Easy Mardi Gras Hot Muffuletta Dip is a tantalizing appetizer made with tasty green olives, salami, provolone cheese, and tangy giardiniera.
These yummy ingredients are combined with cream cheese to make a hot and delicious dip. Like my Fried Burrata, this appetizer is simply bursting with flavor and is perfect for any Mardi Gras, game-day, or Super Bowl party.
I served this delicious dip at a book club meeting held at my house, along with pralines, a salty/sweet snack mix, and yes, classic hurricane cocktails! But this appetizer which I served with toasted french bread slices was the star of the show!
More Mardi Gras Recipes:
Check out these delicious choices:
- Cajun Dirty Rice with Sausage
- Seafood Jambalaya
- Hurricane Cocktails
- Mardi Gras Snack Mix
- Creamy Shrimp Creole
- Cajun Shrimp and Grits
Need more ideas? Check out these posts: Ten + Classic Mardi Gras Recipes and Menu Ideas and The Ultimate Mardi Gras Recipe Collection by my sister Chula, over at the Pudge Factor Blog.
More dip recipes:
If you like this dip, you might also like these delicious, quick, and easy dip recipes:
- Redneck Caviar
- Corn Dip with Cream Cheese
- Hot and Cheesy Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip
- The Ultimate Blue Cheese Spread with Pecans
- Easy Make-Ahead Buffalo Chicken Dip.
Recipe ingredients:
You will need green olives, salami, roasted red peppers, provolone cheese, and garlic powder. You will also need giardiniera, which is pickled carrots, cauliflower, celery, and pepperoncini peppers. You can use homemade giardiniera, or purchased. Plus, you need cream cheese, fresh parsley for garnish, and a little mozzarella cheese.
How to make muffuletta dip:
Gather your ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the olives, roasted red pepper, and drained giardiniera (discard pickles if there are any) in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until everything is coarsely chopped.
Add this mixture to a bowl along with the softened cream cheese, salami, and provolone cheese and mix well to combine.
Place this mixture in an oven-safe dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Top with the mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Garnish with parsley and serve with crackers or toasted French bread rounds.
Sharon’s tips:
You can make this dip a day or so ahead. Just cover it unbaked, and refrigerate until you are ready to bake it.
You can find jarred giardiniera, next to the pickles in your grocery store.
This dip is best served with sturdy crackers or toasted French bread rounds.
★ If you make this dish, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!
Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!
Recipe:
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Easy Mardi Gras Hot Muffuletta Dip
Ingredients
- 6 oz pitted green olives
- ½ cup roasted red pepper
- ½ cup giardiniera
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup salami cut into small cubes
- 4 oz provolone cheese cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley finely minced for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the olives, roasted red pepper, and drained giardiniera (discard pickles if there are any) in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until everything is coarsely chopped.
- Place this mixture in a bowl along with the softened cream cheese, salami, and provolone cheese and mix well to combine.
- Pour this mixture in an oven-safe dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and top with the mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
E
Has anyone tried making it in a crockpot? I’d love to be able to bring it to a party and keep it warm throughout the party! Please let me know ☺️
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Elyssa, I’ve never made it in a crockpot, but I don’t see any reason it wouldn’t work. I hope you enjoy it.
Sharon
Tara Girmus
I made this last night using a crockpot. It worked really well and was a huge hit! I will definitely make this again!
Kay
Only 1 Tbs of Cheese???
Sharon Rigsby
Only one tablespoon of mozzarella, however feel free to add a bit more if you prefer. It also calls for 4 ounces of provolone!
I hope you enjoy it!
Barbara James
Could I use sliced salami, as long as I get the required amount?
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Barbara, I don’t see any reason why salami wouldn’t work!
I hope you enjoy it!
All the best,
Sharon
Cindy B Taylor
Do you think that you could substitute Olive Salad for the olives, red pepper & giardinieria? Always looking to save a step.
It looks awesome! I can’t wait to make it!
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Cindy, I’ve never done that so I can say for sure, however, although the taste will be different, I would think it still would be delicious. If you decide to do this, be sure to let me know how it turns out.
All my best,
Sharon
P johnson
I made it with olive salad. It was terrific. They scraped the bowl!
Rob
Made this last evening for our annual Fat Saturday party (cause we all work on Tuesdays), It was delicious and a huge hit. Will definitely make it again!
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Rob,
Thanks so much for leaving your comment! I’m so glad you and your friends enjoyed the dip!
All my best,
Sharon
Nancy Liggera
Can you freeze leftover dip?
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Nancy,
Yes, you should be able to freeze the leftover dip. I would stick it in the refrigerator overnight to let it that and then heat it up again and it should be fine.
Sharon
Tina
I’m bringing this to work for a party, but we do not have an oven there. If I bake it the night before, will it be okay served chilled? My other option is to reheat in a microwave or leave it in a crockpot.
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Tina, I think your best bet would be just to reheat the dip in the microwave before the party. I hope you enjoy it!
Sharon
Kristy
I absolutely LOVE this recipe! I think it will be the perfect addition to my upcoming Mardi Gras party. Check out my blog post for my party decorating and serving ideas! https://www.twofunnygirls.com/blog/2019/02/12/personalize-mardi-gras-party/
Marisa
If served with crackers, any recommendations on what kind?
Gritsandpinecones
Hey Marisa,
I have only served it with the toasted bread rounds, but I’m sure it would be good with pretty much any type of sturdy cracker. I would probably try to get one that doesn’t have too many other strong flavors going on that might clash with the dip. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the dip!
Sharon
Melissa
My husband found this recipe for a Mardi Gras supper club we’re going to tomorrow night!!! I love that I can prep ahead of time and bake right before we leave. Just wanted to point out that the written directions don’t include chopping or adding in the roasted red pepper 🙂
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Melissa, thank you so much for letting me know about the roasted red peppers. I’ve had this recipe on my blog over a year and you are the first to point that out and I never caught it. I have corrected the post! Thanks again and I hope you and your friends enjoy the dip!
All my best,
Sharon
Melissa
Sharon – the dip was a HIT!!!! Thanks so much! Happy Mardi Gras 🙂
Cindy B Taylor
This looks awesome but think I’ll use my pre-made Olive Salad from Central Grocery in NOLA! It makes everything good!
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Cindy, thanks for your comment! I imagine it is really awesome!
Sharon
Cindy B Taylor
Mostly because I wouldn’t have to chop it! Am I the only person that doesn’t own a full size food processor? Probably!
Amy
I am making this next week for work, and I have the premade muffuletta salad (thank you Costco). How much would you suggest putting in with the other measured ingredients? (i.e. how much does buying the items separately and doing the food process yield?). Thank You!
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Amy, I looked online and the only muffuletta salad I could find from Costco looks like it contains green olives and giardiniera. If that is what you have, I would probably use 1-1/2 cups of your salad drained. I don’t know what the proportions of olives to giardiniera are, but if it doesn’t look like there are enough olives, you might want to add some more. Hope it works out for you and everyone enjoys it!
Sincerely,
Sharon
Amy
IT was delicious! Thank you. Everyone at worked liked it.
Gritsandpinecones
Hey Amy,
So glad you and your co-workers liked it!
All my best,
Sharon
Cam
What size serving dish did you use ? What do you recommend if I am doubling the recipe ? Thanks!
Gritsandpinecones
Hi Cam, I use a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with about 2-inch sides and it is perfect. If you are doubling the recipe, a 2-2 1/2 quart dish should be fine!
Sincerely,
Sharon
Kitty
Very creative twist! Great party recipe.
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
Love that you made a muffuletta dip! I’ve got to try this recipe ASAP 🙂
Velva
Sharon, this looks so good! A perfect Mardi Gras appetizer.
Velva
Gritsandpinecones
Thanks, Velva! From your posts on Facebook, it looks like you guys ate your way through Charleston! Did you have fun?
Carolyn
Wow, this looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it.
Carolyn
Gritsandpinecones
Thanks Carolyn, it is really good and I know you guys would enjoy it!
Ramona Singleton
I tried this a couple months ago….It is probably the best dip Ive ever eaten.
Gritsandpinecones
Hey Ramona, thank you so much for your kind comment! I’m so glad you like it and it’s definitely one of our favorites too!
All my best,
Sharon