Easy Pizza Dip

As I have mentioned before, I follow a ton of different cooking bloggers on instagram.  I love The Defined Dish for clean, Whole 30 cooking.  I love Baker by Nature for some many yummy cookie recipes.  I also follow The Stay at Home Chef on instagram.  I am always taking a "screenshot" of recipes or saving them.

We were having our monthly preschool birthday lunch.  I "saved" this recipe for Easy Pizza Dip on The Stay at Home Chef's instagram.  We were having a "hodgepodge" birthday lunch so
I could bring anything.  I made it in my cast iron the skillet the night before and baked it at preschool.  They ate every bite!

Easy Pizza Dip (adapted from The Stay at Home Chef)

2  8 oz blocks cream cheese, softened
1 1/3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper (optional or more to taste)
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning (or more to taste)
1  - 1 1/2 cup pizza or marinara sauce
1 cup sharp shredded cheese
3 ounces pepperoni
baguette slices, pita chips or veggies for dipping

Take room temperature cream cheese and mix with 1/3 cup of mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper and Italian seasoning.  Mix well.  Press into the bottom of a 9" iron skillet or a 9 inch pie pan or a square pan.  Press into a thin layer, even pushing up the sides of the pan.  Pour on 1 cup of pizza sauce.  Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and the sharp cheddar cheese.  Top with pepperoni.  I did another small layer - little more sauce, little more of both cheeses, even added a little shredded parmesan, more pepperoni and sprinkled with Italian seasoning.

Cover tightly if baking the next day.....or bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly around the edges.  Serve warm.  This is especially yummy with the garlic toast slices from your local grocery.

Printable Version