The Real Deal: Chicago’s Classic Deep Dish Pizza Recipe

Crafting a pizza that captures the essence of chicago style deep dish pizza brings pure culinary magic to your kitchen.

This hearty pie delivers layers of rich flavors and textures that define true midwestern comfort food.

Dense and robust, the pizza boasts a buttery golden crust that rises high like a delicious fortress of deliciousness.

Cheese melts luxuriously beneath vibrant tomato sauce, creating a harmony of ingredients that dance on your palate.

Chefs and home cooks alike revere this iconic dish for its bold personality and satisfying depth.

Each slice promises a journey through Chicago’s legendary pizza tradition.

Get ready to become the neighborhood’s pizza hero with this mouthwatering recipe.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 8

Everything That Goes Into Homemade Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza

• All-Purpose Flour: Foundation of the pizza, provides structure and texture.
• Active Dry Yeast: al ingredient that helps dough rise and develop airy, light texture.
• Sugar: Feeds yeast and promotes beautiful golden-brown color.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile and strengthens gluten.
• Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps create soft, tender crust.
• Warm Water: Activates yeast and helps bind ingredients together.

• Italian Sausage: Delivers robust, hearty flavor and protein-packed punch.
• Onion: Adds subtle sweetness and aromatic depth to the filling.
• Garlic: Provides intense, bold flavor that complements other ingredients.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Creates vibrant, tangy base for classic pizza sauce.
• Tomato Paste: Concentrates tomato flavor and helps thicken sauce.
• Oregano, Basil: Traditional herbs that bring authentic Italian seasoning.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional spicy kick for adventurous palates.

• Mozzarella Cheese: Creamy, melty centerpiece that creates signature stretchy texture.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds sharp, nutty complexity to overall flavor.
• Fresh Basil Leaves: Optional garnish that brings bright, fresh herbal note.
• Cornmeal: Optional ingredient for extra crispy crust bottom.
• Olive Oil: Used for greasing pan and adding subtle richness.

Must-Have Tools for Deep Dish Pizza Night

• Pizza Pan: 9-inch deep-dish pan essential for creating the signature thick crust.
• Rolling Pin: Perfect for rolling out pizza dough to the right thickness and shape.
• Large Skillet: Needed for cooking sausage, sautéing vegetables, and preparing the sauce.
• Mixing Bowls: One large bowl for dough mixing, one small bowl for yeast activation.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Helps mix ingredients and stir sauce while cooking.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements are key for perfect pizza dough and sauce.
• Cutting Board: Useful for chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp Knife: Helps with chopping onions, garlic, and slicing the final pizza.

Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza from Dough to Slice

• Mix Pizza Dough

Combine yeast with warm water and sugar, letting it bubble up for a few minutes. In another bowl, blend flour and salt. Knead the mixture until smooth and stretchy. Let the dough rest and rise until it doubles in size, about 1-1.5 hours.

• Create Flavor Base

Brown Italian sausage in a skillet until cooked through. Toss in onions and garlic, sautéing until fragrant. Pour in crushed tomatoes and season with herbs. Simmer the sauce until it thickens and develops rich flavors.

• Build the Deep Dish

Preheat oven to 425F. Grease a deep pizza pan with olive oil. Roll out the dough and press it into the pan, covering bottom and sides. Layer mozzarella cheese generously. Add cooked sausage and vegetable mixture. Sprinkle more cheese on top. Pour the thick tomato sauce over everything.

• Bake to Perfection

Slide the pizza into the hot oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes until the crust turns golden and cheese bubbles wildly. Let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve this hearty Chicago-style masterpiece.

FAQs

• What's the secret to a perfect deep dish pizza crust?

The key is using warm water (around 110°F) to activate the yeast properly and kneading the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. This ensures a soft, tender crust that’s sturdy enough to hold the heavy toppings.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance. After the first rise, you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Just let it come to room temperature before rolling out and assembling the pizza.

• How do I prevent the bottom crust from getting soggy?

Use a generous amount of olive oil in the pan and optionally sprinkle cornmeal on the bottom. This helps create a crispy base that can withstand the moisture from the sauce and toppings.

• Is it possible to substitute the Italian sausage?

Absolutely! You can use ground beef, ground turkey, or even keep it vegetarian by adding more vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the filling.

Tips for Golden Crust and Cheesy Centers

• Brush the edges of the dough with olive oil to create a golden, crispy crust that's beautifully bronzed and irresistible.
• Replace wheat flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and add xanthan gum to help bind the dough and maintain its structure for pizza lovers with gluten sensitivities.
• Swap Italian sausage with plant-based sausage crumbles or roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms to create a delicious vegetarian deep-dish pizza packed with flavor.
• Prepare the pizza dough and sauce a day in advance, storing them separately in the refrigerator to save time and allow flavors to develop more intensely before final assembly and baking.
• Experiment with different cheese combinations like adding fontina, provolone, or gouda alongside mozzarella to create a more complex and rich cheese profile that elevates the traditional deep-dish experience.

How to Serve Homemade Deep Dish Pizza Right

• Cozy Family Pizza Night: Gather around the table and make this deep dish pizza a memorable shared meal. Cut into big, hearty slices and let everyone enjoy the cheesy, saucy goodness together.
• Gourmet Game Day Centerpiece: Serve this pizza as the star attraction during sports watch parties. Pair with cold beer or craft sodas to create the perfect game day spread that will impress your friends.
• Picnic Perfect Slice: Pack cooled pizza slices in a portable container for outdoor adventures. This portable meal works great for park lunches, beach trips, or road trip snacks that keep hunger at bay.
• Wine and Dine Pairing: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the rich tomato sauce and savory sausage. The wine's acidity will balance the pizza's robust flavors perfectly.

Storing Leftovers of Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza

• Wrap leftover pizza slices in aluminum foil or store in an airtight container. These delicious deep dish wedges will stay tasty for 3-4 days when refrigerated at 40°F or below.
• Slice pizza into individual portions before freezing. Place pieces on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer-safe bags. Frozen pizza maintains excellent quality for up to 2 months when properly sealed.
• Restore crispy crust by warming slices in a preheated oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes. Avoid microwave reheating, which can make the crust soggy and compromise the delightful texture.
• Prepare pizza dough and sauce up to 2 days before assembling. Store dough in a sealed container and sauce in an airtight jar within the refrigerator. This technique saves time and allows flavors to develop more intensely.

Authentic Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours
• Yield: 9 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Crafting homemade Chicago style deep dish pizza delivers pure culinary magic from the Windy City’s most iconic dish. Layers of rich sauce, melted cheese, and hearty toppings create a mouthwatering experience you won’t forget.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 300 ml (1 ¼ cups) warm water
• 115 g (½ cup) cornmeal
• 400 g (3 ¼ cups) all-purpose flour
• 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil
• 60 g (¼ cup) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 ¼ tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 ¼ tsp salt
• 800 g (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 225 g (2 cups) mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 300 g (10 oz) Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
• 60 g (½ cup) grated Parmesan cheese
• 50 g (½ cup) pepperoni slices
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp sugar
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Extra grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil leaves

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Dissolve yeast in warm water with sugar, letting it foam and activate for 5 minutes.
2. Dough Preparation: Mix flour and salt, creating a well for yeast mixture and olive oil. Knead on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, transforming the texture into a silky consistency.
3. Dough Rising: Transfer to a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, approximately 1-1.5 hours.
4. Filling Preparation: Brown Italian sausage in a skillet, sautéing with onions and garlic until vegetables become translucent. Simultaneously, develop a robust tomato sauce by combining crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes, simmering until thickened and intensely flavored.
5. Pan Setup: Generously oil a 9-inch deep-dish pizza pan, optionally dusting with cornmeal for extra crispiness. Punch down the risen dough and carefully stretch to line the entire pan, pressing up the sides to create a deep, sturdy crust.
6. Layering: Strategically build layers starting with mozzarella cheese, seasoned sausage and vegetable mixture, then additional cheese and Parmesan. Evenly distribute the richly developed tomato sauce over the cheese layers.
7. Baking: Place in a preheated 425°F oven, baking until the crust turns golden and cheese bubbles and melts, approximately 30-40 minutes.
8. Finishing: Allow pizza to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven to set the layers. Optionally garnish with fresh basil leaves for a bright, aromatic finale to this deep-dish creation.

Notes

Manage Yeast Activation: Ensure water temperature is between 105-110°F to properly activate yeast without killing it, creating perfect dough rise and texture.

Control Dough Elasticity: Knead the dough precisely 8-10 minutes to develop gluten structure, which guarantees a chewy, tender crust with ideal structural integrity.

Layer Strategically: Place cheese directly on dough to prevent soggy bottom, creating a protective barrier that maintains crisp crust and prevents sauce from making pizza wet.

Customize Dietary Options: Substitute traditional ingredients with gluten-free flour, plant-based cheese, and turkey sausage to accommodate various dietary needs without compromising authentic deep-dish flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 650 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 14 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg