HOMEMADE CHICAGO STYLE DEEP DISH PIZZA
Make authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza at home with sausage, pepperoni, rich sauce, and buttery cornmeal crust. Restaurant-quality pie right from your oven!
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup warm water 110°F / 45°C
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- ½ cup warm water 110°F / 45°C
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour divided
- ½ cup yellow cornmeal
- 1½ teaspoons salt
For the Filling
- 9 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup diced pepperoni
- ¼ pound spicy Italian sausage browned, drained, and crumbled
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- ⅛ cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 cloves garlic sliced
For the Sauce and Topping
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Yeast Mixture
- In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar in 1 cup of warm water.
- In a separate small bowl, mix yeast, ½ cup flour, and ½ cup warm water. Let it rest for 20 minutes, or until frothy.
Step 2: Prepare the Dough
- In a medium bowl, mix 2½ cups flour with cornmeal and salt.
- Remove half of the flour mixture and stir the sugar water into the remaining half.
- Once mixed, return the reserved flour mixture and stir again.
- Add the yeast mixture and mix until a dough forms.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8–12 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled in size.
Step 3: Preheat and Prepare Filling
- Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
- In a large bowl, combine sausage, mozzarella, Parmesan, pepperoni, onion, bell pepper, oregano, and garlic. Mix thoroughly.
Step 4: Assemble the Pizza
- Lightly grease a deep dish pizza pan.
- Press half of the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
- Bake the crust for 4 minutes.
- Add the prepared filling evenly over the parbaked crust.
- Roll out the second half of the dough and place over the filling.
- Seal the edges and trim excess dough. Cut a slit in the center for steam to escape.
- Spread the tomato sauce over the top crust and drizzle with olive oil.
Step 5: Bake and Serve
- Bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Serve hot and enjoy your slice of Chicago!