Chicago-Style Deep-Dish Pizza with Spiced Italian Sausage

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-30 · Updated 2026-05-30

A hearty deep-dish pizza featuring a thick buttery crust, tangy tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, and savory spiced Italian sausage, inspired by Chicago’s iconic pizza tradition. This italian-inspired pizza ready in about 80 minutes pairs all-purpose flour, cornmeal, (1 packet) active dry yeast for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 600 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
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 2 1/4 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 12 oz Italian sausage (casings removed)
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper
• 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F), 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast, and 1 tbsp sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornmeal, and 1 tsp salt. Pour in the yeast mixture and 1/4 cup olive oil, stirring with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
3. Step 3: Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until doubled.
4. Step 4: While dough rises, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 12 oz Italian sausage (casings removed) and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up meat until browned and cooked through.
5. Step 5: Add 1 diced medium onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the sausage, sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
6. Step 6: Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper to taste. Reduce heat to low and simmer sauce for 20 minutes until thickened.
7. Step 7: Preheat oven to 425°F. Punch down the dough and press it evenly into a 12-inch deep-dish pizza pan, making sure it comes up the sides about 2 inches.
8. Step 8: Layer 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough, then spoon the sausage-tomato sauce mixture over the cheese.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese on top and bake pizza on the middle rack for 30-35 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.
10. Step 10: Let the pizza cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.