Make cheesy sausage dip with an Italian twist! Spicy Italian sausage, baby spinach, fire-roasted tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese pack this creamy dip recipe with delicious, Tuscan-inspired flavor. It’s the perfect easy appetizer dip for every occasion. Serve it warm and bubbly with your favorite crackers or bread slices for dipping.
I’ve been making this cheesy Tuscan sausage dip for ages, and let me tell you, it’s always welcome at our neighborhood potlucks and parties. If you have a holiday, occasion, or backyard BBQ coming up, this is the perfect starter. Sausage dip is one of the easiest appetizers out there, and I put a fresh spin on the classic hot dip by mixing in spicy Italian sausage, fire-roasted tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan cheese. The Tuscan flavors give this dip a nice summertime twist, too.
This is one of my favorite cheesy dip recipes, along with chicken wing dip and cheeseburger dip. Also, try my hot corn dip and this easy apple pie dip for dessert!
Why This Sausage Dip Is a Favorite Party Appetizer
- Tuscan-style flavors. Spicy sausage, leafy spinach, cream cheese, and fire-roasted tomatoes mimic the flavors from recipes like Tuscan chicken and Zuppa Toscana. It’s a unique spin on your typical sausage cheese dip.
- Make it ahead. You can prepare the dip, sprinkle on the Mozzarella cheese, and refrigerate it until party time. Just pop it in the oven 20 minutes before serving.
- Meant for sharing. I love dips because they’re easy to make and perfect for social gatherings. Serve this sausage dip with French bread slices or your favorite dippers at your next special occasion.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These are the ingredients needed to make this cheesy sausage dip recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for the printable list with the full ingredient amounts.
- Onion – Diced yellow onion or shallot works well here.
- Sausage – The base of this Tuscan sausage dip is hot Italian sausage. You can buy mild or spicy, depending on your desired heat level. I can never find “bulk” ground Italian sausage, so I buy sausage links and then remove the casings. Easy!
- Garlic – Fresh garlic will give the best flavor. I use quite a bit of garlic in this dip, but feel free to adapt the number of fresh cloves to taste.
- Italian Seasoning – Choose your preferred Italian herb blend from the store.
- Canned Tomatoes – I love using fire-roasted tomatoes for extra flavor. Regular canned tomatoes are also fine to use. Make sure to drain the tomatoes so they don’t make the dip watery.
- White Wine – Choose a dry (not sweet) white wine like Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay. If you’d prefer, substitute wine with chicken broth.
- Baby Spinach – Fresh or frozen. Roughly chop and pack the fresh spinach into your measuring cup, because (as we all know), it’ll wilt down in the pan. If you’re using frozen spinach, thaw and drain it first.
- Cheese – I use a combination of cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Mozzarella cheese in this sausage dip. Cream cheese forms the base of the dip along with the spicy sausage, Parmesan adds depth and Italian flair, while Mozzarella makes the dip extra cheesy and gooey.
How to Make Tuscan Sausage Dip
You won’t believe how much flavor gets packed into this sausage dip, and with so little effort. Here’s how to make it, step-by-step.
- Sauté. Start by sautéeing the onions and Italian sausage, then add the garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Cook. Next, stir in a can of fire-roasted tomatoes and pour in the wine. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, and wilt the spinach.
- Add the cream cheese. Cut the cream cheese into cubes, and add it to the sausage mixture. Stir until it’s completely melted.
- Bake it. Lastly, stir in the Parmesan cheese. Transfer the dip to a casserole dish, and spread shredded Mozzarella on top. Place the sausage dip in a 375ºF oven for 15-20 minutes until golden. Dig in!
Serving and Storing Sausage Dip
Between all the spoonfuls I eat while “taste testing”, I’m lucky if this Tuscan sausage dip makes it to the party! It’s that good. Serve it with crusty bread slices, crostini, crackers, or crudités like carrot and celery sticks. This dip makes a wonderful appetizer or side dish, followed by a fresh green salad, French bread pizza, or white bean soup.
How Long Does This Dip Last in the Fridge?
Cover any leftover baked sausage dip and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the oven or in the microwave. I love stirring the warmed-up leftover dip into a bowl of cooked pasta for a creamy sausage pasta dinner!
More Party Dip Recipes
Tuscan Sausage Dip
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: serves 8
- Category: Dip
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Appetizer
Description
This easy appetizer recipe puts a Tuscan twist on cheesy sausage dip with spicy Italian sausage, fire-roasted tomatoes, and baby spinach. Three types of cheese makes this baked dip extra gooey!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound ground spicy Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic, about 5 cloves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes, drained
- 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
- 4 cups roughly chopped baby spinach, packed
- 1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese, cubed
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/4 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a pie plate or small casserole dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the chopped onions and cook until they are soft, 5-7 minutes. Add in the sausage and cook until no longer pink. Add in the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Drain excess fat, if necessary.
- Add the tomatoes and wine to the sausage mixture and cook until almost all of the liquid is evaporated. Mix in the spinach and cook for about 2 minutes, until it’s wilted.
- Turn heat down to low and add in the cream cheese. Stir until melted. Sprinkle in the Parmesan and mix until incorporated. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Transfer the sausage mixture to the prepared dish. Cover with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly. Turn the oven to broil and broil the cheese for 2 minutes.
- Serve warm.
Notes
serve with bread, crackers, or vegetables
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 214
- Sugar: 2.5 g
- Sodium: 765.3 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.1 g
- Protein: 14.5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
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This is at the top of my favorite dips! It is full of flavor and everyone loved it. When I make again, I may add a jalapeño because I like extra spicy.
Absolutely loved this. Left out the spinach and it was still fantastic. Will definitely be making this often.
So glad you enjoyed!
can i use frozen spinach?
sure just thaw and drain it well!
Can this be assembled and then frozen before baking?
yes sure!
Hi , I’m also looking to make this for a very large crowd tomorrow New Year’s Eve & wondering if I can make this in a crock pot ? And if so how would it be with deer Italian sausage ? Please help ?
It would work fine!!