Description

This classic Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza boasts a buttery, golden crust loaded with gooey mozzarella cheese, rich tomato sauce, and savory Italian sausage or pepperoni. Perfectly baked to a thick, hearty finish, this pizza recipe is ideal for anyone craving a slice of authentic Chicago comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
1 ¼ cups warm water
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup yellow cornmeal
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons melted butter

Cheese and Toppings

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup cooked Italian sausage or pepperoni (optional)

Tomato Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil (for sauce)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Activate Yeast: Combine warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
Make Dough: Add the all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, salt, olive oil, and melted butter to the yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly and knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic.
Proof Dough: Cover the dough and place it in a warm area for 1 to 2 hours, allowing it to rise until it doubles in size.
Prepare Sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant but not browned.
Simmer Sauce: Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and salt to the pan. Simmer for 20–30 minutes until the sauce thickens to a rich consistency.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Grease a 9-10 inch deep dish pizza pan with butter or oil to ensure the pizza doesn’t stick.
Shape Dough: Press the risen dough into the prepared pan, making sure to push it up the sides to form a thick crust edge.
Add Cheese and Meat: Start layering shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough base. If using, add cooked Italian sausage or pepperoni on top of the cheese.
Pour Sauce: Spread the thickened tomato sauce evenly over the cheese and meat layers.
Final Cheese Topping: Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the top of the pizza to finish.
Bake: Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. If the crust or cheese browns too quickly, cover the pizza loosely with foil halfway through baking.
Cool and Serve: Allow the pizza to cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing. This resting time helps the layers set for easier serving.

Notes

For a crispier crust, pre-bake the dough for 5-7 minutes before layering cheese and toppings.
You can substitute Italian sausage with pepperoni or other preferred meats.
Adjust red pepper flakes to control the heat level of the sauce.
Use fresh mozzarella for a creamier texture, but ensure to pat dry to prevent excess moisture.
Leftover deep dish pizza can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best texture.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Chicago style pizza, deep dish pizza, homemade pizza, Italian sausage pizza, mozzarella pizza, tomato sauce pizza