Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza with Sausage and Spinach

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-18 · Updated 2026-05-18

A thick, buttery crust loaded with savory sausage, wilted spinach, and a rich tomato sauce layered under melted mozzarella. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs all-purpose flour, warm water, active dry yeast 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 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (110°F) warm water
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), melted unsalted butter
• 12 oz, casing removed Italian sausage
• 4 cups, washed and roughly chopped fresh spinach
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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 small bowl, combine 1 cup warm water, 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Stir and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup cornmeal. Pour in the yeast mixture and 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter. Stir until a dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 7-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Step 3: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 425°F. In a skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage (removed from casing) and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking up with a spoon until browned and cooked through. Add 3 minced garlic cloves, 4 cups chopped fresh spinach, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp dried oregano. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until spinach is wilted.
5. Step 5: Press dough into a greased 12-inch deep dish pan, pushing dough up the sides to form a rim.
6. Step 6: Layer the bottom with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, then spread the sausage and spinach mixture evenly over the cheese.
7. Step 7: Spoon 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes over the top and drizzle with 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter.
8. Step 8: Bake for 30-35 minutes until crust is golden-brown and sauce is bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.