Pizza Dip Ring is a fun appetizer that is always a fan favorite! A ring of buttery pizza dough balls are baked around the most divine pizza dip. The dip has a creamy cheese layer, pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni! The pull apart bread ring is so fun and unique. All the great flavors of pizza are packed into this addictive dip!
Pizza Dip Ring Recipe
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Pizza is one of those dishes that everyone loves. You can't really go wrong with serving pizza or a fun pizza appetizer at a holiday party, game day, or potluck. We love dips so we knew we had to make a fun pizza dip! The first dip ring we ever shared was our fan favorite Chili Cheese Dog Dip Ring back in 2021! It's been a fan favorite for over 4 years so we knew we had to come up with another fun and unique dip ring.
What is Pizza Dip Ring
A pizza dip ring is a fun and interactive appetizer. A ring of pizza dough balls are brushed with garlic butter and are used to dip. The pizza dip has three layers. The first is a seasoned cream cheese, sour cream and parmesan layer that is so rich and creamy. The second layer is pizza sauce. Lastly, the third layer is the pizza toppings (mozzarella and pepperoni). Baked until the dip is oh so rich, creamy, and bubbly and the pizza dough balls are nice and crispy. It's a fan favorite recipe that you will be making on repeat.
Italian Dessert Pairings!
Ingredients
- Pizza Dough -a store bought pizza dough ball is perfect for this recipe. You can also make pizza dough from scratch but for a quicker recipe we like to pick one up from the grocery store or our favorite local bakery!
- Pizza Sauce - homemade or store bought works great. If you want to change up the flavor of the dip each time you make it you can use a different pasta sauce each time. For example, tomato basil, vodka sauce, rosé or a spicy homemade tomato sauce.
- Pepperoni - we love to use mini pepperoni for this dip because they get nice and crispy and it's the perfect size for dipping.
- Sour Cream - this gives the dip an extra creamy texture.
- Butter - for the garlic butter that is brushed over the pizza dough balls.
- Mozzarella - shredded mozzarella, or any shredded cheese you like can be used.
- Cream Cheese - this is the base layer of the dip that gives it the most irresistible creamy texture.
- Parsley - for a pop of color in the garlic butter.
- Oregano - adds a great flavor to the cheese layer of the dip.
- Garlic - for the garlic butter. We highly recommend fresh garlic but you can also use garlic powder.
- Parmesan - this gives the cream cheese layer the most divine parmesan flavor. More parmesan cheese is also used to garnish the baked dip.
How to Make Pizza Dip Ring
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of page
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ degrees. Grease a round oven safe baking dish (ex. pie dish), or cast iron skillet, or oven safe skillet with cooking spray.
- Place the pizza dough on lightly floured counter. Gently flatten into a large square and cut into 22-24 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches.
- Place dough balls around the outer edge of the prepared baking dish to create a ring. Put them close enough to each other so they are just touching, they will expand when baking. Depending on the size of baking dish or skillet used you should be able to fit 14-16 dough balls to create a ring. Place the remaining dough balls on a parchment paper lined sheet pan. These can be baked and served alongside the dip for dipping.
- In a small bowl combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, parmesan cheese and dried oregano. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture in the center of the baking dish.
- Spread the pizza sauce on top of the cheese layer.
- Top with the mozzarella cheese. Distribute the pepperoni on top of the mozzarella.
- In a small bowl combine the melted butter, garlic powder and parsley. Mix until evenly combined.
- Brush the dough balls with the garlic butter. Brush any extra dough balls on the baking tray with garlic butter as well.
- Place the dip and tray of extra dough balls in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the dip starts to bubble and the dough is golden brown. Switch the oven racks of the dip and extra dough ball tray halfway through cooking and rotate the pans so they cook evenly.Tip: as oven temperatures vary, if you notice the bread is getting too golden before dip starts to bubble, you can cover the baking dish with foil and then uncover when you see the center of the dip starting to bubble.
- Remove from the oven. Top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. Serve the dip with the extra dough balls to dip and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Pizza Dip Ring
- Pizza Dough - it is important when preparing the dough ball ring that you do not put the dough balls too close together. The pizza dough will expand when cooking so you want to place the dough balls close enough together so they are just touching. This way the dip will not ooze between the dough balls and the dough will be able to rise properly when cooking.
- Flavor Variations - we LOVE pizza night at our house. Everyone gets to customize their pizza to their liking with different toppings. This pizza dip ring is so versatile because you can change up the toppings and you could even use two small round baking dishes to make two flavors. For toppings you can add any classic pizza toppings you like such as bell peppers, onions, bacon, ham, pineapple (yes, pineapple belongs on pizza!), spicy pepperoni, and more.
- Layering the Dip - this dip has three layers like a traditional pizza. The cream cheese based layer represents the crust. The pizza sauce is spread on as the second layer. The third layer is all the toppings (cheese and pepperoni). If you don't layer them and just stir them all together the dip will be more runny as the cheese and pizza sauce melts together. By layering them you get distinct, and delicious, layers of great pizza flavor!
FAQ
Oven - transfer leftovers to an oven safe baking dish. Bake covered at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or until warmed through.
Microwave - heat in 20 second intervals in a microwave safe bowl, stirring after each, until warmed through. Note: the pizza dough will not be crispy with this method.
Cover the cooled dip with foil or plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 3 days (check the best before date on your sour cream and cheeses and adjust accordingly).
We do not recommend freezing this dip as the base is dairy which tends to split when frozen and thawed. You can freeze leftover cooked dough balls for up to 3 months in an air tight container.
Yes! This dip is perfect for make ahead. Follow the recipe as per usual but do not bake the dip. Cover the dip baking tray with plastic wrap and store in the fridge up to 1 day in advance. Cook the dip according to the recipe directions, cover with foil for the first 5 minutes of baking.
For a vegetarian recipe use a plant based pepperoni.
Use homemade gluten free pizza dough and ensure the brand of pepperoni used is gluten free.
More Fun Appetizers
- Buffalo Chicken Pull Apart Quesadilla Ring
- Stuffed Mushroom Dip
- Bruschetta Flatbread Pizza
- Spinach Artichoke Dip Ring
- Charcuterie Flatbread Pizza
Enjoy!
- Sab
Pizza Dip Ring
Ingredients
- 1 package pizza dough ball (1-1.5 lbs store bought pizza dough or homemade, or Pillsbury pizza dough tube)
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened, 1 brick, 250 grams)
- ½ cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
- 1 cup mozzarella (shredded)
- 1 cup mini pepperoni (or regular slice cut into quarters)
Garlic Butter
- 4 tablespoon butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (finely minced)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
GARNISH
- Fresh Basil (sliced)
- Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ degrees. Grease a round oven safe baking dish (ex. pie dish), or cast iron skillet, or oven safe skillet with cooking spray.
- Place the 1 package pizza dough ball on lightly floured counter. Gently flatten into a large square and cut into 22-24 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, approximately 1 ½ to 2 inches.
- Place dough balls around the outer edge of the prepared baking dish to create a ring. Put them close enough to each other so they are just touching, they will expand when baking. Depending on the size of baking dish or skillet used you should be able to fit 14-16 dough balls to create a ring. Place the remaining dough balls on a parchment paper lined sheet pan. These can be baked and served alongside the dip for dipping.
- In a small bowl combine the softened 8 oz cream cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ⅓ cup parmesan cheese and ½ teaspoon dried oregano. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture in the center of the baking dish.
- Spread the 1 cup pizza sauce on top of the cheese layer. Top with the shredded 1 cup mozzarella. Distribute the 1 cup mini pepperoni on top of the mozzarella.
- In a small bowl combine the melted 4 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon garlic and 1 tablespoon fresh parsley. Mix until evenly combined.
- Brush the dough balls with the garlic butter. Brush any extra dough balls on the baking tray with garlic butter as well.
- Place the dip and tray of extra dough balls in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until the dip starts to bubble and the dough is golden brown. Switch the oven racks of the dip and extra dough ball tray halfway through cooking and rotate the pans so they cook evenly.Tip: as oven temperatures vary, if you notice the bread is getting too golden before dip starts to bubble, you can cover the baking dish with foil and then uncover when you see the center of the dip starting to bubble.
- Remove from the oven. Top with Fresh Basil and Parmesan cheese. Serve the dip with the extra dough balls to dip and enjoy!
Nutrition
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