Pepperoni Pizza Dip & Lambrusco

DAY 7: 20 Days of Game Day Dips

It's pepperoni pizza — AS A DIP! How could you not love it? And if you’ve had pepperoni pizza dip before, I bet it wasn’t as good as this one. Because I have a trick to guarantee the PERFECT ooey gooey cheese pull.

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Full disclosure - this is my 3rd pizza dip. While the first two were good, they weren’t my favourite recipes! This time I knew I had to nail it, and believe me - I DID. This dip is so simple and easy to throw together, but it’s not as simple as just layering sauce, cheese and pepperoni! A few very key steps and ingredients take this concept to new heights, and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

You can find this recipe in my new eBook: ‘Here for the DIP!’ - a collection of 20 awesome game day-inspired recipes and pairings, just in time for the Super Bowl!

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Wine Pairing

I recommend pairing this epic pizza-in-a-bowl with a dry Lambrusco - a wine style that I talk about a LOT on here! (Check out my other Lambrusco pairings here). Lambrusco is a juicy and vibrant sparkling wine style that’s usually red (aka Lambrusco Rosso). And fun fact: Lambrusco isn’t only the name of the wine, but the name of a family of grapes! Like Lambrusco Grasparossa, Salamino, and Maestri to name a few. This wine style is from the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It’s super berry-forward with hints of violet, spice, and subtle but lovely earthy and herbal undertones.

I probably drink more Lambrusco than your average gal, and I absolutely LOVE pairing it with cured meats and Italian food. So Pepperoni Pizza Dip and Lambrusco just makes sense! The wine’s bright acidity, crisp bubbles, and slight tannins cut through the dip’s creamy, cheesy richness, and the vibrant, juicy fruit flavours contrast the savoury pepperoni and Italian spices. SO GOOD.

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My Recommendations

I recommend Tomato Wheels Lambrusco - one of my favourites, and bonus that it’s Canadian owned (but made in Italy)! I have this one in my store front right now for my local friends and it’s on SALE! If you can’t find this one where you are, here are some other options:

• Bolla Rossa Lambrusco

• Lini 910 Lambrusco

Pairing Alternatives

If you’re looking for another wine that’s going to give you a similar pairing experience, try a Sparkling Shiraz (for another sparkling red), or another crisp, acidic red like Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, Barbera D’Asti, or Chianti Classico.

If you’re looking for a different style of wine pairing, Prosecco, Provence Rosé (or a dry Italian Rosé), or a slightly creamy but crisp Italian white (like Verdicchio or Soave) would also be great!

If wine isn’t your thing, you could also pair it with:

• an Amber Lager, Pale Ale or IPA, or Witbier if you’re a beer lover,

• a Negroni Sbagliato or Aperol Spritz if you’re more into cocktails,

• or if alcohol isn’t your thing, try some sparkling pomegranate juice with fresh lime juice and basil!

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Recipe: Pepperoni Pizza Dip

Servings: 4-6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes

Kitchen Stuff

• 8-10 inch round cast iron skillet

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup smooth, full fat ricotta cheese

• 1/4 cup sour cream (14% recommended)

• 4oz cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

• 1 cup pizza sauce

• 1 cup high quality mozzarella cheese, shredded

• 1/2 cup chopped pepperoni

• 1 cup Bocconcini pearls (or chopped fresh mozzarella)

• Sliced pepperoni

Optional Toppings

• 1-2 tsp Italian seasoning

• 1-2 tsp chili flakes

• Fresh herbs (like basil or oregano)

• Ground or freshly grated parmesan

• Chili oil

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Directions

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, sour cream, cream cheese, garlic powder, and italian seasoning. Spread the mixture evenly into an 8-10 inch round baking dish or cast-iron skillet.

2. Spread an even layer of pizza sauce over the ricotta layer, followed by the shredded mozzarella and chopped pepperoni. Top with Bocconcini pearls (see notes), followed by pepperoni slices (arranged like a pepperoni pizza).

3. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the dip for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and the pepperoni is crispy.

4. Remove from the oven and garnish with more italian seasoning and optional chili flakes. Additional toppings could include chopped fresh herbs (like oregano and basil), parmesan, or chili oil.

5. Serve immediately with original salted chips, pretzel sticks, or garlic bread, and ENJOY!

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Notes & Stuff

Hot Tips

• Customize to your liking: No need to stick with Pepperoni. You can add your favourite pizza toppings, like olives, diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or cooked sausage.

• Whip that ricotta: For an extra smooth and creamy base, whip the ricotta mixture in a food processor!

• That perfect cheese pull: Bocconcini pearls are tiny little balls of fresh mozzarella. Fresh mozzarella melts SO NICELY because of the higher moisture content aand creates the absolute best cheese pull, and the tiny pieces make it so that everyone who dives into the dip will have a perfect gooey cheese pull! If you can't find these, you can just buy regular Boncconcini or fresh mozzarella and grate or chop it into little pieces.

Substitutions

• Pizza sauce: You can use pre-made or homemade pizza sauce, or substitute it for marinara.

• Ricotta: you can replace with cottage cheese (blended until smooth)

• Cream cheese: Replace with Mascarpone for a richer base.

Storage Notes

• Store any leftover dip in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

• Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10–15 minutes, or until warmed through.

• This dip may not freeze well due to the cream cheese and ricotta base. It will probably taste fine, but the texture might be a bit more granular.

• Prepare the dip up until baking. Bake and add optional garnishes just before serving!

I would love to hear from you. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

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Like What You See?

We still have 13 epic game day dips to go! Subscribe and check me out on Instagram to follow-along for the rest of the series, and check out days 1-6 below!

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