dinner recipes

Cheesy Lasagna Dip with Garlic Bread Crostini

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Love the flavors of lasagna but not all the effort that goes into it? This cheesy lasagna dip has all of the nostalgic flavors of lasagna, without hours of work for a low-lift, high-impact appetizer that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! This dip has layers of delicious Jones Dairy Farm pork sausage, marinara sauce, a cheesy blend of ricotta and mozzarella, and is finished off with some fresh basil. Served with garlic bread crostini for dipping, it’s absolutely perfect for holiday gatherings.  

Skillet of cheesy lasagna dip

This lasagna dip recipe is brought to you proudly in partnership with . I’m excited to partner with them again in 2023-2024, because we’ve used and loved their products for years and they show up on our table week after week. (If you’ve ever seen my Costco hauls, you’ve seen me recommend their chicken sausages in BULK!)

This recipe features the delicious Jones Dairy Farm All Natural Little Pork Sausage Links. When I’m looking for high-quality breakfast proteins, I choose Jones Dairy Farm because I love that they are a local family business, picky about their ingredients and methods, and most of all, because we love the way they taste. The pork sausage is INCREDIBLE! And it turns out they are versatile enough to use beyond breakfast as it totally makes this cheesy lasagna dip. They are also Certified Gluten-Free, allergen friendly, and made with all-natural ingredients which is especially helpful for families that need to pay close attention to ingredients and allergens.

Be sure to check out the other helpful posts brought to you in partnership with Jones Dairy Farm: easy breakfast for dinner ideas, sausage puff pastry tart, 5-minute breakfast board for kids, breakfast taquitos, and of course, my easy protein hack for kids.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

What You’ll Love About Cheesy Lasagna Dip

  • Nostalgic flavors
  • Perfect for holidays and parties 
  • Delicious and a crowd-pleaser
  • Easy to make  
  • Ready in just 30 minutes
  • Made with just 6 ingredients plus spices

Video

Ingredients

  • Jones Dairy Farm All Natural Little Pork Sausage Links – These versatile uncooked sausages are designed for breakfast, but give incredible flavor to this lasagna dip. It is the recipe that made Jone’s famous, and they are still popular today, for good reason! You can find them in the breakfast section of the freezer aisle at your local store.
  • Baguette – Look for a small French baguette so you can get small slices. You could also use premade crostini or crostini-style crackers if you prefer.
  • Butter – Use high-quality butter for best flavor. 
  • Spices – Garlic salt, Italian seasonings 
  • Ricotta cheese – I recommend using full-fat for the best flavor, but use fat-free if you prefer, it will still taste delicious. 
  • Mozzarella cheese – While I rely on pre-shredded cheese a lot, this is a time to quickly shred your own. It does melt better and will give you cheesy pulls in every bite.  
  • Marinara sauce – Use a high-quality marinara sauce for best flavor. Tomato basil or a similar flavor works really well. If you want a little heat, try an arrabiata sauce. You could also use your own homemade marinara sauce.
Ingredients to make lasagna dip recipe.

How to Make Lasagna Dip Recipe

This is an overview on how to make lasagna dip, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.

Make crostini. Spread butter on baguette slices and sprinkle with garlic salt. Broil until golden brown.
Crostini on a sheet pan
Mix herbed ricotta. In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, half of the Italian seasoning, and some garlic salt.
Herbed ricotta in a bowl.
Cook sausage. Cut pork sausage into thin slices. Heat a cast iron skillet and add sausage. Season with Italian seasoning and cook until sausage is browned.
Cooked pork sausage in a cast iron skillet.
Assemble dip. Pour marinara sauce into skillet and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and dollop herbed ricotta cheese over the top. Sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
Cheesy dip before baking
Finish dip. Broil dip until cheese is melty. Garnish with fresh basil ribbons and serve with garlic bread crostini for dipping.
Lasagna dip after cooking.

Storage Instructions

Store lasagna dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

How to reheat

Reheat cheesy lasagna dip in a microwave or in a 375 degrees F oven until heated through. 

How to prep ahead

Want to prep this ahead for a party? Cook sausage and stir in marinara sauce when it’s cooked through. Transfer sausage and sauce mixture to a baking dish and dollop with ricotta cheese mixture and shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Bake, covered in a 350 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Remove foil, and broil for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. 

Can you freeze it?

No, because this dip is made with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, freezing is not recommended.  

Cheesy lasagna dip in cast iron skillet.

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Skillet of cheesy lasagna dip appetizer.

More Appetizer Recipes

If you like this lasagna appetizer recipe, you might also like these other easy appetizer recipes:

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Skillet of cheesy lasagna dip

Cheesy Lasagna Dip with Garlic Bread Crostini

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Description

Love the flavors of lasagna but not the effort that goes into it? This cheesy lasagna dip has all of the nostalgic flavors without the work.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 French baguette, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic salt, plus more for sprinkling
  • 8 oz. ricotta cheese
  • 4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, divided
  • 1 12oz. box of Jones Dairy Farm Little Pork Sausage Links, thawed
  • 24 oz. marinara sauce

Instructions

  1. Make crostini.
    Preheat the broiler to high.
    Spread butter on baguette slices, sprinkle with garlic salt, and place on a sheet pan in a single layer, cooking in batches if necessary.
    Broil baguette slices for 2-4 minutes, until golden brown. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 teaspoon of the Italian seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt.
  3. Thaw pork sausages and slice into thin slices. Heat a cast iron skillet or oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add sausage. Season with remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and cook until sausage is browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
  4. Stir marinara sauce into sausage and bring to a boil. Dollop with ricotta cheese mixture over the top. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
  5. Broil on high until cheese is melty, about 3-4 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil ribbons and serve with garlic bread crostini for dipping.

Notes

  • To prep this ahead for entertaining: Cook sausage and stir in marinara sauce when it’s cooked through. Transfer sausage and sauce mixture to a baking dish and dollop with ricotta cheese mixture and shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Bake, covered in a 350 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Remove foil, and broil for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

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