Description

This Spicy Italian Sausage Dip is a rich and creamy appetizer featuring bold Italian sausage, tangy pickled peppers, and a blend of cheeses baked to bubbly perfection. Perfect for parties or game day, it pairs wonderfully with toasted baguette slices or tortilla chips for a satisfying and flavorful snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1 lb. Johnsonville spicy Italian sausage, crumbled (ground or uncase the links)

Vegetables and Peppers

1 – 12 oz can diced tomatoes, drained well
1/2 cup pickled banana peppers, diced (drained well)
1/2 cup pickled cherry peppers, diced (drained well)

Cheeses

2 cups mozzarella, shredded (divided)
3/4 cup Parmesan, grated
1 block cream cheese, softened (approximately 8 oz)

Seasonings

1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp red pepper flakes
Freshly grated black pepper, to taste

For Serving

Toasted buttered baguette slices or tortilla chips

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the dip later.
Cook the sausage: In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the crumbled spicy Italian sausage until it is fully browned and cooked through. Once cooked, strain out excess grease to keep the dip from being too oily.
Mix the dip base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and freshly grated black pepper. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Add remaining ingredients: Fold the cooked sausage, drained diced tomatoes, diced pickled banana peppers, diced pickled cherry peppers, shredded mozzarella (reserve 1/2 cup for topping), and grated Parmesan into the cream cheese mixture. Mix thoroughly to combine all flavors evenly.
Assemble the dip: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly and spread the dip mixture evenly into the dish. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella over the top.
Bake the dip: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the dip is hot throughout.
Broil for finishing: Turn the oven setting to broil and broil the dip for 2-3 minutes, watching closely until the top is browned and bubbling for a beautiful golden crust.
Serve: Remove the dip from the oven and serve warm with toasted buttered baguette slices or tortilla chips for dipping. Enjoy immediately for best flavor and texture.

Notes

Drain the canned diced tomatoes and pickled peppers thoroughly to prevent the dip from becoming watery.
Cooking the sausage fully and draining excess grease ensures the dip stays creamy and not greasy.
Slightly soften the cream cheese before mixing to make combining ingredients easier and smoother.
Reserve some mozzarella for topping to create an appealing, bubbly cheese crust.
Keep a close watch during broiling to avoid burning the cheese topping.
This dip can be prepared ahead and baked just before serving to save time during events.