10/08/2025
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza is famous for its thick, buttery crust and "inside-out" layers—cheese on the bottom, toppings in the middle, and a chunky tomato sauce on top.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
* 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
* 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
* 1 1/2 teaspoons fine salt
* 2 teaspoons white sugar
* 1 1/3 cups warm water
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1/4 cup melted butter
For the Pizza Sauce:
* 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* Salt and black pepper to taste
* A pinch of sugar
For the Toppings and Filling:
* 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
* 1 pound whole milk mozzarella cheese, sliced or cubed
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Make the Pizza Dough
* In a large bowl, mix the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes until it becomes foamy.
* Stir in the olive oil and melted butter.
* In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, and salt.
* Gradually add the dry ingredients to the yeast mixture, kneading until you have a soft and smooth dough.
* Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
2. Prepare the Pizza Sauce
* While the dough is rising, heat the olive oil in a saucepan.
* Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
* Simmer this mixture over medium-low heat for 60 to 90 minutes until the sauce is very thick.
3. Cook the Sausage
* In a pan, cook the Italian sausage until it's browned, breaking it into small pieces.
* Drain any excess grease and set it aside.
4. Assemble the Pizza
* Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
* Grease a deep-dish pizza pan.
* Press the risen dough into the pan, making sure to bring it up the sides.
* Add the first layer of mozzarella cheese slices or cubes, covering the entire base.
* Spread the cooked Italian sausage over the cheese.
* Next, spread a thick layer of the tomato sauce over the sausage.
* Finally, sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top.
5. Bake the Pizza
* Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
* Let the pizza cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing to allow it to set.
Enjoy your delicious homemade Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza!
