Pizza Dip with Focaccia
Published 3/4/2024
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Skip ordering the same ol’ pizza on game day and make this delicious Pizza Dip with Focaccia! This great appetizer is such a fun and delicious way to enjoy your favorite pizza flavors but in cheesy pizza dip form.
The homemade Foccacia dough takes the yum factor over the top, and it’s SO easy to make!
I know homemade dough can be intimidating, but here me out. It’s just mixing a few ingredients and letting it rise, and the result is an amazing focaccia bread that pairs perfectly with the easy oven-baked pizza dip.
I love to make this for Super Bowl Sunday, but it’s great for any get-together or party.
What You Need to Make Pizza Dip with Focaccia
- Active dry yeast: This is the key ingredient for making your own focaccia dough from scratch. You can find it in the baking aisle at any grocery store.
- Fresh rosemary: There’s something about rosemary in this foccacia bread that makes it so savory and delicious!
- Ground Italian sausage: We used Italian sausage to create a meaty marinara sauce for this cheesy pepperoni pizza dip. It ups the flavor and adds texture to the dip.
- Marinara sauce: What is pizza without marinara sauce, anyway? It adds the perfect tanginess and ties all of the flavors together.
- Cheese: The cheesy base for this easy pizza dip recipe is a mixture of cream cheese and parmesan cheese. Mozzarella cheese is then sprinkled on top for the perfect melty finish.
- Pepperoni: A classic pizza topping, pepperoni slices add that classic flavor and texture to this dip.
- Hand mixer: You’ll need a hand mixer to mix together the cream cheese, parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and garlic to make this epic cheesy dip.
Other Delicious Variations
This wouldn’t be a homemade pizza dip without the freedom to make it your own! Here are some of our favorite delicious options:
Cream cheese: Use ricotta cheese instead of cream cheese for a lighter option that is still creamy and delicious.
Foccacia: Don’t have the time to make your own focaccia? You’re more than welcome to use store-bought foccacia instead. This dip would also taste great with garlic bread and baguette slices or even pita chips and tortilla chips.
Easy white pizza dip: Switch out the marinara sauce for a creamy Alfredo sauce and use chicken instead of ground sausage. Add in some spinach and artichoke hearts for extra flavor.
Veggie pizza dip: Skip the meat and stir in your favorite veggies like bell peppers, onions, black olives, red onions, and mushrooms. Either add them in with the Italian sausage towards the end of the cooking time or scatter on top before baking. You can also add some fresh basil once it’s out of the oven for a pop of color and freshness.
FAQs for Pizza Dip with Focaccia
Yes! The dip can be assembled ahead of time and baked when ready to serve. Increase the cooking time by 10-15 minutes to make sure it is heated all the way through.
To ensure that your dough comes out perfect, make sure to follow the instructions carefully and give it enough time to rise. Kneading the dough well and allowing it to rest before baking will also help create a soft and fluffy texture. Be careful with how much flour you use when kneading, as too much can result in a denser dough.
If you don’t have a hand mixer, you can use a stand mixer or even mix by hand with a whisk and some elbow grease. Just make sure to thoroughly combine all the ingredients for the dip before baking!
How to Store & Freeze Pizza Dip with Focaccia
To store any leftover pizza dip, simply place it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to reheat, simply place it in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
For the focaccia, you can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, place the wrapped focaccia in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Other Fun Pizza-Inspired Appetizers
On the lookout for more tasty pizza-inspired appetizers? We get it. Pizza is just so delicious! Here are some other fun options that you’re going to absolutely love:
Pizza Dip with Focaccia
Ingredients
Focaccia
- ¾ cup warm water, 100℉-110℉
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 packet of active dry yeast
- ½ cup olive oil, divided
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
Pizza Dip
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb. ground Italian sausage
- 24 oz. marinara sauce
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese, ~1 cup
- 3 oz. sliced pepperoni
Instructions
Focaccia
- In a large bowl, whisk together the water, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Set aside for 5 minutes, or until the yeast has bloomed.
- In another bowl, stir together the flour, ½ cup parmesan cheese, rosemary, garlic, and salt.
- Once the yeast has bloomed, whisk in ¼ cup of olive oil. Then, add the flour mixture and stir until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and place it in a warm place to rise for two hours, or until it has doubled in size. Make sure to save the remaining olive oil and parmesan for later.
- Once the dough has risen, add the remaining ¼ cup olive oil to a quarter sheet pan. Transfer the dough to the pan and toss it to fully coat the dough with oil.
- Spread the dough until it fills the pan. Cover the pan and set it in a warm spot to rise again until it reaches the top of the pan. About 1 hour.
- Once the dough has risen, preheat your oven to 425℉.
- Use your fingers to dimple the dough and create wells all over the focaccia. Then, sprinkle over the remaining parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the focaccia is golden brown around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to sit for 5 minutes before slicing.
Pizza Dip
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil has become fragrant, add the Italian sausage and cook for 5-8 minutes or until it is cooked through completely. Add the spaghetti sauce and cook for an additional minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place the cream cheese and heavy cream into a mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, mix until combined. Add the garlic and parmesan cheese and fold them together.
- Transfer the cream cheese mixture to the baking dish. Spread the Italian sausage sauce over the cream cheese and then top with the mozzarella cheese. Lay the pepperoni on top of the mozzarella.
- Bake uncovered in the oven for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to sit for 5 minutes before serving with focaccia bread.
Tips & Notes
- The dip can be assembled ahead of time and baked when ready to serve. Increase the cooking time by 10-15 minutes to make sure it is heated all the way through.
- Bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms can be added to this dip. Either add them in with the Italian sausage towards the end of the cooking time or scatter on top before baking.
Watch It
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I love this recipe but used the mini pepperoni instead. It was a big hit.
Great idea!