- 13.8 ounce can pizza dough
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (divided)
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 cup pizza sauce (homemade or store‑bought)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
The pizza dough becomes mini garlic knots around the edge of the skillet, perfect for dipping. Cream cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan create a layered cheese blend: creamy, stretchy, and salty. Dried oregano and basil bring that familiar “pizza shop” aroma, while pizza sauce and pepperoni give the dip its classic topping flavor. Garlic‑salted butter brushed on the dough before and after baking makes the knots taste like garlic bread you’d get with delivery.
Step‑by‑Step Instructions
Prep the Skillet and Dough
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
- Lightly grease a 10–12 inch cast iron skillet if needed.
- Open the pizza dough and pinch or cut off small pieces to form dough balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Arrange them in a ring around the inside edge of the skillet, leaving a bit of space between each ball so they have room to puff as they bake.
Make the Cheese Layer
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, parmesan, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, and the shredded cheddar.
- Use a hand mixer or sturdy spatula to blend until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined.
- Sprinkle in the dried oregano and dried basil, then mix again so the herbs are distributed throughout the cheese mixture.
Assemble the Dip
- Spread the herbed cream cheese mixture into the center of the skillet, smoothing it out so it touches the edges of the pizza dough balls. This seals the middle and helps everything bake evenly.
- Pour the pizza sauce over the cream cheese layer and spread it gently with the back of a spoon into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella evenly over the sauce, then arrange the pepperoni slices on top like a mini pizza.
Add Garlic Butter and Bake
- In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and garlic salt until combined.
- Brush half of the garlic butter mixture over the tops of the dough balls, coating them evenly. Reserve the remaining half for after baking.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the garlic knots are puffed and golden and the cheese is melted and bubbling around the edges.
Finish and Serve
- Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. While everything is still hot, brush the remaining garlic butter over the dough balls so they’re glossy and flavorful.
- Let the dip sit for a few minutes to cool slightly, then serve warm straight from the skillet, letting everyone pull off bread balls and scoop into the cheesy center.
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