Description
Hearty Chicago deep dish pizza brings the Windy City’s legendary culinary tradition right to kitchen counters. Layers of rich cheese, zesty tomato sauce, and buttery crust create a mouthwatering slice you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 4.5 cups mozzarella
- 1.5 cups Parmesan
- 0.5 cup pepperoni
- 28 ounces (794 grams) crushed tomatoes
Dough Ingredients:
- 3.5 cups flour
- 1.5 cups warm water
- 2.14 teaspoons yeast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Seasoning and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 garlic cloves
- 0.5 cup onion
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon basil
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast with sugar in warm water, allowing it to become frothy and activate for about 5-10 minutes.
- Blend flour and salt in a large mixing bowl, creating a well in the center. Pour in the activated yeast mixture and olive oil.
- Knead the dough vigorously on a floured surface for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic, developing gluten structure.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm area for approximately 60-75 minutes until doubled in size.
- Brown ground sausage in a skillet, adding diced onions and minced garlic, cooking until meat is fully cooked and vegetables are translucent.
- Prepare pizza sauce by combining crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and dried Italian herbs, simmering on low heat for 15-20 minutes to concentrate flavors.
- Stretch and press dough into a deep dish pan, ensuring even coverage along the bottom and sides, creating a thick crust foundation.
- Layer shredded mozzarella cheese as the first base, followed by the prepared meat mixture, then generously spread the homemade sauce.
- Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the top and dot with melted butter for added richness.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for 30-35 minutes until crust turns golden brown and cheese becomes bubbly and slightly crisp.
Notes
- Choose instant yeast for faster proofing and more reliable rising in deep dish pizza dough.
- Keep pizza dough hydration slightly higher than traditional thin crust to ensure soft, tender texture in deep dish style.
- Use cornmeal or semolina on pan bottom for extra crispy, golden crust that prevents sticking and adds subtle crunch.
- Consider making vegetarian version by replacing sausage with roasted mushrooms or plant-based protein crumbles for dietary flexibility.
- Prep Time: 110 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 441
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 738 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 58 mg