Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza with Spiced Italian Sausage

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-25 · Updated 2026-05-25

A hearty, oven-baked deep dish pizza loaded with spicy Italian sausage, rich tomato sauce, and three cheeses, capturing the essence of Chicago’s iconic pie. This italian-inspired pizza ready in about 65 minutes pairs all-purpose flour, 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 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

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup, 110°F warm water
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 10 oz, casing removed Italian sausage
• 1/2 medium, diced onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve 1 tsp active dry yeast in 3/4 cup warm water (110°F). Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy. Add 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 3 tbsp olive oil. Stir until a shaggy dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
2. Step 2: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.
3. Step 3: While the dough rises, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 10 oz casing-removed Italian sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, for 5 minutes until browned. Add 1/2 diced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Simmer for 15 minutes over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly.
5. Step 5: Preheat oven to 425°F. Punch down the dough and press it into a well-oiled 10-inch deep-dish pizza pan, pushing the dough up the sides to form a crust.
6. Step 6: Layer the pizza starting with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on the dough base, followed by dollops of 1/2 cup ricotta cheese and the cooked sausage tomato sauce. Top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan evenly.
7. Step 7: Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.