Crock Pot Pizza Dip takes ooey, gooey cheese, savory pepperoni, and rich tomato sauce and transforms them into a warm, melty dip that’s so good you’ll be tempted to eat it by the spoonful (and trust me, no judgment here!).
It’s perfect for football season, holidays, or any time you need a delicious dip that’s guaranteed to disappear fast. Skip the complicated appetizers and go straight for this no-fail favorite that everyone will rave about!
Our Slow Cooker Pizza Dip is all about simplicity and flavor. It is a true dump-and-go recipe—just toss everything in the crock pot, and let it work its magic. No fuss, no fancy steps, just the perfect balance of pizza goodness that makes hosting a breeze.
What sets this pizza dip apart is the perfect blend of cheeses: mozzarella for that irresistible stretch, cream cheese for a rich and creamy texture, and a sprinkle of Parmesan for a sharp, savory finish. As the dip cooks, the cheese melts into a bubbly layer, creating that golden, cheesy crust reminiscent of your favorite slice but without the fuss.
The secret to the dip’s rich, bold flavor lies in the marinara base, infused with garlic, Italian herbs, and a hint of basil. As it simmers, the flavors deepen, making each bite taste like it’s been cooking all day. And we didn’t stop at just mixing in pepperoni—we layer some on top to crisp up, adding the perfect texture contrast of soft, gooey dip inside and crispy, golden pepperoni on the outside. It’s like diving into a slice of pizza, complete with all the best parts.
But what truly makes this recipe special is its versatility and ease. You can toss in your favorite toppings—olives, mushrooms, or bell peppers—to customize it to your taste, turning every scoop into a personalized pizza experience. There’s no need for fancy steps or endless prep; just layer, set, and let your slow cooker work its magic.
Ingredients Notes
- Cream cheese: Creates a creamy, rich texture for the base of the dip. For easier mixing, make sure to use softened cream cheese.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: Once it melts, mozzarella adds a gooey, stretchy texture to the top of the dip. I recommend freshly shredding your mozzarella from a block instead of buying a pre-shredded bag for better melting, especially for the cheese layer on top.
- Grated parmesan cheese: Adds a nutty, sharp flavor that complements the mozzarella. You can substitute freshly shredded parmesan cheese for the powdered version if you prefer.
- Italian seasoning: This blend of herbs (typically including oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary) provides a familiar, aromatic flavor characteristic of pizza.
- Garlic powder: Adds a subtle, savory depth to the dip. You can also add crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of spice.
- Pepperoni minis: The small size ensures you get bits of pepperoni in every bite. If you cannot find the pepperoni minis, you can quarter full-size pieces of pepperoni. If you prefer, you can also substitute cooked and crumbled ground beef, ground turkey, ground Italian sausage, or mini meatballs.
- Pizza sauce: You can swap the pizza sauce for your favorite jar of marinara sauce, tomato sauce, or homemade sauce.
- Fresh chopped basil: You can substitute fresh chopped parsley for the fresh chopped basil.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Crock Pot Pizza Dip
- Make The Cream Cheese Mixture: Beat the cream cheese for 1 – 1 ½ minutes until smooth. Add the mozzarella, parmesan, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder and stir to combine.
- Assemble Your Appetizer: Spread the cream cheese mixture in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with pepperoni, cover with sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella, followed by the pepperoni slices to finish.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours, or high heat for 2 hours.
- Serve: Sprinkle fresh chopped basil on top and serve with your choice of bread, bread sticks, naan or fresh veggies. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This Slow Cooker Pizza Dip is perfect for any gathering, whether it’s a casual game day, a cozy movie night, or a holiday get-together. Serve it hot right from the crock pot with an assortment of dippers that complement the rich, cheesy flavors.
Classic options like toasted baguette slices, our Little Caesars breadsticks, or tortilla chips are always crowd-pleasers, but don’t stop there—pretzel bites, pita chips, or even garlic knots take it to the next level.
For a lighter twist, serve this dip with fresh vegetables like bell pepper strips, celery sticks, or zucchini rounds.
Tips & Variations
- Swap The Sauce. Who says pizza dips can only be made with marinara? Instead of the traditional pizza or tomato sauce, you can try using alfredo sauce, barbecue sauce, or pesto sauce instead.
- Tasty Toppings: Pizza dip slow cooker recipes are perfect for piling on your favorite pizza toppings.
- Make It More Meaty: Instead of pepperoni, try adding some crumbled sausage, ground beef, ham, chicken, bacon bits, homemade meatballs, or any other type of meat in its place.
- Make a Vegetarian/Vegan Version: Make a meatless meal and top with your favorite vegetables, like asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, chopped green bell peppers, onion, eggplant, and spinach. For a vegan version, simply swap out the dairy-based cheeses with your favorite dairy-free alternative.
Crock Pot Pizza Dip – More Flavor Options
Prepare Hawaiian Pizza Dip: Add chopped ham or Canadian bacon to the dip before cooking and top with pineapple before serving.
Serve A Supreme Pizza Dip: Add pepperoni, cooked Italian sausage, chopped bell pepper and mushrooms to the dip before cooking. Top with black olives and extra cheese before serving.
Choose BBQ Chicken Dip: Use barbecue sauce instead of pizza sauce, swap the pepperoni for shredded chicken, and top with cilantro instead of basil.
Proper Storage
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- To Freeze: This dip doesn’t freeze well as the dairy separates after freezing and reheating.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the microwave, oven, or slow cooker until heated through.
More Easy Dip Recipes
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Slow Cooker Pizza Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese divide 1 ½ cups filling and 2 cups topping
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 ounces pepperoni minis (I used Hormel brand)
- 14 ounces jarred pizza sauce (I used Ragu brand)
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil optional garnish
- French bread bread sticks, naan bread or fresh veggies for dipping
Instructions
- Add the cream cheese to a medium size (2-3 quarts) mixing bowl. Use a handheld mixer on medium high speed to beat the cream cheese for 1 – 1 ½ minutes until smooth.8 ounces cream cheese
- Add 1 ½ cups of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, grated parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic powder to the cream cheese. Continue to mix just until well combined.3½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese, 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Spray either a 4-5 quart -or- a 6-7 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle half of the package of pepperoni minis over the top of the cream cheese mixture.5 ounces pepperoni minis
- Evenly spread the jarred pizza sauce over the pepperoni minis layer.14 ounces jarred pizza sauce
- Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the pizza sauce layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining half of the pepperoni minis over the shredded cheese.
- Cover with the slow cooker lid and cook on low heat for 3 hours, or high heat for 2 hours. Just before serving sprinkle the top of the pizza dip with the fresh chopped basil. Serve with your choice of bread, bread sticks, naan or fresh veggies.1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil, French bread
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- To Freeze: This dip doesn’t freeze well as the dairy separates after freezing and reheating.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the microwave, oven, or slow cooker until heated through.
- Who says pizza dips can only be made with marinara? Instead of the traditional pizza or tomato sauce, you can try using alfredo sauce, barbecue sauce, or pesto sauce instead.
- Instead of pepperoni, try adding some crumbled sausage, ground beef, ham, chicken, bacon bits, homemade meatballs, or any other type of meat in its place.
- Make a meatless meal and top with your favorite vegetables, like asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms, chopped green bell peppers, onion, eggplant, and spinach. For a vegan version, simply swap out the dairy-based cheeses with your favorite dairy-free alternative.
