This iconic Chicago-style deep dish pizza is more of a savory pie than a flatbread, featuring a thick, flaky crust that holds generous layers of ingredients. The base is lined with sharp mozzarella, followed by savory Italian sausage, and topped with a robust, chunky tomato sauce that bubbles up during baking. The result is a rich, hearty meal with a perfect balance of tangy tomatoes, salty meat, and melty cheese. It’s an indulgent treat perfect for weekend gatherings, sports parties, or when you’re craving a substantial, comforting dinner. While it requires patience for the dough to rise, the hands-on time is minimal, making it a rewarding project for home cooks looking to impress.
Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza
Description
This iconic Chicago-style deep dish pizza is more of a savory pie than a flatbread, featuring a thick, flaky crust that holds generous layers of ingredients. The base is lined with sharp mozzarella, followed by savory Italian sausage, and topped with a robust, chunky tomato sauce that bubbles up during baking. The result is a rich, hearty meal with a perfect balance of tangy tomatoes, salty meat, and melty cheese. It's an indulgent treat perfect for weekend gatherings, sports parties, or when you're craving a substantial, comforting dinner. While it requires patience for the dough to rise, the hands-on time is minimal, making it a rewarding project for home cooks looking to impress.Ingredients
Directions
-
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Lightly grease a 14-inch deep dish pizza pan with oil or butter.
-
In a large bowl, combine the warm water and yeast. Let stand for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
-
Add the flour, cornmeal, salt, and vegetable oil to the yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms.
-
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. If too sticky, add more flour; if too dry, add water.
-
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
-
Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Drain and coarsely crush the whole tomatoes in a bowl. Stir in the minced garlic, oregano, and shredded basil.
-
Remove the sausage from its casing and crumble it into a skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned and cooked through, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess fat.
-
Punch down the risen dough. Roll or press it into a circle large enough to line the bottom and sides of the prepared pizza pan, leaving about a 1-inch border for the crust.
-
Sprinkle half of the sliced mozzarella cheese over the bottom of the crust.
-
Layer the cooked sausage evenly over the cheese.
-
Top the sausage with the remaining sliced mozzarella cheese.
-
Pour the crushed tomato sauce evenly over the cheese, spreading it gently to cover the top.
-
Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the sauce.
-
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
-
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 12 servings
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 361kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 13.9g22%
- Saturated Fat 5.4g27%
- Cholesterol 25.3mg9%
- Sodium 1168.4mg49%
- Total Carbohydrate 44.8g15%
- Dietary Fiber 3.8g16%
- Sugars 3.8g
- Protein 15.7g32%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.