Description
This Cottage Cheese Pizza Dip is a creamy, cheesy appetizer perfect for parties or casual gatherings. Smooth blended cottage cheese forms the base, layered with savory marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and mini pepperoni, then baked until bubbly and delicious. Serve warm with tortilla chips or fresh veggies for a delightful, crowd-pleasing snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 16 ounces cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Layers
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup mini pepperoni
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF to ensure it’s ready for baking your dip.
- Blend Cottage Cheese: Using an immersion blender directly in the cottage cheese container or a stand blender, blend the cottage cheese until smooth. Add the Italian seasoning and blend again until fully combined.
- Prepare Base Layer: Transfer the seasoned, smooth cottage cheese to a 1½ quart casserole dish, spreading it out evenly along the bottom.
- Add Marinara Sauce: Spoon the marinara sauce over the cottage cheese base. Use the back of a spoon to gently spread it evenly across the surface.
- Top with Cheese and Pepperoni: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the marinara sauce. Then, scatter the mini pepperoni on top of the cheese.
- Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges of the dip are bubbly and cheese has melted.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the dip rest for about 3 minutes. Serve warm with tortilla chips or fresh cut vegetables.
Notes
- You can substitute mini pepperoni with chopped regular pepperoni or skip it for a vegetarian option.
- Blending the cottage cheese until smooth gives the dip a creamy texture similar to ricotta cheese.
- Use a 1½ quart casserole dish or similar-sized baking dish for even cooking.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated.
- For a spicier dip, add a pinch of red chili flakes to the marinara sauce before layering.
- Serve with pita chips or assorted fresh veggies as alternatives to tortilla chips.
