This Stuffed Banana Pepper Dip is a mouth-watering appetizer that combines the zestiness of banana peppers with savory Italian sausage, melted cheeses, and a hint of marinara. It tastes just like traditional stuffed banana peppers in dip form. It's the perfect dish for gatherings, game nights, or your next party.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flavor Explosion: This Stuffed Banana Pepper Dip brings a sensational blend of flavors to your palate. The spicy kick of banana peppers, rich Italian sausage, and creamy cheeses create an irresistible taste.
- Perfect for Sharing: Whether it’s a family gathering, a game night with friends, a Super Bowl party, or a potluck, this sausage cheese dip is an excellent choice. Its crowd-pleasing qualities make it a hit for many types of social occasions.
- Comfort Food Appeal: There’s something deeply comforting about warm, cheesy dips. This Stuffed Banana Pepper Dip has all the elements of a comfort food classic, perfect for indulging on a cozy night in.
Ingredient Notes
- Italian sausage: Choose between hot or mild, depending on your spice preference. Personally, I prefer a spicy sausage dip, so I went with hot Italian sausage. Bulk sausage or sausage with casings removed both work well in this recipe.
- Banana peppers: Fresh banana peppers are crucial for their distinct zest. Slicing and seeding them is recommended to reduce the heat and make the dip more palatable for all, but if you're a fan of extra spice, feel free to leave some seeds in. If you can't find fresh banana peppers in the produce section of your grocery store, you can use jarred banana pepper rings in a pinch.
- Onion and Garlic: A combination of onions and garlic creates a rich, aromatic base, adding both sweetness and depth to the dip's flavor profile. It's perfectly fine to use the pre-minced garlic in the jar, but I recommend freshly chopped onion.
- Marinara sauce: Feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand or homemade marinara.
- Cream cheese: This is essential for the creamy base of the dip. You can throw a bit of feta cheese in there too if you like.
- Mozzarella cheese: Shredded mozzarella cheese adds a wonderfully gooey and stretchy element to the dip and provides you with the perfect cheese pull.
- Parmesan cheese: Adding shredded parmesan brings a nutty and salty flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile. You can also use pecorino for a saltier bite.
- Optional garnish: Extra sliced banana pepper rings can be used for garnish, adding a pop of color.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add the Italian sausage to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks. When it begins to brown add the chopped banana peppers, onion, and garlic to the skillet and cook until the sausage is no longer pink.
Step 2: Meanwhile, add the marinara sauce and cheese to a food processor and blend until completely smooth.
Step 3: Add the cheese mixture into the skillet with the sausage and mix well. Add the mixture to a greased baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake in a preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes.
Step 4: Sprinkle top with extra pepper rings, if desired. Serve warm with your favorite chips or other dippers.
Variations
- Dipping options: Elevate your dip experience by trying various dippers. Pita or tortilla chips offer a classic chip crunch, while carrot sticks and celery provide a fresh, crisp contrast to the cheesy dip. You can even toast up some baguette slices for dipping.
- Meat variations: Not a fan of Italian sausage? No problem. There are other types of meat and sausages that go well with banana peppers. Try ground turkey for a lighter taste or go bold with chorizo for a smoky flavor. You can even top the dip with some bacon crumbles before serving.
- Cheese alternatives: Change up the cheese by adding or substituting with different types. Blue cheese can bring a bold, tangy kick, perfect for those who love a stronger flavor. Cheddar cheese is a great option for a sharper, more familiar taste. And for an extra tang, consider blending in some sour cream with the cream cheese mixture.
- Throw in some extra spice: Banana peppers do offer some spice, especially if you keep the seeds, but if you're craving more spiciness add some jalapeno peppers to the mix.
Expert Tips
- Make ahead: You can prepare this dip a day in advance. Just mix all the ingredients, top it with the cheese, store it covered in the fridge, and bake it uncovered when you're ready to serve. This enhances the amazing flavor as the ingredients meld together overnight.
- Storing leftovers: Keep any leftover dip in an airtight container in the fridge. It'll stay good for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warm throughout.
- Use a slow cooker: To keep the dip warm during a party, use a slow cooker. Set it on low heat and stir occasionally to keep the dip creamy and prevent burning at the bottom.
- Balancing the spice: If you end up with hot banana peppers that are extra spicy, balance the heat by adding a bit more cream cheese or a dollop of sour cream to the mix.
FAQ
What are banana peppers?
Banana peppers are mild, yellowish-green peppers with a tangy, slightly sweet taste. They're great for adding flavor without overpowering heat to dishes like this dip.
What’s the difference between a banana pepper and a pepperoncini?
While they look similar, banana peppers are typically milder and sweeter than pepperoncinis. Pepperoncinis have a bit more heat and a slightly more bitter flavor, but both add great flavor to dishes.
Do you have to remove the seeds from banana peppers?
It's not mandatory to remove the seeds from banana peppers, but doing so can reduce the heat for those who prefer a milder flavor. Leaving some seeds in can add a slight kick to your dip if you enjoy a bit of spice.
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Stuffed Banana Pepper Dip
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Italian sausage hot or mild, bulk or with casings removed
- 4 large fresh banana peppers sliced and seeded (plus extra for garnish, if desired)
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 block cream cheese (8 ounces)
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat. Make sure to break the meat into small crumbles as it cooks.
- Add Vegetables: Once the sausage starts to brown, add the sliced banana peppers, chopped onions, and minced garlic to the skillet. Continue cooking until the sausage is fully cooked and no longer pink, and the peppers and onions have softened.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: While the sausage cooks, take a food processor and blend together the marinara sauce, cream cheese, ½ cup of mozzarella cheese, and all the parmesan cheese. Scrape down the sides of the processor as needed to ensure a smooth mixture.
- Combine and Assemble: Remove the sausage and vegetables from heat. Stir in the cheese mixture until well combined. Transfer this mixture to a greased baking dish. Smooth the top and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the surface.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly, and the cheese on top has melted and turned golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with extra sliced banana peppers. Serve the dip hot, accompanied by your choice of your favorite dippers like tortilla chips, pita chips, fresh veggies, or toasted bread for dipping.
Notes
- Make ahead: You can prepare this dip a day in advance. Just mix all the ingredients, top it with the cheese, store it covered in the fridge, and bake it uncovered when you're ready to serve. This enhances the amazing flavor as the ingredients meld together overnight.
- Storing leftovers: Keep any leftover dip in an airtight container in the fridge. It'll stay good for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warm throughout.
- Use a slow cooker: To keep the dip warm during a party, use a slow cooker. Set it on low heat and stir occasionally to keep the dip creamy and prevent burning at the bottom.
- Balancing the spice: If you end up with hot banana peppers that are extra spicy, balance the heat by adding a bit more cream cheese or a dollop of sour cream to the mix.
Nutrition
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