4 Layer Pepperoni Pizza Dip + Video

Pepperoni Pizza Dip is perfect as a party or happy hour appetizer, or for an anytime snack — and it’s utterly simple to prepare. This baked pizza dip is packed with layers of ooey-gooey cheese, marinara sauce, and your favorite pizza toppings. It’s out of this world delicious!!!

Pepperoni Pizza Dip

What happens when you combine everything you love about pizza without the crust? This insanely delicious and ooey gooey 4 layer pizza dip, of course!!

It all starts with a rich and creamy base made with cream cheese and sour cream. That’s topped with a tangy tomato sauce, a blend of shredded Italian cheeses, and our personal favorite toppings: pepperoni and bacon.

Don’t let that stop you from making this pepperoni pizza dip recipe your own. Try different toppings or cheese combinations until it tastes just right.

You could even divide the ingredients into single serve ramekins, just like my air fryer recipe — perfect for when everyone wants to sit back and relax instead of huddling around the coffee table.

Looking for more hot party dips? Everyone always begs for my Mississippi Sin Dip, but I’m partial to the Italian flair of this cheesy lasagna dip myself!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Cream Cheese & Sour Cream – The creamy, cheesy base layer in this 4 layer pizza dip. The cream cheese will be much easier to stir when it’s at room temperature.
  
  For an even thicker and richer version, swap the cream cheese with ricotta.
  
• Italian Cheese Blend – I know I always tell you to grate cheese yourself, but this recipe is an exception — unless you want to buy 4 or 5 different cheeses, that is!
  
  Go ahead and grab the bagged stuff. It should contain low-moisture mozzarella, asiago, parmesan, Romano, and either provolone or fontina.
  
• Diced Tomatoes – Use your favorite as long as the can doesn’t contain extras like chiles or garlic. Though, fire-roasted diced tomatoes would add a lovely smokiness to the sauce!
  
• Seasonings – Toss garlic and onion powder, Italian seasoning, and a little salt and pepper into the blender with the tomatoes.
  
  And if you like heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes over the dip before baking.
  
• Pepperoni & Bacon – Our personal favorite pizza toppings! Swap with crumbled Italian sausage (browned and drained, of course) or try a vegetarian version with mushrooms and olives.

Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect 4 Layer Pizza Dip

• Soften the cream cheese ahead of time.

Not only will it be much easier to mix with the sour cream, but you’ll get a more consistent flavor!

All you have to do is unwrap the block and let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes.

If you’re short on time, place the unwrapped block on a plate and microwave for 10-15 seconds. Make sure you don’t put the wrapper in the microwave or you’ll be seeing sparks!

• Chop up the pepperoni with the bacon.

This is especially helpful if your dippers aren’t flat or if you’ll be serving this for a larger gathering.

Slice a few at a time into halves or quarters, or use mini pepperoni instead — it’s usually in the deli case near the lunch meat or sometimes with the salad toppings.

• Watch out for watery ingredients.

If you decide to add or swap in veggies, it’s best to cook and drain them thoroughly before layering them into baked pizza dip.

Mushrooms, peppers, and zucchini especially will release water when baked — and that will cause your dip to be soggy. The cheese might even separate!

Same goes for things like canned pineapple. Drain really, really well so there’s no extra liquid to be found.

Prep Ahead

• Make tomato sauce
• Cook and crumble bacon
• Soften cream cheese

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Blender or Food Processor to make the tomato sauce.
• Mixing Bowl – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
• Casserole Dish – Either a 1.5-quart size or a Deep Pie Dish will work perfectly.
• A sturdy Silicone Spatula can be used for scraping, stirring, and smoothing, and is easy to clean too!

Serving Suggestions

We love scooping up bites of this baked pizza dip with fresh Parmesan herb bread sticks — it tastes just like a bite of pizza!

Other yummy dippers include baguette slices and crostini, pita chips, and crackers. For a healthier option, try sliced zucchini or bell peppers.

Storing and Reheating Baked Pizza Dip

Leftovers will keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil.

Allow the dip to cool before storing, but toss it if it’s been sitting out for longer than 2 hours to be safe.

It’s best to reheat pepperoni pizza dip in the oven. Let the dish warm on the counter while you preheat the oven, then bake for 10-15 minutes until it’s hot and bubbly again.

Pepperoni Pizza Dip Recipe FAQ

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Originally published 2/8/12, updated and republished June 2025

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