Pizza Dip (without cream cheese)

Name: Pizza Dip
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Diced tomatoes; 2 cloves Garlic; 1 tablespoon Olive Oil; 1 teaspoon Balsamic vinegar; 3 ounces Mozzarella cheese; 1 tablespoon Fresh basil (chopped)

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If you are looking for a quick and easy appetizer, this pizza dip without cream cheese is it! It’s the perfect appetizer made with a few simple ingredients and takes just minutes to make!

Pizza dip with melted mozzarella cheese in a bowl with bread, pepperoni, olives and peppers

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Thank you Wildgrain for sending me samples of your delicious products, as always all opinions are my own.

This is the best pizza dip, and might become your new favorite appetizer!

Most pizza dip recipes are made with a cream cheese base. I’ve never had cream cheese on pizza and can’t even imagine how it would taste in pizza dip 🤔.

So I decided to mix two of the best-tasting pizza ingredients together – the sauce and the cheese.

This homemade pizza dip is like eating pizza without the crust! And you can dip your favorite pizza topping into it. It’s perfect to serve on game day, holiday parties, or even a fun and easy dinner; toss a salad together and dinner is ready.

If you love healthier tasty appetizers, try these disco fries, stuffed mushrooms, or air fryer potato skins.

Why you will🤍 this recipe

It’s quick and easy and made with only 6 ingredients.
Pizza dip is versatile! Serve it with any of your favorite pizza toppings and it will be a huge hit!

Here is what you will need

This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe; scroll down for a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions.

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🛒Ingredients

Diced tomatoes
Garlic
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Basil
Mozzarella cheese
Diced tomatoes or homemade pizza sauce

🥄Equipment

Heavy skillet or saucepan
Oven-proof dish

How to make this hot pizza dip recipe

Prepare the ingredients: chop the garlic, and slice or shred the mozzarella cheese.

Process step 1 Tomatoes pureed in a food processor

Step 1. Puree tomatoes

Add the tomatoes to a food processor and blend until they are pureed.

Step 2. Cook the garlic

Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook for a few minutes until it begins to soften.

Step 3. Add the balsamic and tomatoes

Reduce the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar. Cook for a few minutes, then add the tomatoes and basil. Simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 4. Transfer the sauce to oven proof dish

Carefully pour the sauce into a small baking dish and cover it with slices of cheese.

slices of mozzarella cheese on top of pizza sauce

finished pizza dip with melted cheese on top

Step 5. Melt the cheese

Place the dish under a broiler until the cheese melts.

NOTE: The tomato sauce can be prepared in an oven-proof skillet and topped with cheese and into the oven in the same skillet.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Tomatoes – I like to use low-sodium diced tomatoes, but you can use your favorite brand of canned tomatoes or you can make a quick Neapolitan pizza sauce.

If the tomatoes are already crushed, you can skip step one of the recipe.

Garlic – Fresh garlic always tastes best, but if it’s not available, it can easily be replaced with garlic powder. Use 1/4 teaspoon per clove of garlic.

Fresh basil – As with garlic, fresh is best, but can be swapped with 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil or Italian seasoning.

overhead view of pizza dip in a bowl with a plate of dippers bread, pepperoni, olives and peppers

What to serve with pizza dip

Bread! I love the sourdough bread from Wildg rain. It’s better than homemade, healthier than storebought bread and so convenient, especially when you are entertaining!

All that you have to do is take a loaf of bread out of your freezer and place it in a hot oven and let it bake. In less than an hour, you will have an irresistible loaf of bread that tastes like it was homemade, and is perfect for dipping into this bubbling hot pizza dip!

If you have not heard of Wildgrain, it’s a must-have subscription box that sends out a mixed assortment of sourdough bread and pasta that tastes like it’s homemade!

We always have a loaf or two and pasta from Wildgrain in our freezer because you never know when you are going to need to make something quick and delicious that tastes homemade.

In addition to delicious bread, other serving suggestions for this delicious dip are your favorite toppings for pizza such as black olives, pepperoni slices, roasted peppers, pita chips, tortilla chips, bread sticks, green peppers, red peppers, mushrooms, pineapple, ham, or sliced sausage.

This pizza dip is also a great addition to a charcuterie board!

Recipe variations

This easy pizza dip is a pretty basic recipe, and the flavor variations happen more with the dippers, but here are a few ways to change up pizza dip.

Spicy pizza dip – add a teaspoon or two to taste of red pepper flakes.

Extra cheesy – spread a layer of ricotta cheese (about a 1/2 cup) on the bottom of the ovenproof dish before adding the sauce.

Change up the cheese – Instead of mozzarella cheese, try using different kinds of cheeses. Switch to provolone or use a combination of provolone, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.

Sweet pizza dip – Once the cheese has melted, add a drizzle of honey over the top of the melted cheese.

Meat lovers pizza dip – stir in a 1/2 cup of cooked sausage crumbles or ground beef into the dip before adding the cheese.

How to store leftovers

If there is any of this delicious pizza dip left over, store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees or the microwave.

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A piece of bread dipped into cheesy pizza sauce

Make ahead instructions

Even though this is a simple recipe, this delicious appetizer can be started ahead of time. Make the sauce and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

About 30 minutes before serving, remove the sauce from the refrigerator. Once it’s at room temperature, place it in a preheated 375 degrees f oven for 8 to 10 minutes until it is heated through. Remove it and place the cheese on top.

Place it under a broiler (low to medium heat) and cook until the cheese has melted.

💡Tips

For a quicker pizza dip, use your favorite premade marinara sauce or pizza sauce.
Make a double batch of the sauce and freeze it for another day.

Can I make pizza dip in a slow cooker or Crockpot?

You can make a larger portion of this pizza dip in your slow cooker. Double the recipe, and add the sauteed garlic, oil, and balsamic to the slow cooker. Stir in the tomatoes and basil and cook on low until the sauce is heated through. Add the cheese and serve it from the Crockpot once the cheese has melted and leave the appliance on warm. The Crockpot pizza dip will ensure that the cheese stays melted in the sauce.

Can you make pizza dip with shredded mozzarella cheese?

You can use shredded cheese but the slices add a thick layer of chees on top of the dip. If you do use shredded cheese, try to shred the cheese yourself.

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