Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza with Sausage and Peppers

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-14 · Updated 2026-05-14

A rich, thick-crust deep dish pizza loaded with Italian sausage, bell peppers, and a blend of cheeses, inspired by Chicago’s iconic pizza style. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 125 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, active dry yeast, 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
• 2 1/4 tsp (one packet) active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups (110°F) warm water
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 3 tbsp, divided olive oil
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 8 oz, casing removed and crumbled Italian sausage
• 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
• 1 medium, diced red bell pepper
• 1 small, diced yellow onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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, 1/4 cup cornmeal, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp sugar. In a small bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast in 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F) and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add the yeast mixture and 2 tbsp olive oil to the flour mixture and knead for 7-8 minutes until a smooth dough forms. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.
2. Step 2: While the dough rises, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 8 oz crumbled Italian sausage and cook for 5 minutes until browned. Add 1 diced green bell pepper, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1 small diced yellow onion, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for another 5 minutes until vegetables soften. Stir in 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, and 1 tsp dried basil. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 425°F. Oil a 12-inch deep dish pizza pan with olive oil. Press the risen dough into the pan, pushing dough up the sides to form a thick crust. Layer half the 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese on the dough. Spread the sausage and pepper tomato mixture evenly over the cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
4. Step 4: Bake for 30-35 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and browned. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.