Chicago-Style Deep Dish Sausage and Bell Pepper Pizza

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-17 · Updated 2026-05-17

A hearty Chicago-style deep dish pizza loaded with spicy Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, and a rich tomato sauce baked in a buttery crust. This american-inspired pizza ready in about 65 minutes pairs All-purpose flour, (1 packet) Instant 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 520 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 (1 packet) Instant dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups (110°F) Warm water
• 1 tbsp Granulated sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 12 oz, casing removed Italian sausage
• 1 medium, thinly sliced Red bell pepper
• 1 medium, thinly sliced Green bell pepper
• 1 small, thinly sliced Yellow onion
• 3 cloves, minced Garlic cloves
• 28 oz Canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• 1 tsp Dried basil
• 3 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve 2 1/4 tsp instant dry yeast and 1 tbsp granulated sugar in 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F). Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: Add 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir until a rough dough forms, then knead on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Step 3: Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 425°F. In a skillet over medium heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil and cook 12 oz Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes.
5. Step 5: Add 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper, 1 thinly sliced green bell pepper, 1 small thinly sliced yellow onion, and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
6. Step 6: Stir in 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, and 1 tsp dried basil. Simmer the sauce over low heat for 10 minutes until thickened.
7. Step 7: Punch down the dough and press it evenly into a 12-inch deep dish pizza pan, pushing the dough up the sides to create a 2-inch crust.
8. Step 8: Sprinkle 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the dough. Spoon the sausage and pepper tomato sauce over the cheese, spreading evenly.
9. Step 9: Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese on top and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden and the sauce is bubbly.
10. Step 10: Let pizza cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.