Charred Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza with Italian Sausage and Peppers

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-25 · Updated 2026-05-25

A hearty deep-dish pizza loaded with spicy Italian sausage, roasted bell peppers, and a rich tomato sauce, baked to golden perfection with a thick, buttery crust. This italian-american-inspired pizza ready in about 70 minutes pairs all-purpose flour, packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast, (110°F) warm water for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
• 1 cup (110°F) warm water
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp olive oil
• 12 oz Italian sausage, casing removed
• 1 medium green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve 1 packet active dry yeast and 1 tbsp sugar in 1 cup warm water (110°F). Let sit 5 minutes until foamy. Add 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup olive oil. Mix and knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled.
2. Step 2: While dough rises, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage (removed from casing) and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Add 1 sliced green bell pepper, 1 sliced red bell pepper, and 1 thinly sliced yellow onion. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and lightly charred. Set aside.
3. Step 3: Stir 28 oz crushed tomatoes with 1 tsp dried oregano and 1 tsp dried basil in a bowl.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 425°F. Punch down dough and press into a well-oiled 12-inch deep-dish pizza pan, pushing the dough up the sides to form a thick crust.
5. Step 5: Layer 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the crust. Spread the cooked sausage and pepper mixture over the cheese. Pour the seasoned crushed tomato sauce on top, then sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
6. Step 6: Bake for 30-35 minutes until cheese is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing.