Here’s a classic Chicago-Style Pizza recipe — deep-dish, buttery crust, gooey cheese, and a chunky tomato sauce 🍕🧀
🍕 Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1¼ cups warm water (110°F / 43°C)
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornmeal
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 lb Italian sausage (or pepperoni, optional)
- 1 cup sliced bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms (optional veggies)
- 2 cups crushed canned tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Dough
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, and salt.
- Pour in yeast mixture and melted butter. Mix until dough forms.
- Knead 6–8 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rise 1–2 hours until doubled.
2️⃣ Prepare the Filling
- Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Combine crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3️⃣ Assemble the Pizza
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Grease a deep-dish or 9–10 inch cake pan.
- Press dough into pan, covering bottom and sides (slightly higher than edge).
- Layer cheese first, then cooked sausage (and vegetables if using), then pour tomato sauce over the top.
- Sprinkle Parmesan over the sauce.
4️⃣ Bake
- Bake 25–30 minutes until crust is golden and sauce bubbles.
- Let rest 5–10 minutes before slicing — deep-dish slices best when cooled slightly.
🔥 Tips
- Cheese first prevents soggy crust (classic Chicago style).
- Use whole-milk mozzarella for gooey, authentic texture.
- Try adding a layer of sautéed onions or mushrooms for extra flavor.
- For a buttery crust, brush edges with melted butter before baking.
If you want, I can also give a shortcut version using store-bought dough, or a deep-dish stuffed pizza version like Chicago’s famous “stuffed” pies.
Do you want classic deep-dish or stuffed deep-dish?
