Pizza Dip with Ricotta Cheese
This hot baked pizza dip recipe is the best appetizer! Made with ricotta cheese, cream cheese and mozzarella cheese, this easy layered dip is perfect for game day, a holiday party or family get together.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 Tablespoon italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup italian gravy or pizza sauce
- 2 ounces pepperoni sliced
- breadsticks, garlic knots or toasted baguette slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° and grease a shallow baking dish or pie plate with baking spray or butter.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, ricotta cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese and mix together.
- Add in italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir everything together so the seasonings and cheese are well incorporated.
- Spread the cheese mixture evenly into the prepared dish and top with the italian gravy. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese and top with pepperoni slices.
- Bake the pizza dip in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the dip is bubbly.
- Serve dip with breadsticks, toasted baguette slices or crackers.
Notes
This recipe yields approximately 3 cups of dip or 8-10 servings
- Use full fat versions of all of the cheeses for best results.
- Don't forget to split the mozzarella cheese. Half goes in the filling and the other half goes on top.
- Bring the cream cheese to room temperature for easy mixing.
- Use larger or sturdier pieces of bread or crackers for dipping so they don't break apart easily when dipped.
Substitutions and Variations
- Vegetarian - Omit the pepperoni slices.
- White Pizza - Replace the marinara with alfredo sauce.
- Toppings - Add sausage, black olives, ham, peppers or pineapple.
- More Cheese - Add smoked provolone, parmesan cheese, or cheddar cheese.
- Sauce - Use homemade sauce, store bought marinara or pizza sauce can be used.
Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
The dip can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead of time. After assembling it, wrap it in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until 30 minutes before baking time. Remove it from the refrigerator and allow to sit out a room temperature while the oven preheats and then bake as directed. Cooking temperatures may be longer, so just look for the cheese to be melted and bubbly around the edges. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-5 days. The dip can be reheated in the oven or microwave until warm and melty.Nutrition
Serving: 0.333cupCalories: 226kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 11gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 581mgPotassium: 188mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 682IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 201mgIron: 1mg
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