Gosh, just looking at this Cheesy Pizza Dip Bread Bowl has me wishing it were actually in front of me, and not this computer. Oh well. This dip has only 4 ingredients, takes no time to whip up, and may be the most attractive food you will ever make.
Gooey cheese, spicy tomato sauce, and crispy bread really come together perfectly to make this Cheesy Pizza Dip. It is so good, I bet it won’t last more than a few minutes after you set it out at your next party. Trust me on that one…
Look at the cheese!!!! Just look at it! Do you not want to eat that through your screen right now?! If not, you’re crazy (or maybe have a dairy intolerance…)! Thank goodness I had a little 6 year old around to help me take these awesome pictures. There is seriously nothing like the melted cheese shot. It’s no secret I love cheese; people I don’t even know approach me talking about my so-called love of cheese…well, it’s a great conversation starter, because not many people dislike cheese.
Next time you’re at a party (serving this dip), try out a cheese question as an ice breaker. I bet $100 there will be someone who hates bleu cheese or goat cheese…there is always someone who isn’t a fan of those. Luckily for those few people, there isn’t any bleu or goat cheese in this recipe.
Like I said, this recipe only has 4 ingredients; bread bowl, cheese, marinara, and basil. That’s it. Sure, if you want to step it up a notch, you can add various spices and make your own homemade marinara sauce, and I suppose that would increase your ingredient count, however most people have basic spices in their pantry, so I’m not sure those would count as additional ingredients.
All you have to do is hollow out a large bread bowl (although this would be SUPER cute in mini bread bowls too!), pour the marinara inside, top with cheese and basil, tent the dip with foil, and bake! That’s it! So easy!
Cheesy Pizza Dip Bread Bowl is a fun appetizer that everyone will enjoy!
- 1 large sourdough or french bread bowl
- 3 cups marinara (your favorite kind!)
- ½ TBS oregano
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (best if you shred yourself)
- 2 TBS fresh basil leaves , chopped
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Place bread bowl onto a foil lined baking sheet. Hollow out the middle, carefully as to not go through the bottom/sides of the bread. Pour marinara sauce into center of bread bowl; add oregano and black pepper to sauce, stir to combine. Sprinkle cheeses over the top of the marinara, covering where the sauce meets the bread (creating a 'seal'). Sprinkle basil over the top.
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Tent foil loosely over the top of the bread bowl, you don't want it to touch the cheese, and place in oven. Bake for 30 minutes; remove foil and bake for 5-10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted and browning (could also broil on high for a few minutes watching closely).
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Serve with bread slices, crackers, bread sticks, or whatever you want!
I usually place toothpicks around the top of the bread bowl (stuck into the bread close to the cheese), so that the foil doesn't end up falling into the cheese- you don't want the foil pulling off all of the cheese when you remove it!
Kim
I made this for my grandsons birthday party and it was delicious. The only problem was that the inside of the bread bowl got very mushy. I wonder if baking it first after making with hole would toast it up and make it less likely to be mushy.
Allyson
I think if you don't eat it fast enough, regardless the bread will get a little soggy. Just eat it quickly! LOL
Sierra
Layer cheese down first and around the sides. Then pour in marinara. The cheese blocks the bread from absorbing too much of the sauce.
Allyson
GREAT TIP!