Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza with Sausage and Caramelized Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-09 · Updated 2026-05-09

A hearty deep dish pizza featuring a thick, buttery crust loaded with Italian sausage, sweet caramelized onions, and melted mozzarella cheese. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, instant yeast, sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 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) instant yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cups (110°F) warm water
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), melted unsalted butter
• 12 oz, casings removed Italian sausage
• 1 large, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes

The pizza stone or steel we’d bake this on → Best Pizza Stones and Steels for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 packet instant yeast, 1 tbsp sugar, and 1 tsp salt. Add 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F) and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter; mix and knead for 7-8 minutes until a smooth dough forms. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
2. Step 2: While the dough rises, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized. Remove onions and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, cook 12 oz Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Drain excess fat.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a 12-inch deep dish pizza pan with butter.
5. Step 5: Press the risen dough into the pan, creating a thick edge around the sides.
6. Step 6: Spread 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes evenly over the dough. Sprinkle 1 tsp dried oregano and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes over the sauce.
7. Step 7: Layer the cooked sausage evenly over the sauce, then add the caramelized onions.
8. Step 8: Top with 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese and sprinkle 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
9. Step 9: Bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.