Slow cooker pizza dip is a warm, cheesy, pepperoni-packed appetizer made with classic pizza flavors in an easy crockpot recipe. Perfect for parties, game days, and anyone who loves dipping bread into cheesy, saucy goodness!
Slow cooker pizza dip is for all of us who love everything about pizza, especially the melty bubbly cheese!
The same way we deconstruct our favorite game-day foods and turn them into slow cooker buffalo chicken dip and crockpot reuben dip, we’re doing the same with this pizza dip!
And let’s be honest, if you’re the type who pulls the cheese off your pizza and eats it first, this dip was made for you.
Don’t worry, full-on pizza lovers, just grab a slice of bread (or maybe a breadstick) for dipping, and you still get that pizza experience, in a scoopable cheesy form, perfect for game days, holidays, or casual get-togethers!
Crockpot Pizza Dip
Why you’ll love this recipe
- All the comforts of a slice of ‘za without dealing with pizza dough or monitoring the oven!
- Just 15 minutes of prep time.
- Keeps warm for hours and can be served straight from the slow cooker.
- Customize the ingredients to however you like your pizza!
Helpful Tools
- Slow cooker (I use a 4 quart for this one)
- Glass mixing bowls
- Hand mixer
- Cheese grater
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Cream cheese and sour cream: Bring the cream cheese to room temperature for about 30-40 minutes before you begin so it’s soft enough that it creams easily.
- Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt: The classic trio of pizza seasoning.
- Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese: I highly recommend grating the Parmesan cheese fresh from a block, for easier melting and better flavor. Same goes for the mozzarella.
- Pizza sauce: Any kind will do, just use your favorite.
- Pepperoni: You’ll need about 10-12 slices of pepperoni.
- Fresh basil: I love adding fresh chopped basil for garnish, but it’s optional.
- For serving: Baguette slices and garlic breadsticks.
How to make Slow Cooker Pizza Dip
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to blend the cream cheese, sour cream, and seasoning.
- Step Two: Sprinkle in the Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese, continuing to mix until combined.
- Step 3: Use a spatula to spread the cheese mixture evenly into the basin of a 4-quart crockpot. Then, carefully spread the pizza sauce overtop.
- Step 4: Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and place the pepperonis evenly across the top. Cover with the lid and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or LOW for 4 hours.
- Step 5: Turn the slow cooker to the warm function, sprinkle with fresh basil, and enjoy!
Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.
- This pizza dip slow cooker version is best made in at least a 4-quart crockpot.
- Bagged shredded cheese will work, but grating it yourself for maximum meltiness is worth it.
- Customize with your favorite pizza toppings. Sprinkle on some diced bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives, cooked and crumbled sausage, bacon, or diced ham.
- Stick to 2-3 toppings, so you’re not overloading it.
- Make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Be sure to add the components in layers as directed. It helps ensure the cheese melts evenly.
- You can use high heat in a pinch, but low heat will ensure slow and steady heat, preventing oily cheese or burnt edges.
- Make sure your dippers are sturdy! I like to use baguettes and garlic breadsticks, but you could also use sturdy crackers.
Storage & Reheating
How to store leftovers
Keep leftover pizza dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating Instructions
If there’s a lot left, add it back to the slow cooker and reheat using the warm function. If it’s just a small portion you are heating, use the microwave.
Need more delicious dip recipes? Try these:
Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Click here to view my collection of 10+ Homemade Dip recipes.
Slow Cooker Pizza Dip Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese softened to room temp
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 ½ cups mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 ½ cups pizza sauce
- 10-12 pepperonis
- Fresh chopped basil for garnish optional
- Baguette slices optional for serving
- Garlic breadsticks optional for serving
Instructions
- To a medium mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Use a hand mixer on medium-low to blend until smooth.16 ounces cream cheese, ½ cup sour cream, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add in the parmesan and 2 cups of the mozzarella. Continue mixing until combined.½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Use a spatula to spread the cheese mixture evenly into the basin of a 4-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Carefully spread the pizza sauce over the cream cheese mixture and top it with the remaining mozzarella cheese.1 ½ cups pizza sauce, 1.51 cups mozzarella cheese
- Evenly place the pepperonis across the top.10-12 pepperonis
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or on LOW for 4 hours.
- Garnish with chopped basil and turn the slow cooker to WARM for serving.Fresh chopped basil for garnish
Notes
- I recommend using at least a 4 quart slow cooker.
- Cream cheese should be at room temperature before starting so it will mix easily without lumps.
- Freshly grated/shredded mozzarella will provide the creamiest texture, but bagged cheese will also work.
- Easily customize with your favorite toppings – diced bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives, cooked & crumbled sausage or bacon, etc.
- Serve with baguette slices, breadsticks, or garlic knots.
- For a bit of heat, stir in some red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat portions in the microwave.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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