Appetizers

Cowboy Pizza Dip

Posted by Juliana on
Not too long ago I saw a pin for pizza dip on Pinterest and traced the pin back to the blog “Closet Cooking.”  The photographs of the dish made me want to crack open my laptop and reach inside of it with a hunk of French bread to scoop up and gobble down a heap of the cheesy goodness. I never gave reading the recipe much thought though.  I guess I figured I knew what might go into something like this.  I foolishly thought I could combine the ingredients consisting of my favorite pizza toppings in a casserole dish and be wowed by my own “copycatting, but with a, trying to make it better” brilliance!

After my husband tasted it he said, “It’s really good, but it would be even better if it were piled on top of a freshly baked, doughy yet crispy, pizza crust!”  I replied (irritated), “ I know, I know.” It needed another dairy product such as: cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and or ricotta.  Something fatty and creamy to pull it together and make it a dip.  So, after the fact, I finally looked at the Closet Cooking recipe.  And what do you know, among other tasty ingredients there they were: mayo, sour cream, and cream cheese.  The magic trio of velvety wonders hiding in the base of every show stopping dip!  So, here is what I put together (note to self: Feel free to add one, two, or all three of these creamy miracles next time.)

Cowboy Pizza Dip

-12 oz. hot Italian sausage (browned and cooked through)
-5 oz. canadian bacon (cut into, or purchased: bite sized)
-3.5 oz pepperoni
-8 oz. fontina (cut to 1/2 inch cubes)
-16 oz. mozzarella ( cut to 1/2 inch cubes)
-8 oz. cremini mushrooms (sliced)
-3.5 oz. can sliced black olives (drained)
-16 – 32 oz. pizza sauce (I used ~20 oz, and I purchased it from my favorite pizza joint: Papa Tom’s)

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, reserving a few pepperoni and mushrooms for the top.  After mixing ingredients, pour into large caserole dish greased with cooking spray, (I used PAM).  Bake in 350-400 degree oven for 30-50 minutes.  It just depends on how much time you have.  For example:  If I am not in a hurry I will bake things like this at 350 for 50-60 min. I think it just cooks it more evenly.  But if I am in a hurry I will turn it to 400 and bake for 30 min.  Serve with “a nice pizza crust”, or a sliced, toasted baguette. EAT IT!