Description
This Sloppy Hot Italian Cheese Dip is a flavorful, hearty appetizer featuring spicy Italian sausage, a medley of sautéed vegetables, rich cheeses, and Italian seasonings. Perfectly baked until bubbly and topped with pepperoni and fresh parsley, it’s ideal for parties or cozy gatherings served with crusty bread or crackers.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound spicy Italian chicken sausage or beef sausage
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 red bell peppers, chopped
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto
- 2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded spicy cheddar or fontina cheese
- 3 ounces thin sliced pepperoni
- Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for baking the dip later.
- Cook Sausage and Vegetables: In a large oven-safe skillet, combine the spicy Italian sausage, chopped yellow onion, red bell peppers, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and black pepper. Cook over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavor. Then add 1 cup of water, cream cheese, basil pesto, and chopped pepperoncini. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 minutes until it develops a creamy consistency. Mix in the grated parmesan cheese thoroughly.
- Prepare for Baking: Remove the skillet from heat. Evenly sprinkle the shredded provolone and spicy cheddar (or fontina) cheeses over the meat mixture. Then arrange the thinly sliced pepperoni on top of the cheeses.
- Bake the Dip: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheeses have melted completely and are bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve warm with toasted French bread, crackers, or your favorite dipping bread. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet to simplify transferring from stovetop to oven.
- You can substitute beef or pork sausage if chicken sausage is unavailable.
- Adjust the amount of pepperoncini for more or less heat and tang.
- For a milder dip, use mild Italian sausage and reduce or omit the spicy cheddar cheese.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop or in the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop and Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Italian cheese dip, spicy sausage dip, pepperoni dip, party appetizer, baked cheese dip
