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Spicy Italian Sausage Dip Recipe

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4 from 8 reviews

This Spicy Italian Sausage Dip is a rich and flavorful appetizer perfect for parties and gatherings. Combining spicy hot Italian sausage, creamy cheeses, fire-roasted tomatoes, and fresh spinach, this dip is baked until golden and bubbly for a comforting, crowd-pleasing treat with a delightful kick of heat and a touch of fresh basil.

Ingredients

Meat and Vegetables

  • 1 lb hot Italian sausage
  • 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1 small onion)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (omit for milder dish)
  • 14.5 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes (substitute regular diced tomatoes if preferred)
  • 2 cups baby spinach, chopped

Cheeses

  • 12 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided

Other Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh basil, thinly sliced, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat and cook sausage mixture: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the hot Italian sausage, diced onion, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, breaking up the sausage with a wooden spoon, until the sausage is browned and cooked through.
  2. Add tomatoes and spinach: Stir in the fire-roasted diced tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes. Next, add the chopped baby spinach and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Remove the skillet from heat.
  3. Mix cheese and pepperoncini: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, chopped pepperoncini peppers, 1/4 cup of the grated parmesan, and 1.5 cups of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix until smooth and well blended.
  4. Combine sausage mixture: Pour the cooked sausage and spinach mixture into the cheese mixture bowl and stir everything together until well combined. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
  5. Assemble and bake: Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the dip is bubbly and golden brown on top.
  6. Optional broil: For an extra browned and crispy cheese topping, broil the dip for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking, watching closely to avoid burning.
  7. Garnish and serve: Remove the dip from the oven and sprinkle with thinly sliced fresh basil. Serve the dip hot with crostini, crackers, or fresh vegetables for dipping. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Omit red pepper flakes for a milder dip to reduce heat.
  • Use regular diced tomatoes if fire-roasted are unavailable.
  • For extra spice, add more red pepper flakes or hot sauce to taste.
  • Leftover dip can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
  • Serving with crostini, crackers, or fresh veggies provides variety for dipping.

Find it online: https://bitezly.com/spicy-italian-sausage-dip-recipe/