauce (or a pinch of cayenne pepper) to a small bowl and microwave for 10-15 seconds. Use as directed in the recipe.

If you don’t want to use crostini for dipping/serving: feel free to use a toasted pita, pita chips, naan bread or whatever your heart desires.

See the full post for tips, tricks and ways to customize your pizza dip!

Nutrition

Servings: 8 servings

Serving size: 1 serving (based on 8, with sliced baguette)

Calories: 343kcal

Fat: 21.6g

Saturated fat: 10.8g

Carbohydrates: 26.5g

Fiber: 1.9g

Sugar: 8.6g

Protein: 12.4g

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