Description
Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza features a high crust that forms a deep basin for cheese, meat, and tomato sauce. The traditional ingredient order is completely inverted due to its unique structural depth.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 2¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (65 g) yellow cornmeal
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- ¾ cup (180 ml) warm water
- 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Filling
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
- 250 g (½ lb) Italian sausage, casings removed
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms, optional
- ½ cup sliced bell pepper, optional
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the Tomato Sauce
- 1 can (28 oz / 800 g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp sugar, optional
Instructions
- Make the dough: Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, and yeast. Add warm water and melted butter. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the sauce: Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Sauté garlic for about 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, then cool slightly.
- Prepare the sausage: Brown the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat until cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Shape the crust: Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) deep-dish pizza pan generously with butter or olive oil. Press the dough across the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
- Layer the pizza: Unlike a regular pizza, deep-dish is layered with cheese first, followed by sausage and vegetables, then tomato sauce on top. Finish with Parmesan.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Bake for 30–35 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
- Rest and serve: Let the pizza rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing. This helps the filling set and makes it easier to serve.
Notes
For an especially crisp Chicago-style crust, place the pan on a preheated baking sheet or pizza stone while baking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: ~520 kcal
Keywords: Chicago Style Pizza, Deep Dish Pizza Recipe, Homemade Chicago Pizza