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Jill McOwen
Updated September 29, 2026

Easy Pizza Dip Recipe for the Slow Cooker

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This is an easy cheesy hot pizza dip recipe that is made for the slow cooker! A perfect appetizer that will be a huge hit at your next gathering.

If you like this recipe, check out my Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip next!

See all of my slow cooker dip recipes.

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serving a spoonful of pizza dip from the slow cooker

Pizza dip is my MVP appetizer during football season. Everyone loves it! When originally researching the recipe, I found one complaint about pizza dip. When baked in the oven it doesn’t stay hot for long. So I made my pizza dip recipe specifically for the slow cooker (Crock-Pot). That way it stays hot and delicious, with cheese that is still gooey and melted.

How long to cook pizza dip in the slow cooker

Cook pizza dip in the slow cooker on HIGH for 1 hour, then turn it to the WARM setting to serve. It stays hot and melty for a few hours at your party or tailgate.

More delicious dips

Why is this hot pizza dip recipe the best?

Because it includes both savory pepperoni and spicy sausage. The key to delicious pepperoni in the slow cooker is cooking it in the skillet first. Crispy pepperoni is way better than soggy, overly greasy pepperoni. You need a skillet for browning the sausage anyway, so it’s not dirtying another dish to also cook the pepperoni. And if you read in the comments, some people use their air fryer or microwave to cook the pepperoni. I love when my readers give me tips to make my recipes even better, more user-friendly!

picture of ingredients needed to make pizza dip

Ingredients for easy pizza dip

  • Cream Cheese – Use one, 8 ounce block of softened cream cheese to help hold all the other cheese together for the cheesy base of this dip.
  • Mozzarella Cheese – I prefer buying a ball or block of cheese and shredding it myself because I think it tastes and melts better.
  • Parmesan Cheese – I prefer the grated (not shredded) Parmesan I find in the specialty cheese section, but the green can works well too.
  • Italian Salad Dressing Mix – I use Good Seasons brand in this recipe. You could use a combination of Italian seasoning and garlic powder instead. Half a packet is about 2 teaspoons of seasoning.
  • Spicy Italian Sausage – Use a 16 ounce roll of uncooked sausage, Bob Evans brand is my personal favorite – and if you don’t like spice, use a mild Italian sausage.
  • Pizza Sauce – Use your favorite brand of pizza sauce. Jars are usually 13.5 or 14 ounces. Or use an equal amount of your favorite marinara sauce.
  • Mini Pepperoni – In this case, I think size does matter – the mini pepperoni slices are better for dipping.
  • Dippers – Crusty bread slices, like garlic bread or baguette slices work well with this pizza dip. I like it with sliced green peppers too. Garlic bagel chips, pita or naan bread, crackers or even tortilla chips work well too for dipping.

showing the cream cheese layer on the bottom and the pepperoni layer on the top

Instructions

With a hand or stand mixer in a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with one cup of the shredded Mozzarella, Parmesan and Italian seasoning. You can also stir it by hand. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the bottom of the slow cooker insert.

In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage and add the pizza sauce. Stir until well combined. Pour it over the cream cheese layer in the slow cooker insert.

In the same skillet that you’ve wiped clean, cook the pepperoni until starting to crisp. You can drain the pepperoni before adding it to the slow cooker. It’s up to you.

Top the sauce layer in the slow cooker with the remaining cup mozzarella cheese. Top the cheese with the crisp pepperoni. Cook on high heat for one hour before serving. Turn to the warm setting to serve.

Keep scrolling for my printable recipe card and updated video tutorial!

showing the pepperoni being cooked in the skillet then poured on top of the pizza dip

Can I add other toppings?

Top this dip with your personal favorite pizza toppings! Sliced green or black olives, chopped green bell peppers, cooked onions or mushrooms, all would make great additions or substitutions to this dip recipe. Sprinkle on some red pepper flakes as well if you like things really spicy.

How long does pizza dip last?

Keep it in your slow cooker on the warm setting and it will last for a few of hours at your party, tailgate or other gathering.

What size slow cooker to use?

I use a 6-quart Crock-Pot to test all of my recipes. For a single recipe of this dip, a 2.5-quart Crock-Pot would be even more ideal.

hot pizza dip ready to serve from the slow cooker

Storage directions

This dip will reheat well. Store any leftovers in an airtight container. The dip will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days.

Can you freeze pizza dip?

I don’t think this dip would freeze well because of the cream cheese layer. And based on the reader comments, it is so popular at gatherings that leftovers are scarce. Any leftovers you might have, store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days. Microwave to re-heat the dip to serve.

Kitchen tools

Video

a spoonful of hot pizza dip served from the slow cooker
Print Pin
4.99 from 54 votes

Pizza Dip

My Pizza Dip is loaded with cheese, pepperoni and sausage and is made for the slow cooker, so the cheese stays hot and melty.
Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword crock pot pizza dip, hot pizza dip, pizza dip, pizza dip recipe, slow cooker pizza dip
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 314kcal
Author Jill McOwen

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded and divided
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp Italian dressing mix I used Good Seasons brand
  • 16 oz spicy Italian sausage
  • 14 oz pizza sauce
  • 5 oz mini pepperoni

Instructions

  • With a hand or stand mixer, combine the softened cream cheese with one cup of the shredded mozzarella, Parmesan and Italian seasoning. You can also stir it by hand. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
  • In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage and add the pizza sauce. Stir until well combined. Pour it over the cream cheese layer in the slow cooker insert.
  • In the same skillet that you've wiped clean, cook the pepperoni until starting to crisp. You can drain the pepperoni before adding it to the slow cooker. It's up to you.
  • Top the sauce layer in the slow cooker with the remaining one cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Top the cheese with the crisp pepperoni.
  • Cook on high heat for one hour before serving. Turn to the warm setting to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 830mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 569IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 1mg

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This is an easy cheesy hot pizza dip recipe that is made for the slow cooker! A perfect appetizer that will be a huge hit at your next gathering.

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Comments

  2. Angie says

    5 stars
    Great for kids and adults! Would it be ok to add banana peppers next time or would it compromise the original ingredients? Amazing recipe! Thanks again!

    Reply

  5. Gabi says

    5 stars
    What a fantastic party food – it will be the hit for any pizza lover! I like that you can combine it also with naan bread or tortilla chips.

    Reply

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