Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
A hearty, cheesy deep-dish pizza with a thick crust, loaded with sausage, peppers, and a rich tomato sauce. This american-inspired quick meals ready in about 55 minutes pairs pizza dough, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, 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
- 1 ball (1 pound) pizza dough
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup cooked sausage
- 1/4 cup bell peppers
- 1/4 cup onions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly coat a 9-inch deep-dish pizza pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Step 2: Press the pizza dough into the pan, ensuring it covers the bottom and sides evenly. Spread 1/2 cup pizza sauce over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge.
- Step 3: Sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan over the sauce. Top with 1/2 cup cooked sausage, 1/4 cup diced bell peppers, and 1/4 cup diced onions.
- Step 4: Cover with the remaining 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned on top.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza take to make?
Total time is about 55 minutes (30 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep pizza dough from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza?
American quick meals like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
This was the best deep dish I've ever made! Crispy crust, perfect cheese pull.
- ★★★★★
Family loved it, even the picky eaters. Will make again!
- ★★★★☆
Perfect flavor, but the sauce was slightly bland. I added a pinch of oregano to fix it.
