Spicy Italian chicken sausage cooked with onions, bell peppers, garlic, and Italian seasoning—all simmered into a rich, creamy, sloppy cheese dip! Toss in tomatoes, basil pesto, and a trio of Italian cheeses: parmesan, provolone, and a kick of spicy cheddar or fontina. Then, layer on big pepperoni slices and bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Finish with fresh parsley and serve with warm, crusty ciabatta. Seriously, the tastiest dip ever!
My family was never the type to throw a huge Super Bowl party, but I’ve always loved Super Bowl Sunday!
Back when we lived in Cleveland, it was such a fun night. We’d order takeout—usually pizza or BW3s (if you’re from Ohio, you know BW3s—Mom says they’re everywhere now). We’d eat in front of the TV, watching the game and just enjoying ourselves.
Honestly, the halftime show has always been my favorite part. Those live performances are so fun to watch!
I know lots of you host Super Bowl parties, so I love sharing crowd-pleasing recipes. This dip? Perfect for game day! It’s inspired by a Sloppy Joe dip, but I gave it an Italian twist with bold seasonings and a mix of cheeses.
Turned out so good—especially with fresh ciabatta!
The Details
Ingredients:
- Spicy Italian chicken sausage (or pork/beef sausage if you prefer)
- Yellow onions
- Red bell peppers
- Garlic
- Italian seasoning
- Tomato paste
- Cream cheese
- Basil pesto
- Parmesan cheese
- Provolone cheese
- Spicy cheddar or fontina cheese
- Fresh parsley
Special Tools:
Just an oven-safe skillet—nothing fancy!
Steps
Step 1: Cook the Meat
I always grab the spicy Italian chicken sausage from Whole Foods’ meat counter when they have it—it’s one of my favorites! If not, regular spicy Italian pork or beef sausage works great.
In your oven-safe skillet, cook the meat with onions, red bell peppers, and garlic.
Step 2: Add the Seasonings
Mix in your go-to Italian seasoning. I make my own blend with dried parsley, oregano, basil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili flakes. Sometimes I’ll toss in dried rosemary, too!
Sprinkle it over the meat, add tomato paste, and let it cook for another minute.
Step 3: Make It Creamy
Pour in a little water, then add cream cheese and basil pesto. Let it simmer on medium heat until creamy. Stir in the parmesan, then take the skillet off the heat.
Step 4: Bake
Top the dip with provolone and spicy cheddar (I love Whole Foods’ rattlesnake cheddar!). Add pepperoni, then pop the skillet in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serving Ideas
Garnish with fresh parsley or basil. My absolute favorite way to serve it? Warm, with a loaf of freshly baked ciabatta—sooo good!
Other great dippers: crostini, toasted French bread, or your favorite cracker (rosemary crackers would be amazing). But trust me, that warm ciabatta? Life-changing.
Whether it’s a big game-day party or a cozy family night, this dip is a guaranteed hit!
Leave a Reply