High Protein Pizza Dip with Hot Honey
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This easy Pizza Dip recipe is your new go-to appetizer! Creamy, cheesy, and packed with protein, it’s a bold and flavorful dish perfect for parties, game days, or satisfying your pizza cravings in a fresh way. Blended cottage cheese or Greek yogurt creates a protein-packed base, while layers of melty mozzarella, tangy pizza sauce, and spicy-sweet hot honey make it utterly irresistible. Whether you’re serving a crowd or indulging solo, this pizza dip recipe is bound to impress!
Why You’ll Love This Pizza Dip Recipe
This high-protein pizza dip is perfect for any pizza lover—ooey-gooey cheese, savory and crispy pepperoni, and bold Italian flavors—into a fun and delicious dip. Blended cottage cheese or Greek yogurt gives it a nutritional boost, making it a protein-packed option for any occasion. It’s easily customizable, allowing you to make it dairy-free or adjust the spice level to fit your taste.
Perfect for sharing, this cheesy pizza dip is the ultimate appetizer at holiday parties, alongside wings during football season, or game nights. Plus it’s made with simple pantry staples, making it a fuss-free yet flavorful addition to your menu. Serve this easy pepperoni pizza dip warm with crostini, garlic rolls, gluten-free crackers, turkey meatballs, or veggie sticks for the ultimate dipping experience!
Ingredient Notes
For the Dip
- Cream Cheese: Adds creaminess to the base. Use regular or dairy-free options.
- Blended Cottage Cheese or Greek Yogurt: These create a creamy texture while keeping it high-protein. Sub with dairy-free sour cream if needed.
- Hot Honey: A drizzle of sweet heat ties everything together beautifully.
- Pizza Sauce: Go for your favorite store-bought pizza sauce or homemade marinara for the perfect pizza flavor.
- Shredded Mozzarella: Use regular or dairy-free cheese for that classic melty goodness.
- Pepperoni: Adds a savory, meaty topping. You can use turkey pepperoni or a plant-based version.
- Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt: Essential for bold Italian-inspired flavors.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated parmesan (or a dairy-free alternative) for extra cheesy depth.
Toppings
- Basil: Fresh basil adds a pop of color and bright flavor.
- Hot Honey: Drizzle for a sweet-spicy kick.
- Red Pepper Flakes: For those who love an extra spicy punch.
- Any of your favorite pizza toppings: Sausage, green bell peppers, black olives, green onions, or pineapple-any topping will work!
For exact ingredient amounts, see full printable recipe card below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×9-inch an oven safe dish dish or small cast-iron skillet.
Step 2: Prepare the Creamy Base. In a mixing bowl, blend the cream cheese, cottage cheese (or Greek yogurt), and hot honey until smooth. Mix in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Fold in ½ cup of shredded mozzarella and ¼ cup parmesan cheese.
Step 3: Assemble the Dip. Spread the creamy cheese mixture evenly in your prepared baking dish. Spoon the pizza sauce over the top, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and arrange the slices of pepperoni over the cheese.
Step 4: Bake. Bake the dip for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
Step 5: Garnish and Serve. Top with a drizzle of hot honey, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and grated parmesan cheese. Serve immediately with toasted crostini, crackers, veggie sticks, or mini peppers for dipping.
Expert Tips
- Blending the cottage cheese in a food processor creates the smoothest, creamiest base.
- Serve the pepperoni dip straight from the oven or keep it warm in a slow cooker or on a warming tray.
- Add more or less red pepper flakes and hot honey to suit your spice tolerance.
Mac’s Pro TipS
Serving Tips
Make Ahead: Assemble the dip up to a day in advance, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Bake just before serving for best results.
Pair with Dippers: Offer a variety of dippers to suit all tastes—think toasted crostini, pita chips, baguette slices, tortilla chips, gluten-free crackers, veggie sticks like celery, carrots, and bell peppers, or garlic bread.
Party-Ready Presentation: Garnish with fresh basil, a drizzle of hot honey, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or parmesan cheese for a picture-perfect finish.
Make It a Pizza Night: Serve alongside pizza stuffed peppers, garlic knots, or a fresh side salad for a fun, pizza-inspired spread.
Create Individual Servings: For smaller gatherings, divide the dip into ramekins and bake individual portions to ensure everyone gets their fair share of cheesy goodness! Let everyone pick what toppings they want to put on their individual pizza dip!
Storage Tips
Pop any leftover pizza dip into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm it up in the oven at 350°F until it’s nice and bubbly, or microwave it in 30-second bursts, giving it a stir in between to heat it evenly.
To freeze, Assemble the dip without baking it, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil before freezing. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the dip in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed. Keep in mind that dairy-based dips may have slight texture changes after freezing, but giving it a good stir before baking can help smooth everything out.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Swap out the cream cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan for your favorite dairy-free alternatives. Use a dairy-free sour cream in place of cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.
This is the perfect appetizer because it can really be served with anything. Serve it warm with crostini, gluten-free crackers, veggie sticks, or mini peppers. For a twist, try spreading it on toasted flatbread!
Yes! Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to regular honey for a similar spicy-sweet flavor.
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Easy High Protein Pizza Dip with Hot Honey
Ingredients
Dip
- 8 oz cream cheese softened or sub dairy-free cream cheese
- 3/4 cup blended cottage cheese sub Greek yogurt or dairy-free sour cream
- 1 1/2 tablespoons hot honey
- 1 cup pizza sauce or marinara
- 1 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or dairy-free cheese of choice
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese finely grated (or sub dairy-free cheese of choice)
- 12-14 slices pepperoni
- salt to taste
Topping
- red pepper flakes
- hot hoeny
- basil
- grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a small baking dish or cast-iron skillet.
- Prepare the Creamy Base: In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, blended cottage cheese, and hot honey. Mix until smooth and well combined. Stir in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Fold in ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese.
- Assemble the Dip: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Add Sauce and Cheese Layers: Spoon the marinara or pizza sauce over the cream cheese layer, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce. Arrange the pepperoni slices on top in an even layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with hot honey, red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese and basil. Pair with toasted crostini, gluten-free crackers, veggie sticks or mini peppers.
- Serving Tip : Serving this dip warm is key to its ooey-gooey deliciousness! As the shredded cheese melts, it creates a luscious, stretchy topping that is perfect for dipping. However, the cheese may firm up as the dip cools, making it harder to scoop and losing some of that creaminess. To keep your dip party-ready, serve it straight from the oven or slow cooker, or keep it warm with a heating tray or warming plate for an extended serving time.
Notes
- Blending the cottage cheese in a food processor creates the smoothest, creamiest base.
- Serve the pepperoni dip straight from the oven or keep it warm in a slow cooker or on a warming tray.
- Add more or less red pepper flakes and hot honey to suit your spice tolerance.
- For nutrition, I calculated using low fat cream cheese and 1% cottage cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My all-time favorite dip and I love the fact it has extra protein.
This was phenomenal! Exceeded my expectations for sure! Delicious and will be in regular rotation!