Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Dip
This Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Dip features all of the classic pizza flavors…in dip form. It’s a great game day appetizer to share with friends!
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January is always a tough month. I saw somewhere that it’s “officially” (whatever that means) the most depressing month of the year. I get it. Once the Christmas tree has been taken down and the garland has been packed away, the house just looks bare. On top of that, it’s cold and bleak outside, too. That’s where Super Bowl appetizers come in!
One of our favorite ways to liven up cold January weekends is to invite neighbors over for pizza and appetizers. We turn on whatever playoff football games are on at the time and settle in for an evening of fun.
Pizzas are a requirement for such events. Communal appetizers like this Bacon Cheeseburger Monkey Bread are also perfect for these gatherings. We’re adding another one to the list today – Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Dip! Dip recipes always make gatherings like these more fun.
Pepperoni Pizza Dip
This dip relies on the flavors of pepperoni pizza – namely pizza sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella – combined with a classic cream cheese + sour cream dip. It’s an especially tasty appetizer for gamedays!
While this dip could certainly be served with baguette slices, pita chips or crackers, I chose to go with a heartier option here. I took pizza dough and rolled it into little balls. The dip itself went into the middle of a cast iron skillet while those balls of dough went around the outside.
Once baked, folks can reach in and pull off pieces of bread to dip into the Pepperoni Pizza Dip. Yum! This dip certainly didn’t last long once it landed on the island in the middle of our kitchen.
If you don’t want to go the full cast iron skillet route, this dip could be made separately and then served with garlic breadsticks. Think marinara sauce…but taken to a whole new level with the cream cheese and pepperoni!
Tip: Olive oil, herbs and garlic. Whenever we make homemade pizza, we brush a combination of olive oil, dried herbs and garlic around the crust. No more boring pizza crust! I used that same technique here and coated the dough balls in an herbed olive oil mixture before they went into the oven. Trust me on this one!
Variations
I kept this dip pretty classic with just sliced pepperoni and herbs. However, you could use this recipe and add your favorite pizza toppings instead. Sausage would be a great substitute for the pepperoni. Or you could go supreme pizza style and add in diced ham, bell peppers, onions, black olives and mushrooms. If it works as a pizza topping…it would work here!
If you’re looking for a tasty gameday appetizer (or just a fun recipe to share with friends on a cold winter day), then put this pepperoni dip on the list! I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did in our house. Cheers!
Did you make this Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Dip recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Skillet Pepperoni Pizza Dip
Ingredients
For the Pizza Dough
- 24 oz. pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½ Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasonings
- 2 tsp kosher salt
For the Pepperoni Pizza Dip
- 4 oz. cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp minced garlic
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ⅔ cup pizza sauce
- 2 oz. pepperoni divided
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
For the Pizza Dough
- Divide the pizza dough into 16 equal pieces.
- Using a circular motion, roll each piece of dough between countertop and palm of your hand until dough ball becomes tight.
- Place a small bowl upside-down in the center of a 9” cast iron skillet. (Tip #1: The goal should be to create a 3” gap between bowl and sides of the pan. Tip #2: If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can use an oven-safe baking dish or deep pie plate instead.)
- Using a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, Italian seasonings and salt. Add dough balls and toss until well coated.
- Place dough balls in a ring around the edge of the skillet.
- Cover pan lightly with plastic wrap and place in a warm location for 45 minutes, or until dough has approximately doubled in size. (Tip: For a warm location, I put the pan in my oven with just the oven light on.)
For the Pepperoni Pizza Dip
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Once dough has risen, remove the bowl in the center of the skillet.
- Using a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, oregano, garlic and salt. Spread this mixture evenly into the center of the skillet.
- Spread pizza sauce evenly on top of cream cheese mixture.
- Chop half of the pepperoni and sprinkle evenly on top of pizza sauce.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove skillet from oven and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of the dip. Layer remaining pepperoni slices on top.
- Continue baking for 20-25 more minutes, or until tops of pizza dough are light golden brown.
- Serve hot. (Tip: Use a knife to gently cut apart the pieces of pizza dough before serving.)
Looking for more tasty gameday appetizers? Check out these other favorites, too:
Cant wait to make this soon for me for the dough can i use vegan parmesan cheese and dip can i use vegan cream cheese / coconut cream / mushrooms and vegan mozzarella cheese i never had skillet pepperoni pizza dip before i love pizza soooooooooooooooo much perfect for with snacks and sides love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Hey Ramya! I would probably just omit the mushrooms entirely and go with a ‘cheese pizza’ dip instead. Either way would be delicious, though! I love pizza as much as you do!
Pizza is always a favorite and I’m certain this would disappear quickly! This is such a fun version of the traditional pizza and making it into a dip is a great idea! I love all the different variations you can make too!
You nailed it, Kathy – take this recipe as a base and just toy with it to include your favorite pizza toppings! After all, you’ve got a list of delicious ingredients – it’s hard to go wrong there. 🙂
You’re really messing with me! I’m trying to not do carbs, and then I see this!!!
Hahaha – oh, January. I feel your pain, Mimi. Truly I do!
Honestly I am loving all of your cheesy creations add that pizza bread on the side, OMG this is heaven
It’s hard to go wrong here, Raymund – the ingredients are all delicious, and they combine to make a tasty dip!
What an awesome game day appetizer, David! This would disappear in a flash at a Superbowl party.
While I do enjoy watching the Super Bowl, I feel like the appetizer table is a very close second to the game…and some years it ranks higher than the game! 🙂
I like the sound of coating your dough balls in delicious oil, herbs and garlic. We have the opposite problem in January – soooo hot and humid 🙂
Same it is hot again after few days of raining in Singapore
I hear ya, Sherry – I always think of you and the other Aussies when I post soups and such at this time of the year. The last thing you probably want right now is soup or heavy comfort food!
Ha! You’re right that January is a tough month David! We’re lucky enough to plan a holiday abroad for a week every year at this time in order to avoid the “January blues” as much as possible! This pepperoni pizza dip does look like an excellent comforting and sharing recipe though to help us through the month. Yum!
Oh I like that idea of planning a vacation every January – that certainly helps chase away the blues! (On a side note, Asheville is a great place to visit! Haha!)
I think you forgot to say in the directions: make two of these, one for Jeff, and one for everyone else.
Ah, how could I forget such a basic step? I guess maybe I thought that was assumed! 🙂
What a creative dip recipe! Definitely will have to try it — perfect for game day!
Thanks so much, Michelle – everything is better when it’s turned into a pizza! Haha! 🙂
This pizza dip would make any day better, that’s for sure! Who doesn’t love a good dip, especially when it tastes like pizza? This would be perfect for game day or any random weekend. Speaking of which, I see this one in my future real soon. I’m thinking it won’t last long so I’ll have to make a double batch. 😉
I mean pizza makes every day better, right?? This dip was a fun way to put a spin on a classic pizza night around our house. Oh, and it definitely didn’t last long around here, either! 🙂
Excellent idea David! So unique and so delicious. 😋. I especially love that you’ve got the dip and what to dip IN the dip in the same skillet! This skillet pepperoni pizza dip would certainly not last long in our house. What a great way to brighten any January day!
Hey Shannon! I’m with you on the combo dip + dippers in the same skillet. There is just something fun about serving a communal appetizer like this. It definitely brightened our January day…err, night…here! 🙂