Skillet Pizza Dip is the best of both worlds when it comes to pizza and garlic bread. Why order the two separately when they work so perfectly together in this dip?
I love garlic bread and pizza, so this Skillet Pizza Dip is heaven for me. I could never understand people who would eat pizza and leave the crust. In my mind, the deeper the crust, the better! So, it’s easy to see how this recipe is a winner with not only me but my family as well. Have I mentioned I love cheese, too? Seriously, this dip checks all the boxes for me and will for any pizza lover.
Skillet Pizza Dip Recipe
There are three main parts to Skillet Pizza Dip–the bread, the dip mixture, and the topping. It looks like a lot, but it comes together fast!
How to Make Garlic Butter Bread
The first thing you need to do is make the Garlic Butter Bread. I bought frozen bread dough dinner rolls and let them thaw while I made the butter mixture.
To make the butter mixture:
Melt the butter, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes in the microwave until the butter is melted.
To make the bread:
Once the bread dough is thawed, split each roll in half and roll each half into a ball.
Next, put each dough ball around the edge of a 13-inch skillet.
After you have placed the dough balls around the skillet, brush the tops of the rolls with the melted butter mixture. Leave some of the butter mixture available for the final bake.
Now, cover the rolls and let them sit for about 30 minutes, or as long as it takes for the dough to double in size. This would be a good time to preheat the oven to 400°F.
After the rolls have risen, bake them for about 15-18 minutes. They should be a light brown when you take them out of the oven.
PRO TIP: Buy a cast iron skillet! If you need a reason to add a cast iron skillet to your cookware collection beyond this skillet dip recipe.
How to Make the Dip Mixture and Topping
It is so simple to make this Skillet Pizza Dip mixture and topping. All you do is combine the cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and pizza sauce. Spread the mixture out in the middle of the skillet, having it touch the rolls. Then, top the mixture with more pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni. Remember the butter mixture? Hopefully, you saved some to brush onto the rolls before baking. Cover the skillet with foil and bake the dip for 15 minutes at 400°F. After 15 minutes, remove the foil and cook for another 10 minutes or so. I know, it will be hard to wait, but it is so worth it! Top it off with Parmesan cheese, basil, and red pepper flakes.
PRO TIP: Use room temperature cream cheese. The most effective way I have found to quickly get the cream cheese to room temperature is to take it out of the package, but keep it wrapped in the foil packaging. Let it sit in warm water for about 10 minutes, and it will be ready to mix.
How to Serve Skillet Pizza Dip
Skillet Pizza Dip is a finger food that can be added to your other dips at your next party or game day celebration. In fact, it may even be your next meal! Anyway, simply tear off as many rolls as you are craving and spoon up as much dip as you would like. Besides the rolls, this dip is great with pita chips, crackers, baguette chips, and bagel chips. Dip in!
INGREDIENTS
GARLIC BUTTER BREAD
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen bread dough dinner rolls, thawed
DIP MIXTURE
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
TOPPING
- 1/4 cup pizza sauce
- 1/4 cup pepperoni, diced
- 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
GARLIC BUTTER BREAD
Microwave butter, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, until butter is melted.
Cut each dinner roll int half; roll each piece into a ball.
Place dough balls along the outer edge of a 13-in. cast-iron skillet, leaving the center open. Brush the tops of the rolls with the melted butter mixture. Reserve remaining butter.
Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
DIP MIXTURE
Meanwhile, combine cream cheese, mozzarella, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and pizza sauce. Spoon into the center of skillet.
TOPPING
Top with the remaining sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni. Brush rolls with some of the remaining butter mixture.
Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes or until dip is heated through and rolls are golden brown
Top with Basil, parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper.
