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Easy Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe for the Slow Cooker

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This is an easy cheesy pizza dip recipe that is made for the slow cooker! A perfect appetizer that will be a huge hit at your next gathering.
(Originally published 4/14/2022 and updated for content 5/17/2025)

If you like this recipe, check out my Pizza Boats next!

ultimate pizza dip with pita bread in bowl
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I hadn’t made pizza dip before, but I decided it would be a kid-friendly appetizer to take to a New Year’s Eve party we attended. When researching recipes to try, I discovered feedback about the cheese not staying hot and melted if the dip sits out for too long. My fellow cheese lovers will agree that non melty cheese is the worst! So I decided to create this easy cheesy pizza dip recipe for the slow cooker.

More delicious dips

pizza dip in slow cooker with spoon

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 and then draining the grease. 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!

pepperoni browned in skillet

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.
  • 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 a 13.5 ounce jar of sauce, I try and find a brand with a lower sugar content. Or use an equal amount of your favorite marinara sauce.
  • Mini Pepperoni – in this case, I think size does matter – the mini pepperoni is 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. Pita chips or tortilla chips could even work.

pizza dip collage

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. Add some red pepper flakes as well if you like things spicy.

How long does pizza dip last?

Keep it in your slow cooker on the warm setting and it will last for a couple of hours at a party.

What size slow cooker to use?

I use a 6-quart Crock-Pot to test all of my recipes on Foodtastic Mom. For a single recipe of this dip, a 4-quart slow cooker would be even more ideal.

How many calories are in pizza dip?

Based on eight servings (and not including dippers) this pizza dip recipe is 196 calories per serving.

Storage directions

This dip will reheat well. Store any leftovers in an airtight container. The dip will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 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 up to three days. Microwave to re-heat the dip to serve.

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Ultimate Pizza Dip - for the Slow Cooker | Foodtastic Mom
Ultimate Pizza Dip | Foodtastic Mom #pizzadip #slowcookerpizzadip #crockpotpizzadip
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4.99 from 53 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
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 196kcal
Author Jill McOwen

Equipment

  • slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded and divided
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 packet Italian dressing mix I used Good Seasons brand
  • 16 oz spicy Italian sausage
  • 1 jar (13.5 oz) pizza sauce
  • 1 pkg (5 oz) mini pepperoni
  • Naan or garlic bread for dipping

Instructions

  • With a hand or stand mixer, combine the softened cream cheese with one cup of the shredded mozzarella, Parmesan and Italian seasoning.
  • In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, cook the pepperoni until starting to crisp. Drain the pepperoni and wipe the skillet clean.
  • In the same skillet, brown the sausage and add the pizza sauce. Stir until well combined.
  • Grease the inside of a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly into the bottom of the slow cooker insert. Top the cream cheese mixture with the sausage and pizza sauce. Top the sauce with the remaining one cup of mozzarella cheese. Top the cheese with the crisp pepperoni.
  • Cook on LOW heat for at least one hour before serving. Serve the dip with Naan bread or garlic bread for dipping.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 322mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 595IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 206mg | Iron: 1mg

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This is an easy cheesy 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

  1. momof1teen says

    Can you add pretty much any kind of pizza topping ? Like bacon,black olives,onions,mushrooms ect……I can’t do spicy sausage cause of acid reflux….Do you think I could use Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage (mild) in place of the Italian sausage…….Thanks in advance

    Reply

  3. Lauren says

    4 stars
    Sounds delicious! I don’t have a slow cooker or crockpot. Can I just put everything in a pot on top of the stove and heat on low until the cheese melts and all is hot? I’d brown mushroom slices and add those, too

    Reply

    • foodtasticmom says

      Browned mushrooms are a great addition. Since it is a layered dip, I think it might be better to layer it in a glass baking dish. Shallow is better so people can dip into all the layers at once. I’d grease a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until everything is melted and bubbling – probably 25 or 30 minutes? The slow cooker is just to keep it warm over the course of a party. But I think baking it will be fine!

      Reply

  4. Julia says

    5 stars
    You can’t go wrong with pizza dip, right? Love that you used naan bread for dipping – next time I make pizza dip I will buy naan to go with it 🙂

    Reply

  13. Deb says

    5 stars
    I have made this dip in both a crockpot and in pie pans for the oven. I have even frozen it uncooked (oven way) and taken it out last minute and baked it. A very sturdy and easy dip. Also could bake and freeze it. Great for college kids in a dorm to reheat in a microwave. I add veggies as well.

    Reply

  14. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    5 stars
    This is a dip that would certainly go down a treat in my house! It looks utterly delicious.

    Reply

  20. Barbara says

    5 stars
    I put together night before except pepperoni. Next morning I put pepperoni in air fryer for short time…cooked perfectly , then headed out of town to tailgate. Dip cooked in crock at tailgate. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!! It had so much flavor that I just ate it with a fork and skipped the bread/chips/ etc. It is hard to find recipes that you can fix ahead of time, then withstand a day in the crockpot while tailgating. Thank you.

    Reply

  21. Amy says

    5 stars
    We had an office party on National Pizza Day. I wanted to make something a little different than everyone bringing their favorite slices of pizza. People raved and asked me for the recipe. Which I did share your site with them!!! Thank you so much for looking outside of the box!

    Reply

  22. Andrea says

    5 stars
    My family and friends will devour this fantastic dip in no time! It’s a perfect appetizer for any occasion.

    Reply

  23. Nathan says

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to try this dip, I love the suggestion to add some olives and mushrooms for extra flavor. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

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