Chicago-Style Deep Dish Sausage and Spinach Pizza

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

A thick, buttery crust layered with house-made Italian sausage, fresh spinach, and chunky tomato sauce for a classic Chicago-style deep dish experience. This Italian-inspired pizza recipe, ready in about 70 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 620 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) active dry yeast
• 1 1/4 cups (110°F) warm water
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick), melted unsalted butter
• 12 oz Italian sausage, casing removed
• 4 cups, roughly chopped fresh spinach
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp olive oil

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 1/4 cups warm water (110°F), 1 tbsp granulated sugar, and 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast. Stir and let sit for 5-7 minutes until foamy.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1 tsp salt. Add the yeast mixture and 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, mixing until a dough forms. Knead on a floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
3. Step 3: While the dough rises, in a skillet over medium heat, cook 12 oz Italian sausage (casing removed), breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Simmer for 15 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
4. Step 4: Preheat oven to 425°F. Lightly oil a 12-inch deep-dish pizza pan. Press the risen dough into the pan, pushing it up the sides to form a thick crust.
5. Step 5: Layer 3 cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the crust, followed by 4 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach and the cooked sausage tomato sauce mixture.
6. Step 6: Sprinkle 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese over the top and drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil.
7. Step 7: Bake for 30-35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Let cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.