Easy Cheesy Pizza Dip Recipe for the Slow Cooker

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!

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

• Jarlsberg Cheese Dip
• Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
• Guinness Cheddar Dip

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!

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.

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.

Kitchen tools

• I use a 6-quart slow cooker to test all of my recipes
• Use a non-stick frying pan for both browning the sausage and cooking the pepperoni

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More easy appetizer recipes for football season

• Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders
• Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
• Bacon Wrapped Smokies