Here’s a guide to making Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza—the iconic thick, buttery-crust pizza loaded with cheese, toppings, and chunky tomato sauce. 🍕🧀
Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza
Ingredients (1 deep-dish pizza, 9–10 inch pan)
For the Crust:
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp instant yeast
- ½ cup (120 ml) warm water
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Filling:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup cooked sausage, crumbled (or pepperoni slices)
- ½ cup cooked vegetables (optional, e.g., mushrooms, bell peppers, onions)
For the Tomato Sauce:
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Optional Topping:
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the dough
- In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Add warm water and melted butter. Mix until dough forms. Knead 5–7 minutes until smooth.
- Cover and let rise 1–2 hours until doubled in size.
- Make the sauce
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15–20 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Assemble the pizza
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Press dough into a well-oiled deep-dish pan, going up the sides.
- Layer cheese first, then cooked sausage and vegetables.
- Pour tomato sauce over the top, spreading evenly. Sprinkle Parmesan if desired.
- Bake
- Bake 25–30 minutes until crust is golden and sauce is bubbling.
- Let cool 5–10 minutes before slicing.
Tips
- Cheese first: In deep-dish pizza, cheese goes directly on the dough to prevent sogginess from the sauce.
- Toppings: Precook meats and watery vegetables to avoid a soggy crust.
- Crust: For extra buttery flavor, brush the edges with melted butter before baking.
- Cutting: Use a sharp knife; deep-dish slices are thick.
I can also give you a shortcut version using store-bought dough and pre-made sauce that still tastes like authentic Chicago deep-dish.
Do you want me to do that?
